Wolfpack comes close to having league champ

By Ginna Young

Wrapping up the regular season, the Cornell-Gilman Wolfpack grapplers were in triangular action, before the annual conference tournament.

Jan. 31 Clear Lake Triangular (L 63-4)

Traveling to Clear Lake, the Wolfpack was ready to take on the host team.

“We were able to get one match against Clear Lake, with some tough match-ups,” said coach Greg Sonnentag.

Bringing in the single victory for the Wolfpack, was senior Braeden Person (152 pounds), with a win over Blake Harris, in an 11-1 major decision.

Junior Troy Duellman (145) dropped his match with Tyler Sunday by a 7-0 decision, while sophomore Preston Fredrickson (138) saw his match go to Dominic Leintz, in a 0:25 fall.

Jan. 31 Clear Lake Triangular (30-18)

Next up, was Shell Lake, where Fredrickson received a win by forfeit and his teammates came up with victories over their opponents.

Person got the win in his match-up with Joe Harrington by fall, in 1:02, and Duellman won over Carter Allen, with a 1:34 fall.

“We swept our three matches, but lost, due to all the forfeits,” said Sonnentag.

Feb. 4 vs. Shell Lake Conference Meet

It was then off to the Lakeland Conference Tournament, facing off with some of the best talent in the league.

“We were hoping to get a conference champ or two this past weekend,” said Sonnentag. “We came up short.”

Person made it to the first place match and had the lead, before getting thrown to his back by Jack Ross, in a 3:58 fall, while Duellman lost his first place match in the final seconds, against Sunday yet again, in a 6-4 decision.

Fredrickson wrestled his way to the third place match, going up against Tanner Bandoli, in a 9-4 decision.

“Overall, they wrestled well,” said Sonnentag. “Hopefully, this weekend (at Regionals), we can find a way to win the close matches.”