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Published November 10, 2011, 06:51 AM

Hudson wrestlers finding success in college

Two former Hudson Raider wrestlers, Cole Tobin with the Badgers, and Nick Larson with UW-LaCrosse, have continued hitting the mats and are currently looking forward to successful college careers.

Two former Hudson Raider wrestlers have continued hitting the mats and are currently looking forward to successful college careers. 

Cole Tobin, a redshirt sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, will anchor the Badgers as the starting heavyweight, while freshman Nick Larson has made the 30-man roster on the NCAA Division III’s No. 2 ranked team, UW-LaCrosse.

“I am really excited for these boys,” Raider coach Chris Hansen said. “It is a dream come true for both of them.”

Tobin went 22-9 in open tournaments at heavyweight at Wisconsin last year, including a first place finish at the Dan Gable Open. He was the 2009 WIAA state champion at 285 pounds his senior year at Hudson and was a three-time all-conference first team selection while compiling a career record of 138-35, including 48-2 as a senior.

“It was special when Tobin simply became a member of the Badgers,” Hansen said. “Now he will be a starter as just a redshirt sophomore. He has worked tremendously hard.”

Larson is the Raiders’ all-time leader in career wins with 157. He was a three-time state individual qualifier, finishing fourth in 2010 when he also helped the Raiders make the state team tournament for the first time in school history. He was a two-time team MVP and three-time all-conference first team selection as a Raider.

Hansen said Larson has been on the UW-La Crosse campus just two months but has already made tremendous strides.

“It was not an easy feat to make the UW La Crosse team,” Hansen said. “Aside from the team being ranked number two nationally, five of the ten starters are individually ranked in the top ten in the country.”

Hansen said Larson is eager to learn and hopes to follow Tobin and become a starter in the near future.

The Badger wrestling team will kick off its season with the Badger Duals this Sunday, Nov. 13, at the UW Field House in Madison against Loras, Wartburg and UW-Whitewater. The Big Ten opener is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Michigan.

UW-La Crosse won the WIAC title a year ago and finished third at the NCAA Division III championships. The Eagles will open the season this Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Luther College Open in Iowa.

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