Wrestlers dominate in wins over Rice Lake, Stevens Point

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One night after clobbering Rice Lake, 62-4, in their first home dual meet of the season last Thursday, the Raider wrestling team traveled to Stevens Point and extracted a little revenge on SPASH for last season’s loss, beating the home team Friday night, 46-12.

“We placed a lot of importance on this non-conference match,” Raider coach Chris Hansen said about the trip to Stevens Point. “The match-up worked out well for us as Point's best two kids wrestled our best two kids and we won both of them.”

Dima Hawksford, Derek Schindler, Mathias Tobin and Nic Johnson all beat ranked opponents to tip the lopsided score in the Raiders’ favor.

Hawksford defeated Billy Duffert, 8-1 at 170 pounds and Schindler topped Mitch Mallek, 7-4 at 182, while Tobin earned a 3-2 decision over Justin Pawlak at 285 and Johnson took a 6-4 overtime decision from Dakota Kelz at 138.

“I think Tobin at heavyweight was the swing match,” Hansen said. “Had that match went the other way, the dual could have went the other way, so obviously I am very happy with Tobin's leadership there. His opponent placed higher than him at the Marty Loy last week so it was a nice upset victory that led the way for our light-weights.”

Max Gierke needed just 19 seconds to earn a pin in his match at 195 pounds and Mitch Fanning pinned his 106 pound opponent in 3:03 while Matt Koski earned a pin at 5:09 of the 113 pound match and Austin Koski closed the night with a 16-3 major decision at 152.

“Stevens Point has been ranked as high as No. 9 this season and is currently an honorable mention team.,” Hansen noted. “The matches were close but they all seemed to go our way. Point is a tough team.”

The night before at home against Rice lake, the Raiders won 13 of the night’s 14 matches, six by pins, in a 62-4 win over the Warriors.

“There were five key matches in the Rice Lake dual and we went 5-0 in them,” Hansen said. “That rarely happens so obviously I am very proud of the kids with that.”

Hansen said the biggest win was at 113 pounds, where Matt Koski pinned Cole Paulson, who is an honorable mention wrestler in the state rankings.

“Even without the pin, Koski would have been up 8-1 in the third so I think it was a very legit win,” Hansen said. “Matt Koski, without question, has been our biggest surprise this season.”

Hawksford and Schindler posted back-to-back pins at 170 and 182 pounds, respectively, and Tobin earned a pin at 285 while Sawyer Massie won with a pin at 126 and Austin Koski had a pin at 152.

Eliot Motu wrestled to a 23-10 major decision at 220 pounds while Sam Green (160), Nelson (120) and C.J. Steiner (132) al earned decisions. The Raiders also received a forfeit at 106 pounds.

Hudson is currently ranked no. 6 in the state in Division 1 while four Raiders are ranked in the top ten in their respective weight classes. Schindler is No. 3 at 182 pounds, Hawksford is No. 4 at 170, Austin Koski is No. 6 at 152 and Motu is No. 10 at 220.

The Raiders will compete in the Bi-State Classic in La Crosse this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 28-29.

Tags: sports, raiders, prep