Cardinal wrestlers continue strong individual performances

The Cardinals wrestling team traveled twice to Jackson last week and returned with two medals.
On Tuesday, Dec. 7, they lost both team matches to Jackson (79-0) and Redwood Valley (50-12) but won a couple of individual matches against Redwood Valley.
At the JCC Pizza Ranch Invite Dec. 11 two Cardinal wrestlers placed and as a team they placed 12th.
The Cardinals travel to Redwood Falls for the Riot on Friday and Saturday. 
“We have four days to sharpen our tools before another tough tournament,” said head coach Jordan Kopp.
“In just a couple of weeks, we are seeing some of the best wrestlers the state has to offer in class A and AA.”
 
JCC and RV triangular 
Against two strong programs, the Cardinals struggled to get anything going and lost both team matches.  
“Tuesday we wrestled a highly ranked team in state in Jackson,” Kopp said. “The kids went out and wrestled hard, but didn’t back down or fear the competition, which speaks highly of our team.”
He said the competition with Redwood went better.
“We won a couple of matches against Redwood,” Kopp said, “and our young kids gained more varsity experience.” 
 
JCC Pizza Ranch Invite 
The Cardinals placed two wrestlers, and for the second weekend in a row, Braydon Ripka stood on the podium.  
After losing his first-round match in a 7-4 decision to Hutchinson’s Parker Peterson, Ripka battled back first by pinning Adrian’s Rilee Heidebrink in 2:35. 
He then secured an 8-4 decision over JCC’s Skyler Andrews before losing again to Peterson 9-7.
In his fifth-place match Ripka topped Maple River’s Byron Getchall 5-2.  
“It could’ve gone a lot better, but I’m proud I wrestled back to the placement rounds,” Ripka said. “I wrestled a total of five matches in a day which was pretty tiring.” 
Luverne’s Rayden Boyenga secured a sixth-place finish and Noah Mehlhaff went 1-2.
“Jackson’s tournament always brings tough competition. We were missing a few guys that possibly could have placed as well,” Kopp said.
“The team wrestled hard and some came up a little short, but we gained more experience at a highly competitive level.”