By Derek Simon

[email protected]

The Hastings wrestling team competed in a triangular Thursday and a dual match on Saturday this past week. On Thursday night, the Raiders faced off against Irondale and North St. Paul. On Saturday, Hastings took on Cretin Derham Hall. The Raiders dual record coming into Thursday night’s matches was 18-4, winners of 12 straight.

Thursday night’s first victim was Irondale. Hastings would win 13 of the 14 matches. Six wins by fall and three technical fall wins for the Raiders as they defeat Irondale easily 72-5. North St. Paul was Hastings second opponent on the evening, and they did not fare any better against the dominant Raiders. Hastings again wins 13 of 14 matches in a 77-6 win. This time Hastings would again win six matches by fall. The Raiders win 26 of the 28 matches they wrestled on the night!

“I think now I’m 20 and two, with losses to two kids that are ranked ahead of me,” said Blake Beissel after his win.

The Raiders 106 pounder has had an outstanding season so far. The Freshman is ranked

7th in the state in his weigh class.

“Well, he kind of came out. He was like, kind of defensive right away so I couldn’t really get to my first attack. But then a couple attacks later finally got to take them down, and then get to work on top. Halfway through the first I just let him go, and then I just like, blasted a double right through him and put him on his back scoring a near-fall. Then I got, I think, two or three more turns in the match and then like two takedowns and an escape,” added Beissel. Beissel scored the technical win by outscoring his opponent 16-1.”

On Saturday, the Raiders squared off against Cretin Derham Hall. Cretin had to forfeit all but four weight classes, and Hastings would win three of the four matches. Still, the Cretin match was the closest match of the week for Hastings as the Raiders win 71-6. Hastings wrestlers combine to go 38-3 this week! With another dominant win, Hastings improves to

21-4 on the season and have won 15 straight dual matches.

Individual results for the week:

106 #7 ranked Beissel had another perfect week going 3-0.

113 Creed Peterson was 2-0 with a win by fall. Mark Svoboda was 1-0.

120 Jack Bainbridge was 2-0 with both wins by fall. Steve Seleski was 1-0.

126 Skylar Little Soldier, Fletcher Peterson, and Cody Wenzel were all 1-0.

132 Caleb Folstrom and Peterson were 1-0. Little Soldier was 0-1.

138 Derrick Steinke was 1-1 this week, Isaiah Lavergne was 1-0.

145 Josh Route had another undefeated week going 3-0 with two wins by fall.

152 Aiden Erickson had a perfect 3-0 week.

160 Nolan Myers was 2-0 with a win by fall. Ian Pepple was 1-0 with a tech fall win.

170 Rico Cooper was 3-0 this week with a win by fall.

182 Sam O’Connor was 2-1 on the week. Both wins by fall.

195 Blake Clemons was 2-0 this week with a win by fall. Tyler Miller was 1-0.

220 Miller was 2-0 with a win by fall. Austin Leflay was 1-0.

285 Leflay was 2-0 with a win by fall. Hastings did not wrestle heavyweight against Cretin.

The wrestlers will return to action on Friday March 5th when they travel to Goodhue. The Raiders will then prepare for the section tournament on March 11th.