Top-ranked Jackson County Central and fourth-ranked Spirit Lake Park proved why they are two of the top wrestling programs in their respective states on Saturday, finishing first and third, respectively, at the Jackson Pizza Ranch Invitational. The Huskies earned a meet-high 209.5 points to take the team crown, followed by Wabasso/Red Rock Central with 191 points, and the Indians with 156.5 points. Worthington/Round Lake-Brewster garnered 84 points to take ninth place, just ahead of Fairmont/Martin County West at 72.5 points. Spirit Lake Park crowned two champions, Doug Miner (113) and Zach Skopec (120), while also placing two runners-up, Isaac Lundgren (138) and Casey Jones (195). The Huskies won six individual titles, with Eliot Jurries (126), Paden Moore (145), Luke Norland (152), Darick Vancura (160), Cooper Moore (182) and Alex Tewes (285) all standing atop the medal stand. SLP wrestles again on Thursday, when they host Cherokee and LeMars in a Lakes Conference triangular on KUOO Campus Radio.
Emmetsburg hosted their annual wrestling invite on Saturday. The nine-team event was won by Humboldt with 215 points. Ft. Dodge was second (190), Estherville-Lincoln Central third (175), and the hometown E-Hawks fourth at 136 points. Okoboji capped the day with a fifth place finish, tallying 122 points. Tanner Taylor (182) earned the lone individual championship for the Pioneers, while Zach Jones (160) and Justin Richardson (170) earned runners-up honors. Okoboji returns to the mats Thursday at Central Lyon/George-Little for a triangular with the Lions and West Lyon. The Midgets registered three champions, Oacar Ramirez (120), Lee Bates (170), and Gable Bonner (285). Emmetsburg’s three title winners were Justin Studer (145), Brady Bailey (152), and Tayler Wegner (195).
