We are an extremely young team with only three upper classmen competing, but still managed to finish our dual season with a winning record.”

Head coach Jake Fitzsimmons

The Oriole varsity wrestlers continue their season as regionals approach this weekend. Head coach Jake Fitzsimmons reflected recently on how things have been going this year.
“The boys wrestled well last week,” he said of the Lumberjack Invite and Cloverbelt Triangular. “We are an extremely young team with only three upper classmen competing, but still managed to finish our dual season with a winning record. That shows a lot of promise for the future. Our freshman and sophomores are really stepping up as the season progresses. We had some great performances from Carter Weltzin, Ryan Bowe, and Zephyr Greenhow all going 6-1 against some solid competition. 
“The girls had some tough competition at the 35 team Eau Claire North Husky Challenge including some teams from Minnesota. Nevaeh Walters was our top finisher taking third. Ava Kempf took fifth, Lillian Fitzl was sixth, and Koraline Pennala was seventh. The girls had a tough day after getting back late from Somerset. We have some things to work on and improve. I know the girls are ready to get back to work and get ready for the regional tournament.
Fitzsimmons shared thoughts on the Friday, Feb. 6 tournament at Regis before the event.
“The boys have the Cloverbelt Conference tournament on Friday at Regis and we are looking to show how much improvement we have made this year. I know there are wrestlers looking to redeem some losses from earlier in the year. Once that is done we start the WIAA postseason for both boys and girls.”
Fitzsimmons shared more after the event.
“The boys wrestled well,” he said. “We won quite a few matches that we had lost earlier in the year. I was impressed with how our younger wrestlers battled. We had 3 wrestlers make the finals and earn all conference recognition. Willy Graham and Carter Weltzin both earned 2nd place. Aaron Sturm took 1st and finished as a Conference Champ. Aaron and Willy both beat wrestlers they had lost to earlier this year. We still have things to improve on for sectionals next week, but I am excited about the team’s improvement. At sectionals the top two wrestlers will advance to state and the top six teams will advance to team sectionals.
“Our girls will be wrestling on Friday at Regionals in Edgar. The top 2 wrestlers advance to sectionals the following Friday. The team has some big goals and is working to earn the first regional championship in girls wrestling in school history.”