Sports
Four Simley Wrestlers Win State Titles
The Spartans had five wrestlers competing in state championship matches on Saturday
Pedro DeLao has spent his entire childhood dreaming of the moment he finally achieved on Saturday night.
Even though his body ached from the rigorous battles at this week’s Class AA state wrestling tournament, the Simley junior pressed on toward his ultimate goal.
“I just kept pushing myself,” DeLao said. “I wanted to win this. It’s been my dream since I was in first grade.”
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DeLao made his goal a reality on Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, defeating Kasson-Mantorville’s Tony Morrow 7-2 in the 119-pound championship match.
He was one of four Simley wrestlers to win a state championship on Saturday. Kyle Gliva won at 103 pounds, Jake Short won at 140 pounds and Nick Wanzek took home the title at 145 pounds.
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Micah Barnes also competed in a state title match at 160 pounds, losing to Foley's Tyler Lewandowski.
The Spartans also picked up third place finishes from Matt Kruse at 135 pounds and Dan Dick at 152 pounds. In all, Simley had eight wrestlers competing at Saturday’s state event.
“It feels great,” DeLao said. “It’s the best feeling ever to me.”
SIMLEY INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
103: Kyle Gliva — def. MONT Logan Stiller by tech. fall (18-3); def. DL Gabe Foltz 15-3; def. FOL Tristan Manderfeld 3-2; Chamionship: def. BSM Jarred Oftedahl 8-1.
119: Pedro DeLao — def. AML Jordan Hanan 8-7; def. CLA Quade Zupko 9-0; def. DB/LQP John Weeding 4-2 (OT); Championship: def. KM Tony Morrow 7-2.
130: Mack Short — def. GLP Mitchel Hartwig 6-3; loses to WIN Drake Borsgard 6-0; loses to NB Jake Kostik by inj. default.
135: Matt Kruse — def. MAR Derek Varpness 12-4; def. FOL Sam Keeler (9-1); loses to SW Gabe Fogarty 3-0; def. LF Dillon Kifer 5-2; 3rd- loses to KM Garrett Garness 3-1.
140: Jake Short — def. WAS Bruce Harguth 8-0; def. MONT Jake Schmitz by tech. fall (16-0); def. GR Zac Bainville 3-2; Championship: def. ALB Jamie Holt 3-2.
145: Nick Wanzek — def. WAB Mitchell Rohlik 3-0; def. TRF Nathaniel Holecek 13-0; def. WM/ML Joey Stadnick 1-0; Championship: def. NLS Shawn Hatlestad 4-3
152: Dan Dick — def. DB/LQP Codie Weeding 11-2; def. STEW Eric Twohey by fall (5:32); loses to MONT Tyler Mergen 5-3; def. SW Tyler Zilverberg 4-2; 3rd- def. ANN Jesse Puncochar 4-2.
160: Micah Barnes — def. VIR Kyle Nanti by fall (3:46); def. SW Nick Dvorak by fall (2:32); def. DB/LQP Sam Haas 7-4; Championship: loses to FOL Tyler Lewandowski 3-2.
