by Dennis Dalman
The Sartell Sabre youth wrestling team won the Pool 5 statewide championship last weekend at the Northland Youth Wrestling Association’s tournament in Rochester.
There were 32 teams, plus individual wrestlers, competing at the event.
On Sunday, in the Pool 5 competition, the team won after defeating two teams, winning over Minneota 33-27 and over Foley 45-30.
On the day before, Saturday, the Sabre team results in Bracket A were four wins, one loss. The Sabres defeated – by a score of 65-12 – a collective team comprised of wrestlers from Tracy-Milroy-Balaton-Westbrook-Walnut Grove. The next match was very close, but thanks to a pin by Sabre Jack Seesz, the team gained six points to win 36-25 over its opponent, the Brainerd team.
The Sabres’ lone loss in Bracket A was to overall tournament champion St. Michael-Albertville.
Sartell individual wrestlers also did well at the tournament. The individuals and team members are in grades K-6.
Sabre wrestlers qualified for the state tournament March 18 in a tournament at Pierz.
Individual results from the tournament in Rochester are as follows:
Landon Thom, 0-1, did not place.
Emmett Coffin, 2-2, did not place.
Liam Thom, 0-2, did not place.
Jack McGrew, 0-2, did not place.
Jayce Gruber, 4th place, 5-6 grade category, 88 pounds.
Otto Lang, 0-2, did not place.
Jack Seesz, 2nd place, 5-6 grade category, 140 pounds.
The Sartell team is coached by Dustin Coffin, Nick Gruber, Alex Pachan, Justin Smith, Avery Starz and Corey Winkelman.
The Sartell Sabres Youth Wrestlers, grades k-6, celebrated after its team won the Pool 5 State Champion Award in Rochester last weekend. Thirty-two teams from throughout the state competed at the Northland Youth Wrestling Association.
