Still a Work in Progress
The Prior Lake wrestling team is still a work in progress.
The Lakers went 1-2 in their annual Ron Edwards Duals Dec. 13, getting a win over Farmington, before falling to Simley and St. Michael-Albertville.
Prior Lake dropped from No. 3 to No. 8 in the latest Class 3A poll following its 4-6 start (3-2 in the South Suburban Conference). The Lakers will compete in the annual Christmas Tournament Dec. 19-20 in Rochester, which features many of the state's top wrestlers from all three classes.
The Lakers still have six ranked wrestlers - ninth-grader Curtis LeMair (No. 8, 106), ninth-grader Zach Smith (No. 6, 113), senior Dylan Sogge (No. 8, 138), ninth-grader Kenny O'Neil (No. 9, 145), senior Rylee Streifel (No. 3, 220) and senior Alex Hart (No. 1, heavyweight).
At the Ron Edwards Duals, the Lakers earned a 44-25 win over No. 11 Farmington, which also served as an SSC competition. Prior Lake followed losing 33-24 to Simley, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, and 52-18 to No. 2 St. Michael-Albertville.
In beating Farmington, the Lakers earned three wins by fall - sophomore Gunner Charbonneau at 132, O'Neil at 145, senior Anthony Perez at 170 and Streifel at heavyweight.
Smith won by technical fall for the Lakers at 120 (16-1), while LeMair earned a 3-0 decision at 106. Senior Jesse Miller and junior Collin O'Brien both won by forfeit at 195 and 220 pounds, respectively.
Against Simley, Steifel had the Lakers' lone win by fall doing so at 220.
Other winners: LeMair at 106 (4-0), Smith at 120 (8-2), ninth-grader Theo Smith at 126 (3-0), Charbonneau at 132 (5-0), O'Neil at 145 (8-4) and junior Wyatt Benson at 152 (8-3).
In the loss to St. Michael-Albertville, the Lakers had three wins - Zach Smith at 120 by fall, O'Neil at 145 by fall and Streifel at 220 by forfeit.
Hart didn't wrestle for the Lakers in the duals. He's the defending Class 3A state champion at 220 pounds. He's expected to compete in the Christmas tourney.
Prior Lake will open 2015 in the Clash National Duals in Rochester Jan. 2-3. The Lakers have been invited to compete for a third straight year.
There are 32 teams in the field, including defending champion and top-ranked Apple Valley, St. Michael-Albertville, No. 3 Hastings, No. 4 Shakopee, and No. 7 Anoka, In Class 2A, No. 2 Totino Grace is competing, while there are three teams from Class 1A, No. 1 Minneota, No. 2 Jackson County Central and No. 5 Kenyon-Wannamingo.
To see the entire field, which features teams from all over the Midwest, go to http://www.clashmn.com.