The Prior Lake wrestling team continues to make progress heading into the New Year.

The Lakers earned two South Suburban Conference dual wins Dec. 20 at the Rosemount triangular, beating the host Irish 52-22 and Farmington 37-31.

The Lakers (4-5 overall, 3-0 in the SSC) will compete in the Rumble on the Red in Fargo Dec. 28-29 to close out 2018. Prior Lake will compete in another SSC triangular at Eagan Jan. 4 with Lakeville North also there starting at 5 p.m.

In beating Rosemount, a Section 2AAA foe, Prior Lake had five wins by fall and two by forfeit, which accounted for 42 of its 52 team points.

Earning falls for the Lakers were ninth-grader Cole Edwards at 138, sophomore Colton Sund at 145, senior Scott Gray at 152, senior Logan Edwards at 160 and senior Calvin Sund at 195.

Sophomore Teagan Block and junior Cory St. Martin had forfeit wins at 106 and 120 pounds, respectively.

Sophomore Gabe McDonald won 3-2 at 113 pounds for Prior Lake, while junior Chase Bloomquist earned a 3-0 decision at 132 and sophomore Tanner Newlin had a 9-1 victory at 170.

In beating Farmington, the Lakers were down 31-22 going into the final three weights, before coming back, aided by two forfeit wins. Calvin Sund won by forfeit at 195, as did sophomore Brandon Butler at heavyweight.

At 220, ninth-grader Ricky Gonser earned a 7-4 decision that tied the dual at 31-31.

The Lakers won four of the first five matches to build a 22-6 lead. The Tigers won the next five to lead by nine points after 182 pounds.

St. Martin earned a fall for the Lakers at 120, as did Bloomquist at 132. Block earned a 10-2 major decision at 106, while McDonald won 7-1 at 113 and Cole Edwards won 6-3 at 138.

New Class 3A state rankings came out Dec. 21 and Calvin Sund climbed to the No. 1 spot at 195. Sund was the state runner-up last year at 182 pounds.

Block stayed ranked at 106 pounds, moving up to the No. 8 spot. St. Martin dropped out the rankings at 126.

Section 2AAA has three teams ranked in the top 12 with Shakopee at No. 1, Apple Valley at No. 2 and New Prague at No. 6.

Prior Lake will wrestle at New Prague Jan. 11 in the annual Highway 13 Rumble. The Lakers will be home to both Shakopee Jan. 19 and Apple Valley Jan. 24 in SSC action. All three duals start at 7 p.m.

Prior Lake also has invitationals in Elk River Jan. 12 and Cambridge-Isanti Jan. 19.