Tanager wrestling team competes at Holiday tourney in Sioux Falls

"The Tanager Wrestling Team had an oustanding performance at Floyd Farrand Wrestling Tournament," said Vermillion coach Casey O'Connor.

The team ended the tournament with a 3rd place finish as a team behind Sturgis and Wagner.

The Tanagers had two individual champions, seniors, Luke Heine at 171 and Thomas Mollet at 285. "Both of those individuals wrestled strong throughout the tournament and made the difference from their feet," said O'Connor.

The Tanagers also had oustanding performances from Lance Burkhart, Andrew Eidem, Tanner Mart, Chris Mart, Nick Mart and Gerrit Heine. These individuals placed in the top 8 at the tournament.

"We knew the Lincoln tournament was going to be an excellent indicator of our performance for the first half of the season. It was a great way to go into a Christmas Break," Coach O'Connor said. "We are looking forward to the next two weeks off to address a few concerns and to take care of the bumps and bruises."

The Tanagers next competition will be Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at the Brandon Valley Invitational.

Team Scores: 1st – Wagner, 197; 2nd – Sturgis, 196.5; 3rd – Vermillion, 154; 4th – Canton, 150; 5th – Sioux Falls Washington, 141; 6th – Watertown, 129; 7th – Howard, 128.5; 8th – Parkston, 118; 9th – Milbank, 108; 10th – Garretson, 100.5; 11th, Brandon Valley, 82; 12th – Sioux Falls Lincoln, 68.5; 13th – Sioux Falls O'Gorman, 55; 14th – Sisseton, 53.5; 15th – Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 35; 16th – Lennox, 32; 17th – Harrisburg, 22; 18 – Brookings, 18.

First Round results: 112 – Lance Brukhart (VER) WBF over Noah Halma (BV) in 3:30; 119 – Earl Kiertzner (VER) dec. over Peter Meyer (SFO) 6-4; 130 – Nate Wilson (STUR) WBF over Tony Hubert (VER) in 0:58; 135 – Rex Lyon (STUR) dec. over Brad Orr (VER) 5-4; 140 – Francis Ruml (HOW) WBF over Jeff Anglin (VER) in 3:35; 145 – Andrew Eidem (VER) dec. over Scott Stone (WAT) 14-8; 152 – Tanner Mart (VER) WBF over Jordan Larson (SFW) in 1:37; 160 – Chris Mart (VER) dec. over Nathan Kann (WAT) 6-3; 171 – Luke Heine (VER) WBF over Karl Freed (SFR) in 3:51; 189 – Nick Mart (VER) received a BYE; 215 – Gerrit Heine (VER) WBF over Kyle Schlimgen (PARK) in 1:59; 285 – Thomas Mollet (VER) received a BYE.

Quarterfinals results: 112 – Lance Burkhart (VER) dec. over David Jackson (STUR) 7-3; 119 – Tim Waterman (SFL) WBF over Earl Kiertzner (VER) in 3:06; 145 – Andrew Eidem (VER)

WBF over Kyle Moe (HOW) in 2:30; 152 – Tanner Mart (VER) dec. over Travis Gruidel (SFO) 9-4; 160 – Tom Davies (CAN) WBF over Chris Mart (VER in 1:06; 171 – Luke Heine (VER) WBF over Dana Johnson (MIL) in 1:11; 189 – Nick Mart (VER) won by injury default over Josh Sween (BROOK); 215 – Gerrit Heine (VER) won by decision over Austin Genzlinger (HOW) 3-2; 285 – Thomas Mollet (VER) WBF over Marcus Veflin (WAT) in 3:30.

First Round Wrestleback results: 130 – Johnny Bucklin (SISS) WBF over Tony Hubert (VER) in 3:18; 135 Brad Orr (VER) dec. over Jake Kloster (CAN) 6-5; 140 – Jeff Anglin (VER) dec. over Brandon Haschke (SFR) 11-8.

Second Round Wrestleback results: 119 – Dan DeVaney (SFW) WBF over Earl Kiertzner (VER) in 2:59; 135 – Josh Jorgensen (LEN) won by maj. dec. over Brad Orr (VER) in 2:34; 140 – Tanner Lunstra (BV) over Jeff Anglin (WER) in 2:34; 160 – Chris Mart (VER) won by maj. Dec. over Alex Wagner (SFR) 16-5.

Semifinal Round results: 112 – Alex Kocer (WAG) won by maj. dec. over Lance Burkhart (VER) 10-2; 145 – Andrew Eidem (VER) WBF over Connor McIntire (SFR) in 1:38; 152 – Robert Kokesh (WAG) won by tech fall over Tanner Mart (VER) 16-1; 171 – Luke Heine (VER) won by maj. dec. over Taylor Harris (HAR) 14-4; 189 – Tigh Faehnrich (CAN) dec. over Nick Mart (VER) 6-3; 215 Jake Stygles (STUR) won by maj. dec. over Gerrit Heine (VER) 15-7. 285 – Thomas Mollet (VER) WBF over Mike Bankes (GARR) in 0:23.

Third Round Wrestleback results: 160 – Eric Reiff (PARK) dec. over Chris Mart (VER) 7-5.

Fourth Round Wrestleback results: 119 – Lance Burkhart (VER) dec. over Joe Schiefter (PARK) 7-3; 152 – Tanner Mart (VER) WBF over Kasey Uecker (BV) in 4:56; 189 – Nick Mart (VER) WBF over Jeff Trapp (MIL) in 2:20; 215 – Garrit Heine (VER) WBF over Nate Neuberger (BV) in 5:40.

Finals: 112 – Lance Burkhart (VER) dec. over Logan Dolen (CAN) 6-5; 145 – Josh Schieffer (PARK) WBF over Andrew Eidem (VER) in 3:34; 152 – Jordan Larson (SFW) dec. over Tanner Mart (VER) 5-4; 160 – Chris Mart (VER) dec. over Trent Nelson (SISS) 5-3; 171 – Luke Heine (VER) won by maj. dec. over Tel Iverson (SISS) 12-1; 189 – Nick Mart (VER) dec. over Jeff Trapp (MIL) 7-3; 215 – Tabor Martin (CAN) dec. over Gerrit Heine (VER) 11-4; 285 – Thomas Mollet (VER) WBF over Casey Shadbolt (SFL) in 1:06.

Individual Placing: 112 – Lance Burkhart, 3rd place; 145 – Andrew Eidem, 2nd place; 152 – Tanner Mart, 4th place; 160 – Chris Mart, 7th place; 171 – Luke Heine, 1st place; 189 – Nick Mart, 3rd place; 215 – Gerrit Heine, 4th place; 285 – Thomas Mollet, 1st place.