Tiger team is ready to wrestle

Chokio-Alberta has paired with Morris Area/Hancock to form the 2008-09 Tiger wrestling team.

Second-year coach Shane Tappe said he will have some open weights again this season with a young and inexperienced team.

"Later on in the season, some of the younger wrestlers can fill those weights," said Tappe. "I don't want to throw them to the wolves just yet."

The Tigers hit the mats Saturday at the Redwood Valley duals.

"I think the kids came together as a team this weekend," said Tappe of the bus trip home. "They may not be the most athletic and aggressive wrestlers, but they make up for it by being good kids."

There are two seniors on the roster. Josh Nelson will wrestle at 135 and Corey O'Keefe will fill the 160-pound class.

Juniors Eric Goette wrestles at 130 and Tanner Berning wrestles at 152.

A sophomore with varsity experience, Tim Ostby will wrestle at 125. Freshman Tony Domnick, also with varsity experience, will fill the 103 spot.

New to the varsity roster this season are 7th grader Jordan Thooft at 112, freshman John Zierke at 119, sophomore Eric Wulf at 145, sophomore Ryan Beyer at 171, junior Jeff Knobloch at 189, freshman Zach Gibson at 215, and freshman James Newhouse at 285.

Tappe expects Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City and Yellow Medicine East to be tough in the West Central Conference South, while Minnewaska, Paynesville, and BOLD could also present a challenge.

Results from Redwood Valley

Redwood Valley 54, Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta 24

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 68, Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta 9

Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 46, Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta 34