Medford at St. Michael Albertville

By JOHN BLACKMER
FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS
January 14th, 2000

When the Medford wrestling squad traveled to St. Michael-Albertville, the coaches were secretly hoping to get their headgear handed back to them on a platter by the No. 2-ranked Class 2A team. Instead, the Tigers, a rising Class 1A power, came home with a dramatic 25-25 tie despite having an injured Blaine Kuhlman in the chairs. The dramatics included a surprise pin by Bob Hanson at 171. "Last summer we scheduled this match for early January so our kids could get pushed around, get a good taste of defeat, and learn what they needed to improve going into the final weeks," admitted Tiger coach Dennis Wittman. "I guess it didn't happen." Medford won the first four matches to take a 13-0 lead, including a major decision by Nick Yule and an overtime win by Brent Reinhard. "We knew those first matches were going to be huge," said Wittman. "Then later, it was too bad Blaine was unable to wrestle and we had to give up the forfeit. Had he wrestled, it could have meant a nine point swing." Kuhlman, who became the school's all-time win leader Tuesday, will miss at least a week.

With the Tigers still holding a 19-15 lead going into the final three matches, the Knights still thought the night was to be theirs. "We thought we'd win the last three matches and win the meet," confided Knight coach Greg Greeno. "They are some of our best wrestlers." The Knights did claim the final two, but not until after Medford's Hanson pushed his opponent to his back in the third period for the Tiger's only pin, at 171. "Our intensity made the difference," said Wittman. "Our kids were pushing the action all night. Even in the matches where we weren't physically as tough, we had a chance because our kids came out more intense than they did." Medford is now 6-0-1, along with three tournament wins. They next host Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton on Thursday, Jan. 20.

Thanks, Faribault Daily News