Wrestling: Coon Rapids gained its revenge

by Tom Yelle
Sportsweek staff

Coon Rapids remained in the quest for a share of the Northwest Suburban title last week with a decisive win over Osseo, then over last weekend avenged a dual meet loss it suffered back in December that ultimately may prevent it from winning the conference championship outright.

In round two of the Blaine Duals tournament  -- following a 56-18 first-round win over Bemidji -- Coon Rapids beat up the same Elk River team (by a 43-20 margin) to which it had lost earlier in the conference season 30-25.

This time around, however, Coon Rapids was a different team, specifically with a different heavyweight. Tanner Lowe did not wrestle the first time Coon Rapids met Elk River, a missing link that definitely could have been a difference-maker for the Cardinals.

In this rematch, Lowe's presence in the line up did not determine which team won and which lost, but it was nonetheless a nice security blanket had the dual gone down to the final match.

And when the big man did hit the mat -- long after Coon Rapids had secured the semifinal victory in this tournament -- Lowe sent a clear message of what could have been back in December by dismantling his Elk River opponent via technical fall 20-3. This festival of points caused Coon Rapids head coach Bob Adams to query afterward [in speaking to those who follow the intricacies of high school wrestling]:

"When's the last time you saw a heavyweight score 20 points?"

Lowe's performance was also the team's satisfaction capper in what Adams said was Coon Rapids ' best performance of the year.

Coon Rapids opened with Cooper Anderson's come-from-behind 9-7 win at 103. After a loss at 112, Coon Rapids ' Darren Gagne showed his explosive ability by scoring a second-period fall and that was complemented by Brandon Peterson's gritty 10-7 decision win at 125.

Kahron Nix came through at 130 pounds with a 18-2 win via technical fall, which afforded Coon Rapids four wins in the first five matches. Elk River took the next match at 135 pounds, but the tone was set; Elk River had to gamble. The situation forced Elk River into a win-or-be-in-big-trouble match shortly after to stem Coon Rapids ' momentum.

Consequently, Elk River's best wrestler, Tyler Stevens, was sent out to face Coon Rapids ' top individual Chad Mack in the 145-pound match.  Stevens and Mack did not wrestle back in December, but last season the two split a pair of matches, which set up the pivotal point in the dual meet.

This match was as close as anticipated -- tied 2-2 late in the third -- but Mack was stronger at the finish. In a whirlwind moment, Mack came through with an escape and take down to regain a 3-point lead before he executed his patented banana splits hold to settle the issue by pinning Stevens.  

From there, it was Coon Rapids ' meet thanks to some continued tough wrestling.

Matt Julkowski at 152 and Austin Lubinski at 160 were two, who stepped up to get the job done. Julkowski held off his foe for a 4-3 win, while Julkowski came from behind in the third period to take the lead and score a fall and mathematically seal the team's win.

Coon Rapids moved on into the final round where it was dispatched handily by the tournament's top-seeded team Milaca 46-7. Without Mack in the line up (because of a match count issue), Coon Rapids won just two matches -- Colton Adams at 140 and Lowe at heavyweight.

The team hopes to win considerably more this week, Friday night, Feb. 12, at Anoka in the conference finale. But it won't be easy by any means. Anoka plans to celebrate its history by honoring many of its former wrestlers, who will be special guests for Alumni Night.

Still, it will be an opportunity for Coon Rapids to finish with another big win and with it, a share of the Northwest Suburban title.