1/22/08
John Queck has informed me that Anna is recovering from her heart surgery and is doing well. John also expressed his wish to thank all in the Cardinal wrestling family for you thoughts and prayers! Well John, just a thought- since Anna is part of the Cardinal family we knew she was a fighter! We wish her a speedy recovery.
And now for the other good news:
Congrats to the Cards who captured first place this weekend at the 9 team Eastview invitational tournament.
Results:
103 Kahron Nix 1st place
119 Dan Coughlin 3rd place
125 Kyle Anderson 2nd place
130 Mike Murphy 1st place
135 Chris Anderson 2nd place
140 Mike Cullen second place
145 Carter Adams / Jamarii Tucker - 1st place co-champs
152 Scott Gorham- 3rd place
160 Shamus O’Grady- 1st place
171 Erik Berdahl 1st place- believe it or not this was Erik’s first tournament he has won in high school- you can be there will be a few more!
189 Nick Creamier – second place- lost to the #1 Billy Morgan- put Morgan on his back but couldn’t keep him there.
215 Jason Engstrom didn’t wrestle due to high match count
285 Robbie Neisen- 2nd place
Cardinal Wrestling Fans,
The Coon Rapids Cardinals made believers out of many people this past weekend at the prestigious individual Minnesota Christmas tournament, when after the first three rounds Coon Rapids held the lead over the 33 team field which draws most of the state of Minnesota's elite teams as well as a few out state teams. The #3 rated Cards eventually finished in fifth place with 137.5 points, which is their highest finish in the 12 years we have been in the tournament, which surpassed the 9th place finish in 2004. It was an entire team effort since the Cardinals scored points at almost every weight.
The Cardinals exploded out of the blocks in the first round winning 11 of 13 matches (Mack was the recipient of a first round bye), and Kyle Anderson had the unfortunate draw of the #2 seed in the tournament. The Cardinals winning 11 of 13 opening round matches was impressive, but what was even more impressive was the fact that the Cardinals won 10 of those 11 matches by fall giving the Cardinals an additional 20 bonus points which propelled them into the lead which they held for the first three rounds and the first day of the tournament. However, the grueling tournament has a way of grinding individuals down to reveal only the best of the best and at the end of the day the Cardinals still had 5 wrestlers standing with two in the finals.
Shamus O'Grady, #1 at160lbs, entered the tournament undefeated with a 10-0 record and won his first four matches, two by fall and one by a major decision before facing a hard charging Adam Peterson from Hastings. Peterson coming down from 171lbs, posed a threat to O'grady's perfect record but in the end it was O'grady in a decision. The Championship match was an incredible back and forth battle of wills between two great kids. O'grady usually dominates from the mat but in the end it was O'grady who was turned to his back, losing a heartbreaking championship match to the #1 seed from from Iowa, just before the buzzer to lose 6-5. It was truly a classical championship match between two gladiators!
Nick Creamier, who is the #7 rated 189lb wrestler in the state and seeded seventh in the tournament decided to make a name for himself by wrestling a hard-nosed style throughout the tournament. Creamier defeated his first two opponents by fall and a decision. Creamier then wrestled like he had something to prove and found himself in the Championship finals when he upset the #4 seed from Apple Valley with a 9-5 score and then followed that upset with another upset of the #2 seed from North Dakota with a decisive 5-1 semifinal match. In the finals, Creamier battled the nationally ranked Caleb Lines and came up short by a 4-1 score.
Jason Engstrom #5 @ 215lbs, went 5-2 overall and came home with third place honors. Engstrom, seeded #5 in the tournament started with a fall and major decision before dropping a hard fought 2-1 overtime loss to Leonhardt from Spring Lake Park. Engstrom then went on to win his next three bouts before losing to the #1 rated Schumm in the third place match by a 6-1 score. Engstrom went 5-2 in the tournament.
Carter Adams #1 at 145lbs wrestling in the 152 pound weight class, came into the tournament at 9-0 and brought home hardware for a sixth place finish. Adams started the tournament with two pins and a 5-4 decision over Dorn #3 from Eagan before losing to the #1 rated Deitchler in the semifinals. Carter Adams then lost his next bout in an overtime match which set up a rematch with Dorn which he lost by decision. Adams was 3-3 in the tournament.
Erik Berdahl (171) started his tournament with a fall over a Champlin Park wrestler and then decided to pull off an upset of his own when he pinned the #5 rated Maxwell from Apple Valley. The unseeded Erik Berdahl (171 lbs. ) placed 8th place which secured the Cardinals place in the standings. Berdahl finished with three pins in the tournament. There was a two time State Champion at this weight class that went 0-2 which gives you some idea of the level of competition in this tournamet. Berdahl went 3-3 in the tournament.
103 Luke Stoker- 0-2 lost a hard fought first round match.
112 Kahron Nix- WBF, WBF, LBD , WBD, LBD
119 Chad Mack- 1-2 lost to the champion and 7th place finisher. This was the toughest weight in the tournament!
125 Kyle Anderson- LBD to #2 seed , WBF, lost in OT- GREAT MATCH!!
130 Mike Murphy - WBF, lost to eventual champion and to the #8 placer. This weight was also loaded with talent.
135 Ryan Sweezer- 1-2 found out he needs to be at a lower weight- can't wait for those two pounds in January!
140 Jamarii Tucker- 2-2 WBF, lost by decision to the #3 place winner, won by maj. lost in OT
145 Mike Cullen- 1-2 WBF, LBD, LBD
285 Robbie Neisen - W 14-3, WBF, LBF, LBD
L= LOST
B=BY
D= DECISION
F=FALL
M= MAJOR
FYI-
Our next MB Board Meeting will be at 5:00pm at CR's on Sunday, December 30th.
The second bus for the Rumble on the Red Tournament will be leaving on Friday morning at 4:30am yes that is AM which means it is important to be on time. The ROR tournament will begin at 9:00am. Please see Bobbi Adams if interested in going-space is limited! We will be putting additional kids on this bus since each bus has 55 seats. We have 60 kids going plus 7 managers and 9 coaches= 76 team members total. I believe we have 30 parents signed up on the bus so we are very close to capacity!
Bob and all Card's past and present... Congrats on a great showing at the X-Mas tourney. Nick Creamier, Shamus O'Grady, Carter Adams all had gritty performances. And the rest of the team fought hard too. I just want to comment on the website as well, it is informative and well laid out!!
Go Cards!!!
Regards,
Levi Hall
See our website at coonrapidswrestling.com
In less than 24 hours The Coon Rapids Cardinals wrestling team took on two of the States perennial wrestling powers in #1 rated AAA Apple Valley Eagles and the #1 AA rated St. Michael Knights (4 time defending State Champions).
On Friday night, The Cards fell behind early against AV and then closed the gap in the upper weights but came up short in a 36-20 loss. The Cards suprised many of the critics when they won 6 of 14 matches against AV who some argue is not only the best team in Minnesota but perhaps the third best team in the nation. AV lineup boasted 10 wrestlers rated in the top seven in the state including four number one rated wrestlers. Winning for the cards was Jamarrii Tucker (140), Carter Adams (152), Shamus O’grady (160), Nick Creamier (189), Jason Engstrom (215) and Robbie Neisen (285).
On Saturday, the Cards defended their own tournamnet title for the second year in a row by defeating Eastview 46-22 in the opening round followed by White Bear Lake in the Semi-finals 58-12 and the knocked off four time Defending State Champions St. Michael Albertville in the Finals in convincing fashion by a score of 46-16.
Carter Adams has now joined Shamus O’ Grady as the #1 rated man in his respective weight class and both wrestlers remain unbeaten at 9-0.
The Cards face Park Center this Thursday and then will compete in the always tough Individual Christmas Tournament this weekend in Rochester, Minnesota where 36 of the top rated teams in Minnesota will create some great individual head to head battles that should help solidify the individual state rankings.
Overall This weekend
103 Luke Stoker 10 2-7 1-3
112 Kahron Nix 9 #8 3-2 0-1
119 Chad Mack 11 #8 6-2 3-1
125 Kyle Anderson 11 4-4 2-1
130 Mike Murphy 11 8-1 3-1
135 Chris Anderson 11 5-3 2-1
140 Jamarii Tucker 12 8-1 4-0
145 Mike Cullen 12 6-3 3-1
152 Carter Adams 11 #1 9-0 4-0
160 Shamus O'Grady 12 #1 9-0 4-0
171 Erik Berdahl 11 6-3 3-1
189 Nick Creamier 12 7-2 4-0
215 Jason Engstrom 12 #9 7-1 3-1
285 Robbie Neisen 12 6-1 2-0
Dear Cardinal Wrestling Fans,
Join us for 2 great days of wrestling this week:
Friday- the Cards take on the #1 Apple Valley @ #2 CR start time is 6:00pm with the JV and Middle Schools
Varsity is at 7:00pm
Saturday - Cardinal Duals
#1 St. Michael, #2 Coon Rapids, #7 Henry Sibley, Osseo (state entrant last year), Moundsview (state entrant last year), White Bear Lake, Columbia Heights, and Eastview
We need people to help us out for our tournament this Saturday. This will actually be much easier then in years past since we will not be doing the little kids tournament on Sunday- so this should be a breeze. If you have benefited from our program then this is how you can help us out. We need the following:
Concessions stand workers 8 people to work a 4 hour shift from 8:00am-12:00pm and 12:00pm - 4:00pm
12-14 Table Workers - we already have 7-10 workers but we want our workers to be able to take a break so the more volunteers the easier for all!
2-4 people for admissions
Remember parents if your son is wrestling you can always leave to go watch him and then come back.
Please contact coach Adams asap @ 612-518-3741 cell 763-506-4843 school.
We will have a get together after the tournament at CR'S to talk about the day's events play a little pool and relax- since we don't have wrestling on Sunday!
We need your help- please step up to the plate on Saturday.
Thanks
Coach Adams
Cardinal Pride!
CRHS Parents,
We have our rooms- do you have yours?
Enclosed is the hotel information for CRHS tournaments this year. CRHS parents please note that you have until November 24th to book your rooms for the Christmas Tournament in Rochester- if you plan on attending book them asap. Information is enclosed please print a copy for your convenience.
Captains practice has started- hopefully kids are involved and getting those wrestling muscles back in wrestling shape. Practice is after school and conducted by the captains. Hey-maybe that's why it's called- "Captains Practice".
Congratulations to our Football team for an outstanding season- it was a great ride this year and I believe all the Coon Rapids fans out there know in their hearts that CR was certainly worthy of going to the State Tournament this year.
Congrats to Shamus O'grady who place 28th??(not exactly sure) in the State Cross Country Tournament last week. Don't be fooled about 28th place - that is actually very good- I believe the top 25 are concidered "All State" - so Famous Shamus missed it by an eyelash. Shamus called me last week and told me his goal was to be "All State" in two sports. Well shamus my boy- maybe you weren't All State in two sports but I'll bet you will be "All State" in wrestling for the second time- now how many wrestlers can say that???
I read a post on the guillotine over the summer from a coach who had something like 27 wrestlers qualify for the State Tournament over the years and all but one of them had run cross country. Well this season I believe we had 14 kids out for cross country- interesting huh?
Lance Burkhardt is currently working on updating our new and improved website. This new site will have more memory and allow us to run video as well as more pictures. Stay tuned!
BINGO ANYONE? If you haven't heard Scoops Pub has won the new Minnesota Mega Bingo jackpots 4 of the last 6 weeks which is incredible! Guess which site won in week 5- if you guessed CR's then you are correct! Soooooo 5 of 6 weeks a Coon Rapids site has won the Minnesota Bingo which is a state wide game- what are the odds of that? Better get your dobbers ready! Never mind - we supply them all you have to do is show up and play- start time is 6:30pm Monday Wednesday @ Scoops; Tuesday Thursday @ Shortstop and Wednesday Saturday (2:00pm) @ CR's.
Our season officially starts on Monday, November 19th It's going to be a fun ride climb on board- YIPPY SKIPPY!
Cardinal Pride!