Mitch Steffens won the Wolverines' only individual title as Wadena-Deer Creek placed fifth at the annual Big Ole Tournament in Alexandria on Saturday.

 

Steffens won the 112 pound weight class when he pinned Zach Carlson of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in just 32 seconds.

 

Joel Bauman (12, 189 lbs.) of K-M-S was named the outstanding wrestler.

Frazee won the tournament with 239 points.  W-DC earned 127 and finished ahead of only their hosts from Alexandria.

 

Minnewaska Area and Morris Area/Hancock were scheduled to compete, but pulled out of the tournament when several West Central South Conference wrestling teams decided to shut down for a few days as a precutionary measure after a wrestler from one of the conference teams reportedly had a skin condition at the conference tournament last weekend in Montevideo.

"We have been advised not to wrestle any other schools until after next Tuesday because our wrestlers were exposed to the skin condition," Lakers' head coach Wes Tessman told the West Central Tribune.

It should be noted the MSHSL did not order the schools to stop wrestling, but many did as a precaution.

Wadena-Deer Creek did have Zach Bernu (119) and Isaac Lustila (171) in the finals at their respective weights, but both were defeated.

 

Placing third for the Wolverines were Jordan Rentz (130) and Aaron Uselman (160), while Sam Waln (103), and Dylan Anderson finished fourth.

 

Nolan Johnson placed sixth at 189 pounds.