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| Willaert is champ! 3 others place at state |
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Posted: Thursday, March 4, 2010 10:33 am
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ST. PAUL - In over 50 years of Giants wrestling history, no team, no coach, no group of four individuals have gone into the state tournament and placed. But, that was until last weekend when captains Josh Willaert, Brett Pfarr, Sam Lindgren and Brett Schwartz made the record books.
"The feeling and the words of taking four of our kids to the state tournament and placing all of them is outstanding. We work dilligently all season and work relentlessly on the little things to fine tune their skills and it is nothing short of a memorable experience. I'm so proud of these boys and this community needs to be proud of them too. Le Sueur-Henderson is becoming a wrestling town and we build champions, that is something the community can be proud of too," head coach Scott Wilson said.
Willaert's state tournament run at 171 pounds finished with the highest honors, state champion. Willaert became only the fourth Giant wrestler to earn the title. He is also the third in as many years for the program under the direction of coach Wilson.
"Josh's work ethic and desire to do what it takes to be a state champion created avenues for him to get to the finals and then of course win the championship match. Josh's core strength, mental preping and will to win pushed him over the top and allowed him to stay composed through the entire tournament," Wilson said.
Willaert went 4-0 in the four day tournament with wins a 6-8 overtime win in the first round, 16-2 major decision in the quarter finals, a pin the semi-finals in 3:39 and a 7-6 decision in the finals.
In Willaert's championship match, he faced off against top ranked Ben McPhail of Pine Island. Willaert fell behind in the first period 1-4. But, he kept on the attack earning a sequence of takedowns in the last two periods to make the score 5-6 with seven seconds left.
"Josh never gave up and kept working and looking for an opportunity to score in the final seconds. He did so well keeping McPhail on defense that he received a stalling warning in the second period. In the finals seconds of the match, Josh worked for a lateral throw and put McPhail on his back as time ran out. He didn't get back points, but it was good enough for a two-point takedown and the lead," Wilson said.
Willaert's excitement and glory in the come from behind match made the entire crowd inside the Excel Energy Center rise to a roar.
"Josh is a kid that loves to win, he is a big time wrestler that loves to put on a show for the crowd. He has confidence and is a very respectable young man to his peers and to his opponents. And, as a result, Josh has made a household name for himself in the wrestling community across the state," Wilson said.
In the 140 pound weight class, Brett Pfarr went up against season rival, Tony Vaske of River Valley. Pfarr's only two losses going into the state championship match were issued by Vaske, top ranked wrestler all season. In addition, the match was a rematch of the section championship just one week prior where Pfarr gave Vaske his only loss of the season with a upset decision.
"Brett had a phenominal tournament. He pinned in the first round and the quarterfinals and dominated his opponents. Going into the finals we knew Brett was going to have to take Vaske out of his element and slow the pace down. But, unfortunately for Brett Vaske took the match to a higher level and wrestled one fantastic, well put together, match," Wilson said.
Pfarr lost in the championship match by a 4-11 decision, but being a state runner-up as a sophomore is pretty good all the same.
"No one could be able to say that Brett underachieved by being a state runner-up. He put together a really good four day tournament and despite wanting to be a 3-time state champion we are proud of the accomplishment he has done. I'm condifent that the championship round will be seeing Brett in the next few years again," Wilson said.
Sam Lindgren and Brett Schwartz also medaled at the state tournament earning sixth place.
Schwartz, 130 pounds, won two decisions in the first round and in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to the eventual state runner-up. In the wrestle back rounds, Schwartz lost twice, both by decisions. the 2010 state tournament was Schwartz's first state tournament.
Senior, Lindgren, 152 pounds went 1-1 in the first two rounds and came back in the wrestle backs to win twice securing a medal. Lindgren's 2010 state tournament was his third in as many years and he is the only LSH wrestler to ever win three section championships.
"Brett and Sam had great tournaments. I think they would have liked to do better, but I'm so proud of how they handled themselves at the tournament, how the represented themselves, our team, school and community. If you aren't knowledgable about wrestling you don't really know the intensity and grilling practice it takes to even make it to the state tournament and once you are there the mental anguish it can cause. Many really good wrestlers lose out early because they can't handle the mental side of wrestling on the stage of the Excel. But, Brett and Sam did and it is a feat only six Minnesota wrestlers in Class A can say they did," Wilson said.
By placing sixth or better in the state tournament, wrestlers are awarded All-State honors, Willaert, Pfarr, Lindgren and Schwartz all received state recognition for this achievement as well.
"Our wrestlers give hard work a new name. They are determined to make fireworks happen and they are excellent role models for our younger athletes. Not only are they hard working, and have tramendous talent, but they are great kids with good hearts and respectable demeanors. At the tournament there are dozens and dozens of schools being represented and I get many compliments on how our kids act and present themselves. This is something that is just as important as being a talented wrestler because it shows their character and nature and I'm proud to be their coach," Wilson said.
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