Card wrestling: 41st Big Ole tomorrow at Jefferson

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BIG OLE TOMORROW

The varsity division of Alexandria’s 41st Big Ole wrestling tournament is set to begin at 11:30 a.m.

The second round, which will be the first and second round of wrestlebacks, begins at 1 p.m. with the finals beginning at 4 p.m.

All times are approximate, with continuous wrestling action and no breaks between rounds.

Junior varsity wrestling is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for students

If you’re a high school wrestling fan, then tomorrow is a big day for you.

Three state-ranked teams and 12 state-ranked individuals will be among the wrestlers to hit the mats at Jefferson High School Saturday as the Cardinals host the 41st annual Big Ole wrestling tournament.

The Cards, who boast two of those ranked wrestlers in seniors Cole Ellison and Andy Bouressa, have won two of the past Big Ole titles, those coming in 1988 and 2008.

The reigning champion, Frazee, is among the favorites again this year as they are ranked No. 5 among the Class A teams.

The Hornets hold seven previous titles, while the Wolverines of Wadena-Deer Creek have five. They are ranked No. 19 among the Class A teams.

No. 7 ranked Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg are also among the teams competing, with Minnewaska Area, Moorhead, Morris Area and Rocori hoping to make an upset bid for the crown.

Minnewaska won the title in both 2005 and 2006, while Moorhead has eight previous titles, those coming in 1972-1976 and again from 1979-1981.

Both Alexandria’s Ellison and Bouressa are ranked No. 9 in the Class AAA polls, with Ellison at 160 pounds and Bouressa at 189.

Ellison has two other wrestlers ranked in his weight class with Moorhead’s Chase Morlock No. 5 in Class AAA and Trevor Mahlum of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg sitting at No. 10 in Class A.

Bouressa has just one wrestler ranked at his weight class, but a tough one in Kody LaFraniere-Sorenson of Frazee, the No. 1 ranked Class A wrestler at 189 pounds.

Action begins at 11:30 p.m. for the varsity, with junior varsity action starting at 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

STATE-RANKED COMPETITORS

TEAMS

CLASS A – No. 5 Frazee, No. 7 Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, No. 19 – Wadena-Deer Creek.

INDIVIDUALS

CLASS A

103 pounds – No. 9 Jordan Engler, KMS; No. 10 Isaac Schermerhorn, Frazee.

112 – No. 7 Trevor Stilke, Frazee.

119 – No. 7 Mitch Steffens, Wadena-Deer Creek.

125 – No. 3 Tanner Ellenberg, Frazee.

130 – No. 4 Klinton VanHueveln, KMS.

140 – No. 6 Rij Koehnen, Frazee.

145 – No. 3 Casey Nunn, Frazee.

160 – No. 10 Trevor Mahlum, KMS.

189 – No. 1 Kody Lafraniere-Sorenson, Frazee.

CLASS AAA

160 – No. 5 Chase Morlock, Moorhead; No. 9 Cole Ellison, Alexandria.

189 – No. 9 Andy Bouressa, Alexandria.

BIG OLE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

1970 – Staples

1971 – Staples

1972 – Moorhead

1973 – Moorhead

1974 – Moorhead

1975 – Moorhead

1976 – Moorhead

1977 – cancelled/snowstorm

1978 – Benson

1979 – Moorhead

1980 – Moorhead

1981 – Moorhead

1982 – Rocori

1983 – Rocori

1984 – Rocori

1985 – Rocori

1986 – Rocori

1987 – Rocori

1988 – Alexandria

1989 – Willmar

1990 – Willmar

1991 – Rocori

1992 – Frazee

1993 – Frazee

1994 – Rocori

1995 – Wadena-Deer Creek

1996 – Wadena-Deer Creek

1997 – Wadena-Deer Creek

1998 – Willmar

1999 – Frazee

2000 – Frazee

2001 – Wadena-Deer Creek

2002 – Wadena-Deer Creek

2003 – Frazee

2004 – Frazee

2005 – Minnewaska

2006 – Minnewaska

2007 – cancelled/herpes gladiatorum virus

2008 – Alexandria

2009 – Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg

2010 - Frazee

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