Card wrestling: Big Ole hits the mats tomorrow

Talk about it

Alexandria’s Big Ole wrestling invitational – one of the longest running and most prestigious tournaments in outstate Minnesota – is on for Saturday.

Showcasing high caliber talent from all over the state in all classes, the Cardinals will be hosting the 40th annual invitational, with varsity action beginning at 11:30 a.m. and running straight through with no breaks.

This year’s tournament is no different in its talent level and features two state-ranked teams in Frazee (No. 6 in Class A) and Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (No. 8 in Class A).

Frazee is also the two-time defending champion, having won in 2010 and 2011. In all, the Hornets own eight tournament titles. KMS won the title in 2009.

Individually, 14 state-ranked wrestlers will hit the mats, including Alexandria’s own Trent Piepenburg (No. 7 at 103 in Class AAA) and Justin Cumberbatch (No. 9 at 220 in Class AAA).

The Big Ole tournament dates back to 1970 and this would be the 42nd event, but the tournament was cancelled in 1977 due to a snowstorm, and again in 2007 with a statewide outbreak of the herpes gladiatorum virus.

40TH BIG OLE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

VARSITY SCHEDULE

11:30 a.m. – First round

1 p.m. – Second round; First/second round wrestlebacks

4 p.m. – Finals (first-sixth places). All matches wrestled simultaneously.

JV TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

9:30 a.m. – Matches 1-4

10:45 a.m. – Matches 5-8

Noon – Seventh place on mat 4

1:15 p.m. – Fifth place on mat 4

2:30 p.m. – Third place on mat 4

3:45 p.m. – First place on mat 4

STATE RANKED INDIVIDUALS

103 POUNDS – 6. Jordan Engler, KMS, Class A; 7. Trent Piepenburg, Alexandria, Class AAA.

113 POUNDS – 3. Mitch Steffens, Wadena-Deer Creek, Class A.

120 POUNDS – 8. Cody Peters, KMS, Class A.

138 POUNDS – 2. Bruce Lemon, Frazee, Class A.

152 POUNDS – 3. Rij Koehnen, Frazee, Class A, 8. Tim Ostby, Morris Area/HCA, Class AA.

160 POUNDS – 2. Jordon Rothers, KMS, Class A; 10. Tyler Ziegler, Frazee, Class A.

170 POUNDS – 3. Chase Morlock, Moorhead, Class AAA.

220 POUNDS – 2. Rick Brandt, Frazee, Class A; 6. Tony Reurink, Wadena-Deer Creek, Class A; 9. Justin Cumberbatch, Alexandria, Class AAA.

285 POUNDS – 7. Zach Gibson, Morris Area/HCA, Class AA.

PAST BIG OLE WRESTLING INVITATIONAL WINNERS

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

2011 – Frazee

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, wrestling, big, ole