SPARTAN ROUND-UP: SHS matmen pick up 2nd win in 3 days

By Superior Telegram on Jan 18, 2018 at 9:22 p.m.

The Superior High School wrestling team is on a roll.

Just three days after winning the Ashland Invitational, the Spartans defeated Spooner/Webster 42-25 in Heart O’ North Conference action Tuesday night in Spooner.

“I am so proud of these guys,” SHS coach Bob Coleman said. “The wrestlers have just taken their wrestling to the next level — they just battled and refused to quit.”

One example was Gunner Gronski, who in the 195-pound match was taken down to his back right away, avoided the pin and eventually pinned Garett Borelli 21 seconds into the second period.

“We had a number of guys just refuse to get turned,” Coleman said. “Before the meet we asked our guys what needed to be done and they said we need to stay off our back and battle for six minutes. That’s exactly what the guys did — battled.”

Also picking up pins were Jack Androsky (126 pounds) and Brandon McClure (152). Androsky pinned Cole Ott in 58 seconds and McClure’s pin over Carter Melton came at 5:01.

Superior’s remaining four wins came via forfeit — Tucker Johnson (113), Raven Mickelson (120), Jackson Karren (138) and James Kirckoff (145).

“I think once Gunnar battled back, and the guys really got behind each other, it just built great momentum and the guys just wrestled at a higher level,” Coleman said. “They wrestled with joy — giving it all you have and putting everything on the mat so you have this feeling of great pleasure, satisfaction and happiness regardless of the circumstances.

“It was great watching as a coach seeing these young men growing as athletes and men. It brings our coaching staff great joy.”

The Spartans, who celebrated senior Parent’s Night prior to Thursday night’s match with Ladysmith, will compete in the HON dual tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 at Cumberland.

Superior 42, Spooner/Webster 25

182 — Sam Melton (SW) pinned Lars Root, 0:48.

195 — Gunnar Gronski (SHS) pinned Garett Borelli, 2:21.

220 — Joshua Carroll (SW) def. Oscar Flaherty, 6-2.

285 — Brett Jepson (SW) def. Dylan Lowney, 6-4.

106 — Alex Daniels (SW) def. Wyatt Johnson, 4-0.

113 — Tucker Johnson (SHS) won by forfeit.

120 — Raven Mickelson (SHS) won by forfeit.

126 — Jack Androsky (SHS) pinned Cole Ott, 0:58.

132 — Austin Bauer (SW) def. Landon Lathrop, 7-2.

138 — Jackson Karren (SHS) won by forfeit.

145 — James Kirckoff (SHS) won by forfeit.

152 — Brandon McClure (SHS) pinned Carter Melton, 5:01.

160 — Chase Melton (SW) def. Logan Stone, 1-0

170 — Josh Melton (SW) def. Joe Carter, MD 10-1.

Girls basketball

The Spartans did something Tuesday night they haven’t done since the 2013-14 season — defeat the Eau Claire Memorial Old Abes.

The Spartans led 25-17 at the half then held on for a 40-38 victory to improve to 7-5 and snap a three-game losing streak.

“It was a huge win for us,” SHS coach Dave Kontny said. “We played very well on both ends and we showed much better patience on offense and made them earn every basket.

“We hadn’t beaten them in the last three years and to go there and beat a senior heavy team was big for us. What I really like is we are starting to get scoring from different players every night. I’m waiting for us to get that consistency from everyone and if that happens we will be even better.”

Lauren Raboin led the Spartans with a game-high 13 points. Lexi Jensen was next with 10 points and Madisen Myer had seven.

Sydney Brennan led the Old Abes (2-11) with 11 points.

“Our kids came to play tonight and that’s part of maturing,” Kontny said. “Even when Memorial made its runs we didn’t go away and that’s a good sign for us.

“We’re learning that every possession matters and when we move our feet on defense we can give teams problems. Memorial plays good teams night in and night out, but, so do we, and that’s the only way to get better.”

Superior hosts Rice Lake at 7:15 p.m. Friday. The Warriors are 12-2 on the season and in second place in the Big Rivers Conference at 4-2.

“I’m so proud of our girls, they have had one Saturday practice off all season and good things happen to those who work hard. Last night was one of those good things.”

SPARTAN SPIN: The SHS JV lost 37-32 and the freshmen lost 31-29.

Superior........................ 25 15 — 40

Eau Claire Mem.............. 17 21 — 38

Superior — Chloe Kintop 5, Sophie Kintop 2, Lexi Jensen 10, Niya Wilson 3, Madisen Myer 7, Lauren Raboin 13. Totals 16 7-11 40.

3-point goal — Wilson.

Eau Claire Memorial — Jessica Massey 2, Sydney Brennan 11, Olivia Tangley 3, Jessica Meyer 4, Sydney Hazuga 9, Emma Wright 3, Jayda Fredrickson 2, Regan Appleby 4. Totals 15 5-7 38.

3-point goals — Tangley, Hazuga, Wright.

Girls hockey

Playing without their top two goaltenders, the Spartans lost to Moose Lake Area 10-3 Tuesday night in Moose Lake.

Freshman Emma Forengo, listed as a forward, made 14 saves while playing for injured Autumn Siers and Katrina Casper.

After Moose Lake took a 4-0 lead in the first period, all three Superior goals came in the second period, including two by Addie Young and one by Alee Milinkovich-Gray.

Rose Ion assisted on Young’s first goal and Jillian Rueille helped out on her second.

Superior hosts Eau Claire Co-op at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Superior........................... 0 3 0 — 3

Moose Lake Area............... 4 3 3 — 10

First period — 1. MLA, Gabby Gamst (Savannah Gamst), 2:01; 2. MLA, Jamie Benzie (Abby Painovich, Ruby Mohelsky), 6:48 (pp); 3. MLA, Painovich (Lauren Hall), 9:20; 4. MLA, Painovich (Lauren Pederson, Mohelsky), 13:28 (pp).

Second period — 5. SHS, Addie Young (Rose Ion), 3:15; 6. MLA, Painovich, 9:55; 7. SHS, Alee Milinkovich-Gray, 10:20; 8. SHS, Young (Jillian Reuille), 14:37; 9. MLA, Pederson (Painovich), 15:08; 10. MLA, Hall (G. Gamst), 15:28.

Third period — 11. MLA, Pederson (Benzie), 9:33 (pp); 12. MLA, Hall, 12:22; 13. MLA, Mohelsky (Painovich), 14:56.

Saves — Emma Forengo, SHS, 14; Maddy Gamst, MLA, 23; Jo Ruby Wekseth, MLA, 5.

Boys basketball

The Hudson Raiders had five players score in double figures in a 91-75 win over the Spartans Tuesday night in Hudson.

Keyser Helterbrand led the Raiders (7-7) with 23 points.

The Spartans also had four players in double figures, led by Xavier Patterson with a game-high 24 points, which included five 3-pointers. Ben Rhodes made four 3-pointers on his way to scoring 18 points; Cam Borgh added 13 points and Mason Ackley had 11.

Superior (4-7) hosts Eau Claire North at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Superior........................ 38 37 — 75

Hudson......................... 53 38 — 91

Superior — Xavier Patterson 24, Ben Rhodes 18, Cam Borgh 13, Mason Ackley 11, Corey Sanders 4, Beau Severson 3, Kaleb Zentkowski 2. Totals 30 4-7 75.

3-point goals — Patterson 5, Rhodes 4, Borgh, Severson.

Hudson — Peyton Reece 5, Landon Bilse 17, Paul Sparstad 15, Keyser Helterbrand 23, Jacob Daulton 13, Luke Healy 12, Carter Herink 2, Ethan Kostynick 4. Totals 37 10-11 91.

3-point goals — Sparstad 3, Helterbrand 3, Daulton.

Lake Superior Conference

2017-18 Winter Standings

Boys Basketball

Duluth Denfeld........................ 3-1 6

Hermantown............................ 2-2 6

Cloquet................................... 2-2 6

Proctor.................................... 2-1 4

Ashland.................................. 1-1 4

Superior.................................... 1-2 4

Marshall.................................. 0-2 0

Girls Basketball