By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
FARIBAULT – New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva coach Paul Cyr knew that his team’s opening action at Faribault would be a stern test. He was right.
The Panthers had to compete against such teams as Apple Valley, Kasson-Mantorville and Owatonna at Saturday’s Dick Shiels Invitational in Faribault.
“We may have been in over our heads this early in the season,” said Cyr. “But, that’s the way we like it. We can find out a lot about our kids when you compete against good teams.
As expected, Apple Valley won the tournament with 279 points. Kasson-Mantorville finished second with 254.5 points and Owatonna and Hutchinson scored 141 points apiece to tie for third place.NRHEG managed 54 points during the day, placing eighth among 12 teams.
The Panthers placed sixth among 14 teams with 113.5 points at last year’s tourney.
“We only placed four wrestlers, but had a few bright spots,” said Cyr. “We saw enough good things to give us some optimism for the future.”
Todd Erickson, who missed last season with an injury, was NRHEG’s highest finisher. He won two out of three matches at 285-pounds to place third.
At 113-pounds, Dillon Kubiatowicz won three of five matches during the day. That earned him a fourth-place finish.
“Dillon showed us that he will be one of our team leaders this season,” said Cyr.
Dillon Parpart earned a fifth-place finish at 170 pounds, splitting four matches during the day.
Cordell Peterson (113 lbs.), Tyler Logan (145), Matt Webster (152) and Nick Bartness (160) all managed one win during the day.
The Panthers were unable to field a wrestler at four different weight classes.
The NRHEG wrestlers had a combined record of 11-21 during the tournament.
Things won’t get any easier for NRHEG as it travels to the St. James Classic Saturday. That tournament will feature fifth-ranked Lake Crystal-Welcome Memorial, ninth-ranked Minneota and always-tough St. James.
Dick Shiels Invite
Team scores: 1)-Apple Valley 279, 2)-Kasson-Mantorville 254.5, 3)-Owatonna & Hutchinson 141, 5)-Faribault 110, 6)-Spring Valley 88, 7)-Princeton 68, 8)-NRHEG 54, 9)-Grand Meadow-LOK 45, 10)-Andover 29, 11)-St. Paul Johnson 18, 12)-St. Paul Humboldt 0.
NEXT: Saturday – At St. James Classic, 10 a.m.