The four state qualifiers Mike Simeon, Zach Smith, David Baker and Timmy Ruterhave been working hard. Only the three team captains have made it pass the first section, Smith, Baker, and Ruter.
Simeon who is the first 8th grader from Buffalo to qualify for state, lost his first match. To get a second match the opponent he lost to had to win his second match, however it did not turn out that way. He has four more years to make it farther in state.
David Bakerhas been wrestling for years, he has offers from the U of M, St. Cloud and many other schools. After winning his first match he was pretty pumped for his next one. Graduate Dan Maghrak said,
“I’m just going to put this out there David Baker should be able to win state or at least make it to the finals.”
Maghrak was not the only to think Baker has the skills to win state. Classmates who do not pay attention to wrestling, but have heard about Baker’s wrestling skills believed he could win state.
On Bakers second match however he did not win. Now the highest Baker is able to place in state is third. Making it to state is every wrestlers dream, to place is even better, its the best way to end a high school wrestling career.
Zach Smith wrestles at 125 and has been wrestling varsity for about three years. Unfortunately he lost his second match, and the highest he will be able to place at state is third. Not many people believed he would make it past his first match, but Smith has an interesting wrestling style. And his determination to place is what is driving him to push harder and harder.
As for junior Timmy Ruter he also lost his second match and will be able to only get third. Ruter is mostly known for take downs, tech falls are his thing in the wrestling world. Ruter has another year to go to state and take first place. Another year with head coach Paul Arens and he should be able to be on top of his weight class.
Finals will be on Saturday in the late afternoon, a section pass costs $12 for adults and $8 for students. It’s a great experience if one has never been to a wrestling match.
