Raiders Finish as Runners-Up at Home Invite

by Coach Michael Arvidson

The second half of the season began last Thursday, January 8, with a home triangular in Verndale against two other contenders in the Section.  They opened against Border West. BHVPP was sparked out of the gate with a fall by Nikolai Hagen and a tech fall by Adam Grabow.  The Buccaneers picked up six before a four-match win streak from Merrick Hoffman, Wyatt Jares, Justin Olson, and Hudson Truax opened the lead to 31-6. The Bucs added five more, and back-to-back falls for Gage Barthel and Tanner Schulke sealed the deal as the Bucs took the final three bouts to round out the scoring 43-29.

The nightcap was a rematch of the Section final from a year ago with West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville. Grabow took the first bout before the Knights got six for the lead. Micah Stanley delivered a fall to regain the lead. The Knights answered, and it was 10-9 after the front four.  Jares, Olson, and Truax tallied pins to make it 27-10 for the Raiders with six matches to go. The Knights narrowed the lead to 27-18 with back-to-back wins. Schulke added a fall, and the Knights earned a pin and collected two forfeits to take the dual 36-33...

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