On Saturday, January 7, Garretson hosted the Jesse James Invitational. The wrestling tournament was brought back home last year after sharing several years with Brandon's Dan Pasch Invitational.
In all, twelve area teams participated, with Tri-Valley taking home the highest point total for the boys' team and Garretson grabbing top spot for the girls' team.
For the boys, Tri-Valley's 17 wrestlers acquired 181.5 points, while 2nd place went to Elk-Point/Jefferson's 18 wrestlers, who obtained 180 points. Garretson's 10 wrestlers took home 7th overall with 70 points.
Garretson's girls team took 1st place at the invite, besting the Marion/Freeman/Canistota/Menno team with 29 points to Marion/Freeman/Canistota/Menno's 27.
Preston Bohl was the overall winner from Garretson, taking home 2nd place and 20 points for the team in the 138 weight class. He won by fall in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, but was taken down by his Groton Area opponent in the championship round.
Jaden Richter grabbed 16 points for the team with his 3rd place win in the 285 weight class. Despite falling to his opponent from Beresford/Alcester-Hudson in the semifinal, he took home the wins in the consolation semifinal and 3rd place match, winning both by fall.
Drew Pedersen and Cole Schleuter rounded out the medalists for the boys' team, each taking home fourth place and 13 points.
Autumn Gaspar came out the clear winner for the Garretson girls' team, taking 2nd place with 12 points in the 120/126 weight class. She won by fall in the first two matches, lost her third, and in the wrestle back match, took the win again by fall.
Hannah Frewaldt placed 2nd and received 10 points in the 132 weight class, winning her first match by decision. While she lost round 3 against her Beresford/Alcester opponent, her wrestle back rounds saw her take the win by fall.
Danika Juhl placed 3rd and received 5 points in the 120/126 weight class as she took on two of her fellow Blue Dragons, Adair Hanisch and Gaspar. Ultimately, Hanisch and Gaspar won the matches, but Juhl won by fall in round 4 over her opponent from Luverne.
Hanisch took home 5th place after taking the loss by fall in the first, second, and fifth rounds.
The team's next invite will be today (Thursday) in Freeman as they wrestle Marion/Freeman, Chester Area, and Viborg-Hurley/Wakonda-Irene, and on Saturday they'll head to the Tri-Valley Invitational.
