WILLMAR -- A year ago this month, Scott Thompson was fighting a serious illness which landed him in the hospital over Christmas.
But the redshirt sophomore from Benson is at full strength again.
On Wednesday night at the college gym, Thompson decisioned Jesse Evans 4-2 at 174-pounds to help the Ridgewater Warriors throw a 32-7 loss at Minnesota West in junior college wrestling action.
Thompson has a thick-zipper scar the length of his right forearm, the result of two surgeries to stifle a Strep A infection that started with a deep bruise almost exactly a year ago.
Thompson improved to 5-4 overall and 4-0 in dual meets this season.
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Coach Tom Beyer's Warriors improved to 3-1 on the year.
"We wrestled solid, but not great," said Beyer. "Donavon Walz and Seth McGregor had nice wins, and Andrew Larson looked good for just getting out of the service."
Larson, a 197-pounder, lost 8-6. The 2002 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa spent the last four years in the Marine Corps.
Walz, who redshirted last year, won his first dual meet as a Warrior, 4-1 over Eric Granger at 149 pounds.
Seth McGregor, the Warriors' heavyweight, needed just 31 seconds to pin Will Lutmer, who was a state champion last year for Adrian.
That last match was the only six-point fall of the match. Jon Tatro won by technical fall to lead off but the next seven matches were all decisions.
Ridgewater doesn't have another home meet until Jan. 16 when the Warriors meet Itasca College.
Ridgewater 32, Minnesota West 7
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125: Jon Tatro, R, tfl Tyler Biffer 18-3
133: Dusty Colon, M, maj Tom Brenner 14-4
141: Brandon Schunk, R, dec Seth Schlee 13-7
149: Don Walz, R, dec Eric Granger 4-1
157: Zach Juusola, R, dec Tom Jacobson 7-1
165: Kurt Salmen, R, dec Dominck Oliver 7-2
174: Scott Thompson, R, dec Jesse Evans 4-2
184: Trent Molacek, R, def. Tyler Wagner by injury default
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197: Bryant Schroeder, M, dec Andrew Larson 8-6
Hwt: Seth McGregor, R, pin Will Lutmer :31
