College wrestling: Ridgewater gets off to a good start

The Ridgewater wrestling team opened the 2021-22 season with two victories Thursday, Nov. 11 in Worthington. Pictured are, front row from left: Johan Rodvik, Calin Huntley, Fischer Drury, Maxwell Whitney, Rick Jones and Wil Yasseri. Back row from left: Matt Miller, Ethan Roux, Tristian Lang, Lane Lembke and Sawyer Varpness. Submitted photo

By Tom Elliott

November 11, 2021 10:38 PM

WORTHINGTON — The Ridgewater wrestling team opened the 2021-22 season Thursday with a pair of dual-meet wins at Minnesota West Technical & Community College.

The Warriors beat Northland 27-24, then knocked off host Minnesota West 18-16.

It was the first two wins with Joey Brown as the head coach. He was hired two years ago, but Ridgewater didn’t compete in 2020-21 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tristan Lang recorded a first-period pin at 133 pounds for Ridgewater in the Northland match. Sawyer Varpness, Wil Yasseri and Fischer Drury followed up with wins for the Warriors. Max Whitney clinched the team victory with a headlock pin.

Against Minnesota West, Lang recorded another pin. Yasserie and Whitney also picked up pins to secure the victory.

Ridgewater’s top performers included Lang, Yaseri and Whitney. Lang, from Hutchinson, was 2-0 with two pins. Yaseri, from Rogers, was 2-0 with a pin and a decision. Whitney, from Reston, Washington, was 2-0 with one pin.

The Warriors compete Saturday at the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D.