The Mound Westonka White Hawks wrestling squad opened action on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Don Meyers Invitational in Fridley. The White Hawks made a valiant effort at the championship but fell just short for a runner-up finish.

“It was great to be able to wrestle in a tournament format after missing out on that last season," said head coach Todd Munsterteiger.  "I knew if we wrestled well we would be in the top two, but I was pleasantly surprised to see us battle for the top spot."

A new cooperative combining Spring Lake Park, Irondale and St. Anthony high schools (SIS) were the eventual champions. Placing for the White Hawks were: junior Roo Wheeler and senior Carter Nelson, fifth place; junior Luke Rodelius, third place; freshman Cole Munsterteiger and senior Nolan Shaw, second place; and eighth-graders Mason Merritt and Cooper Rowe, sophomore Jack Nelson and junior Sam Dioszeghy, champions. Rowe also earned the Don Meyers Outstanding Wrestler Award, while Dioszeghy won the Joe Frank Fastest Fall Award with a pin of 23 seconds. Drake Woodruff was the Fridley Back Gym JV champion.

The White Hawks seventh- through ninth-grade squad also participated at the Litchfield Invitational on Friday, Dec. 3. Seventh-graders Jack Pack and Deacon Ranthum, as well as freshman Eric von Holtz, were champions for the White Hawks. 

“We have an energetic bunch of seventh- and eighth-graders, and it was fun seeing them wrestle in their first tournament,” said assistant coach Eric Rodelius.

The White Hawks wrestlers will continue action when they head to Brainerd on Friday to compete in the Paul Bunyan Invite. Start time is 4:30 on Friday, and action resumes on Saturday at 10 a.m.