REBELS READY TO RUMBLE
A promising group of grapplers is taking its talents to Canton for the Region 2B Tournament this Saturday and hoping to set the table for the bright future ahead.
A group that has been growing up through the ranks and has had the eye of Marion-Freeman head wresting coach Chris Sayler for years will have the opportunity to show the toughest region in Class B what it is made of this Saturday when the Rebels take the mat in postseason competition.
Marion-Freeman will be one of 11 teams taking part in the Region 2B competition in Canton on Feb. 17, with action scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. And Sayler is anticipating the best playoff showing he has seen since returning to his alma mater in 2008 and says as many as seven could get through to state tournament.
“It’s been a great year,” said Sayler. “I have no senior boys, so it’s juniors on down, and most of these kids are eighth graders and freshmen. And the level they’re wrestling at is unbelievable.”
The Rebels are stacked strong in the bottom half of the weight classes and could very well see their 106 lb. through 144 lb. grapplers advance to the all-class state tournament at the Denny Sanford Premeir Center in Sioux Falls set for Feb. 22-24.
Saturday’s Region 2B lineup is as follows:
- 106: Logun Pankratz (41-11)
- 113: Brody Gossen (42-2)
- 120: Easton Tschetter (43-3)
- 126: Finley McConniel (24-19)
- 132: Keaton Preheim (35-17)
- 138: Axle Schultz (22-22)
- 144: Alaric Knittel (13-21)
- 150: Hunter Spangler (9-19)
- 165: Brodee Snyders (3-17)
- 215: Ray Arnold (6-15)
- 285: Ricky Salis (3-16)
In addition to the boys, Marion senior Sarah Cremer could qualify for the post season, as well. She competes at 114 lbs. and stands at 11-9 on the season. Sayler said he will know on Wednesday if she gets through.
Sayler says this is what he expected out of this year’s group, particularly when the Rebels were able to solidify their weight classes after Christmas. For the first part of the season, Sayler said, freshmen Brody Gossen and Logun Pankratz were competing in the same division and therefore couldn’t compete in duals.
Getting Pankratz down to 106 lbs., “really made our lineup that much tougher,” the coach continued. “We’re one of the toughest teams in the state when you go 106 to 138. That’s our bread and butter.”
While he is happy with the season, Sayler said it will take some time to determine if the Rebels have arrived as a Class B team to be reckoned with.
“It’s something I’m going to have to look back on after state to see if we performed where I want these guys performing,” he said. “I have high expectations like I always do and you always have that ‘we’re not settled’ attitude. You win a tournament, be happy for the night, and then we’re right back to work.”
Work ethic, Sayler said, is not a shortcoming with this group.
“They work hard inside the room and outside the room,” he said. “Most of these guys are lifting, coming in on Sundays, I see lights on at night and when I come to work early in the morning there are kids in here working out. The work ethic is there, and that’s a big part of this.
“You’re not going to be a winner in the hour-and-a-half you put in after school. You’ve got to put in the extra time if you want to take that next step.”
