Sports Roundup: Simley Wrestlers Third in Cheesehead

In another tournament featuring nationally ranked teams, the Simley High wrestling team finished third out of 24 high school squads in the 2012 Cheesehead Invitational near Appleton, WI this past weekend.

Simley scored 521.5 points in the tournament and was topped only by Apple Valley, with 565 points; and Bettendorf (IA), with 561. Rounding out the top five were Southeast Polk (IA), with 508.5; and Allen (TX), with 445.

The Spartans brought home two individual titles: Jake Short at 145 pounds and Micah Barnes at 170 pounds. Other top placers were Nick Wanzek, second place at 152; Matt Kadrlik, second at 285; Pedro DeLao, fourth at 120; Stephen Mincey, fourth at 132; Cody Hazelett, fifth at 195; Juan Torres, seventh at 126; Jack Ryan, seventh at 220; and Cortez Arredondo, eighth at 106.

Simley is ranked 10th in the most recent InterMat Fab 50 rankings.

The Spartans, with an 11-3 dual-match mark, will host South St. Paul and Tartan for a triangular meet at 5 p.m. Thursday before taking part in the Centennial Duals on Saturday.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

The boys swimming and diving team captured the Spartan Invitational on Saturday, defeating teams from Henry Sibley, Hudson (WI), Orono and St. Paul Central.

It’s the first time in at least six years the Spartans won the event.

Simley medalists include Alec Kandt, first in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke; Carter Lange, first in the 1-meter diving and fifth in the 100 breaststroke; Tim Luhr, third in the 200 free and second in the 500 free; Austin Olson, seventh in the 200 free and 100 free; Michael Greene, sixth in the 200 IM; Mike Ausen, sixth in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 butterfly; Parker Tangen, seventh in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 free; Dan Hardgrave, eighth in the 50 free; Nathan Stone, third in 1-meter diving; Jack Miklya, eighth in 1-meter diving; and Ryan Kimble placed 7th in the 500 free.

In the relay events:

• The team of Alec Kandt, Michael Greene, Mike Ausen and Parker Tangen was third in the 200 medley.

• The team of Dan Hargrave, Carter Lange, Brandon Kinkade and Ryan Kimble took eighth in the 200 medley. 

• The team of Mike Ausen, Tim Luhr, Parker Tangen and Alec Kandt took third in the 200 free.

• The team of Dan Hardgrave, Austin Olson, Josh Froyd and Justin Briguet took sixth in the 200 free.

• The team of Tim Luhr, Austin Olson, Michael Greene and Ryan Kimble took fourth in the 400 free Relay.

The Spartans will host Hudson in a 6 p.m. meet Tuesday at the Grove.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

By hitting a basket with four second left in the game, the Simley High girls basketball team nipped Rogers, 52-50, in a non-conference matchup Friday night in Inver Grove Heights.

Then on Saturday, the Spartans, now 12-1 overall, scored a convincing 57-39 victory over Faribault on their opponents’ court.

In a back-and-forth game Friday night, Simley led at the half, 29-23, then fell behind in the second half before tying it up in the final minutes and eventually winning. Alexis Boyd-Lockett scored a team-high 21 points, followed by Shauna Horsch, with 12 points.

The Spartans will visit Henry Sibley in a Classic Suburban Conference game at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Simley has a 1-0 conference record.

BOYS HOCKEY

The Simley High boys hockey team had its eight-game winning streak snapped Saturday in its 1-0 lost to visiting Irondale.

Luke Beaudoin stood out in goal for the Spartans, stopping 25 shots.

Simley, now 10-3 overall and 0-1 in the Classic Suburban Conference, will host conference foe Henry Sibley at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Veterans Memorial Community Center.

GIRLS HOCKEY

The Simley girls hockey team fell to a tough Classic Suburban Conference foe, South St. Paul, by a 6-2 score Friday night in South St. Paul.

Leading the Spartans, 8-6-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference, were Jessica Pate, with a goal and an assist; Natalie Battis, a goal; Laken Muller, two assists; and Sydney Knutson, an assist.

Simley will visit Henry Sibley in a conference matchup at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Simley will be out to even its Classic Suburban Conference record when its hosts Henry Sibley at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Spartans, 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the conference, fell to North St. Paul, 74-65, on Jan. 3. John Spillane, who is averaging a team-high 18.9 points a game so far this year, scored 26 in the game.