Sports
Simley Wrestlers Crown Nine Conference Champions, Take Team Title
The Spartans storm through the Classic Suburban Conference Tournament Saturday, earning nine firsts, two seconds and three thirds
Simley High School's star-studded wrestling team rolled through the rest of the Classic Suburban Conference Saturday at Richfield High School, easily winning the conference tournament.
The Spartans crowned nine champions and added two seconds and three thirds to dominate the competition.
Simley scored 291.5 points to take first. Henry Sibley was second with 194.5, followed by: Mahtomedi, 144; Tartan, 118.5; Richfield/Edina, 92; North Saint Paul, 80; South Saint Paul, 78 and Saint Thomas Academy, 60.5
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Simley’s Kyle Gliva (28-1, 112 pounds), Pedro DeLao (27-7, 119 pounds), Cola Jensen (21-13, 125 pounds), Matt Kruse (23-10, 135 pounds), Jake Short (30-3, 140 pounds), Nick Wanzek (30-3, 145 pounds), Dan Dick (23-5, 152 pounds), Micah Barnes (27-3, 160 pounds) and Matt Kadrlik (22-10, 285 pounds) all won conference championships.
Simley co-head coach Jim Short said he was happy with his team’s nine champions.
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“We’re pretty much right where we need to be," Short said. "The kids are moving in the right direction. We expect a certain number of champions, but the younger kids are wrestling well, too.”
Simley put 11 wrestlers into the 14 finals, winning nine, including four by pins and four by major decision.
Simley wrestler Dan Dick had one of the best wins in the tournament, easily knocking off South Saint Paul’s third-ranked Jesse Munos 10-1 in a battle of senior standouts.
“I was happy coming into the tournament and watching my teammates win,” said Dick, who is ranked second at 152 pounds. “I thought I had a really good week. I beat the third-ranked wrestler, that’s pretty good.”
Gliva wrestled twice at 112 pounds, scoring a technical fall in the semifinals, then winning a 15-5 major decision to take the title.
“I was just doing my moves,” said Gliva. “I just want to keep dominating and not making my matches close. I was just doing what I’m doing.”
Simley’s DeLao (119) and Jake Short (140) each had three straight falls en route to impressive conference championships.
Simley ninth grader Cortez Arredondo (16-1) was upset in the 103-pound final, losing his first match of the year to North Saint Paul senior Nathan Stebbins, 4-2 in overtime.
Simley hosts Shakopee Thursday for Parents Night, with the varsity starting at 7:30 p.m.
