Raiders set up clash with Rangers

The Hastings wrestling team remains undefeated in the Suburban East Conference. The Raiders cruised past another SEC opponent this week, beating Roseville, 50-12.

“The kids wrestled really well,” coach Josh McLay said.

The spotlight match came at 195 pounds, where Jake Swenson took to the mat for Hastings. Swenson typically wrestles at 182 pounds, but he bumped up to take on the state’s No. 2 ranked wrestler at 195, Trae Story.

“Jake just wants to wrestle the toughest kids,” McLay said. “When we talked to him about doing it, he said, ‘Absolutely. Let’s bump up.’ He was excited to wrestle him and did a great job.”

Swenson won a decision, 7-4.

“It was an awesome match,” McLay said.

Hastings used six falls in the match to rack up some big points.

Spencer Kopp earned a pin at 106 pounds.

Josh Loiacano won by fall at 113 pounds. The win was especially big considering Loiacano was pinned by the same opponent last season.

Jake Spitzack won by fall at 132. Eric Bauer won by fall at 138. Dyland Nelson and Isaac Eichmann also earned falls.

Also recording wins for Hastings were Isaac Bauer, Bryan Rachuy and Andy Rachuy.

SEC race

Hastings has a triangular at home beginning at 4 p.m. Friday with East Ridge and Eastview.

Hastings should have no trouble dispatching East Ridge, and a win over them would set up a conference championship match between the Raiders and Forest Lake. That match would be here at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Both teams are undefeated in the SEC.

Freshmen

The Hastings freshmen team, which competes in a separate league, earned a second-place finish in the state meet held here Saturday.

Twenty-four teams competed in the meet. Hastings came in behind Coon Rapids.

This is the second consecutive year that Hastings placed second.

The Raider freshmen are coached by Tim Haneberg, who is in his first year of coaching in Hastings.

Tags: raider wrestling, sports, hastings, minnesota, spiral, prep