Is this the best Simley wrestling team ever? After winning a fourth-straight Class AA team title and with four wrestlers earning individual titles (eight total place-winners), that is the question Minnesota high school wrestling fans are now asking. The Spartans, ranked No. 6 in the nation in various polls, dominated on its way to the 2011 Class AA state title. The Spartans, led by coaching legends Jim and Will Short, defeated Scott West 39-16 to win the Class AA team title. Meanwhile Kyle Gilva (103), Pedro Delao (119), Jake Short (140) and Nick Wanzek (145) all earned individual titles, while Micah Barnes (160) finished as runner-up.

Simley only lost two dual meets all season – to Apple Valley, the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, and Brandon (Florida), ranked No. 4 nationally. There was no team in Minnesota’s Class AA that could match Simley’s talent and depth.

Simley has turned out many great teams over the years. The teams from the late 1980′s and early 1990′s – featuring wrestlers such as Chris Short, Will Short and Wade Short – among many other greats – were tough. The Spartans had many talented wrestlers on the 1992 state title team as well as on the most recent state title teams.  Simley has now won state titles in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

While winning state titles is common at Simley, it isn’t easy. The team and coaching staff work extremely hard in and out of season, putting in countless hours to be the best. It starts at the youth level and continues throughout the junior high/middle school and high school program. Those involved with the program know the hard work put into being the best.

And the 2011 team might be the best – ever – in the storied history of the Simley wrestling program.

Simley Wrestling Individual Placewinners
2011 Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament

Kyle Gliva – Champion (103)
Pedro Delao – Champion (119)
Jake Short – Champion (140)
Nick Wanzek – Champion (145)
Micah Barnes – 2nd Place (160)
Dan Dick – 3rd Place (152)
Matt Kruse – 4th Place (135)

103: Kyle Gliva — def. MONT Logan Stiller by tech. fall (18-3); def. DL Gabe Foltz 15-3; def. FOL Tristan Manderfeld 3-2; Chamionship: def. BSM Jarred Oftedahl 8-1.

119: Pedro DeLao — def. AML Jordan Hanan 8-7; def. CLA Quade Zupko 9-0; def. DB/LQP John Weeding 4-2 (OT); Championship: def. KM Tony Morrow 7-2.

130: Mack Short — def. GLP Mitchel Hartwig 6-3; loses to WIN Drake Borsgard 6-0; loses to NB Jake Kostik by inj. default.

135: Matt Kruse — def. MAR Derek Varpness 12-4; def. FOL Sam Keeler (9-1); loses to SW Gabe Fogarty 3-0; def. LF Dillon Kifer 5-2; 3rd- loses to KM Garrett Garness 3-1.

140: Jake Short — def. WAS Bruce Harguth 8-0; def. MONT Jake Schmitz by tech. fall (16-0); def. GR Zac Bainville 3-2; Championship: def. ALB Jamie Holt 3-2.

145: Nick Wanzek — def. WAB Mitchell Rohlik 3-0; def. TRF Nathaniel Holecek 13-0; def. WM/ML Joey Stadnick 1-0; Championship: def. NLS Shawn Hatlestad 4-3

152: Dan Dick — def. DB/LQP Codie Weeding 11-2; def. STEW Eric Twohey by fall (5:32); loses to MONT Tyler Mergen 5-3; def. SW Tyler Zilverberg 4-2; 3rd- def. ANN Jesse Puncochar 4-2.

160: Micah Barnes — def. VIR Kyle Nanti by fall (3:46); def. SW Nick Dvorak by fall (2:32); def. DB/LQP Sam Haas 7-4; Championship: loses to FOL Tyler Lewandowski 3-2.

Related

Simleywrestling.com

Simley Wrestling – All-Time Records