Kimball took top honors at the Rockford Tournament, placing eight wrestlers in the finals. It was a total team effort with every wrestler placing in the top six. The whole team wrestled hard and were very focused. Getting their first wins on varsity were Jacob Keicke (103) and Chris Sheehan (119). David Dahnke wrestled at his best of the year taking third. Erich Deutsch (130) also did a fine job getting a third. Blaine Lemke (135) picked up his 100th win of his career in his first match of the night before going on to become champion. Tom Libbesmeier (171) became Kimball’s all-time career win leader with 126, by pinning his man in the finals. The other two champions were Gary Salmela (125) and Kyle Winter (215). The Cubs beat the second place Sibley East team by 31.5 points. Sibley East is ranked in the “lean and mean in the state” by the Guillotine. Coming up for the Cubs on Thursday night is wrestling at Lester Prairie starting at 5 p.m. Saturday the Cubs host their own tournament starting at 9 a.m. for the JV and 10 a.m. for the Varsity. The Cubs host Melrose and D.C. at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The team scores from the Rockford tournament were Kimball, 216.5; Sibley East, 185; Park of Cottage Grove, 140; Eden Valley-Watkins, 135; Trinity of Bloomington, 110; Rockford, 88. 5; Buffalo Lake-Hector, 84 and St. Tomas Academy, 28. Individual placing for Kimball was Jacob Kiecke (103), sixth; David Dahnke (112), third; Chris Sheehan (119), sixth; Gary Salmela (125), first; Erich Deutsch (130), third; Blaine Lemke (135), first; Dan Barthel (140), second; Luke Deutsch (145), fifth; Jeremy Dahnke (152), second; Brady Knaeble (160), second; Tom Libbesmeier (171), first; Brandon Hurrle (189), second; Kyle Winter (215), first and Ryan Nutter (hwt), fourth. Kimball’s career win leaders are Tom Libbesmeier, 126; Rollie Lemke, 125; John Dirksen, 119; John Hurrle, 111; Russ Webb, 107; Ted Greely, 106 and Blaine Lemke, 102.
