Wayzata wrestler comes up big for title

Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune

Derek Schreiner of Wayzata, left, faced his most difficult challenge at state when he took on and beat Josh Wiseman of Champlin Park.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: March 4, 2008 - 4:46 PM

It's now three trips to the Class 3A state wrestling tournament and three titles for Wayzata's Derek Schreiner.

Wrestling this year at 140 pounds, after winning the state title at 119 pounds the past two seasons, Schreiner claimed gold by defeating Mounds View's Andrew Balzer 9-1 in the final.

Schreiner wrestled his most compelling match in the quarterfinals. He squared off with Champlin Park's Josh Wiseman, the defending Class 3A champion at 130 pounds.

Using a reversal and near-fall points in the second period that Raiders coach Bill Maresh afterward described as "perfect," Schreiner won 8-4.

"I had a little strategy going out there; I had seen him wrestle before," Schreiner said of Wiseman. "I was trying to get some moves on him earlier in the match, but he had such great defense. I saw the opportunity [in the second period] and really hit it hard. And it really worked in my favor."

Schreiner, a senior, finished the year 40-0 despite the two-class jump in weight.

"Over the years I'd made a one-weight jump," he said. "But this year I was a little nervous. A lot of time, you hit a growth spurt and you're a little clumsy and whatnot. But I made the adjustment well after a few weeks. I finally got into a rhythm. It's been great, and I'm having a lot of fun."

At 125 pounds, junior Robby Fisher of Bloomington Kennedy/Jefferson won 6-4 over Apple Valley's Tom Kelliher in the championship match.

In Class 2A, Watertown-Mayer had a pair of state champions in sophomore Drew Fleming (103 pounds) and senior Eric Reinert (160). St. Michael-Albertville junior David Thorn (125) and Becker junior Kevin O'Brien (145) were also champions.

Edina takes title

It was also a big weekend in the pool as Edina topped Minnetonka by 27.5 points to win the Class 2A boys' swimming and diving championship.

Senior Doug Eden was the Hornets' lone individual event winner, taking the 100-yard breaststroke. Minnetonka got victories in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay. In diving, Chaska's Alex Stern and Casey Palmer finished first and second, respectively.

In Class 1A, Nathan Yueh of the Breck/Blake team won the 500-yard freestyle.