Rummel Prevails at Lee High Tourney

By Pierce W. Huff - Staff writer for the New Orleans Times-Picayune:  January 15, 2006

BATON ROUGE - Rummel wrestling coach Ryan Hess and his team began the school term with the goal of winning the Lee High tournament, but that dream almost was deferred by Hurricane Katrina.

Four of Rummel's top wrestlers - one state champion and three state finalists - were displaced by the hurricane.  But despite those circumstances, Hess and his wrestlers kept on working hard and believing they could make school history.

And Rummel finally did it Saturday, winning the 33rd annual Lee High tournament at the CAP Elite center for the first time.

Rummel finished with 242 points.  Brother Martin was second (217), Jesuit third (201), Catholic fourth (197) and St. Paul's fifth (169.

"We just pulled together as a team," said Rummel junior Ivan Muller, who won the title in the heavyweight division.  "This was a big step.  I'm proud of our team and the way they came together.

Rummel's other champions were Tyler Ehret (112) and Dustin Burton (145).  Ehret (21-0), a sophomore, pinned Lafayette's Andre Broussard in 2:26.  Burton (26-0), a junior, defeated Comeaux's Justin Goodwin 16-8.

Rummel senior John Kent (24-2) was a finalist and lost to Jesuit's Brad Gruezke 8-4 at 135 pounds.

Rummel also was helped by its performance on the second day of the two day, three-session tournament.  Brother Martin (122.5 point) was in first place followed by Jesuit (107.5), Rummel (100.5), Baton Rouge-Catholic (96) and St. Paul (92) after Friday's matches.

But Rummel rebounded in the Saturday morning consolation finals by scoring 116 points to take the lead.  The raiders were led by Travis Burke and Greg Kempton, who finished third at 189 and 215.

Ehret clinched the team championship when he pinned Broussard at 112.

"I told our guys that the true test of a champion is what you do after you've been beaten (and your in the consolation bracket)," Hess said.

Brother Martin was lead by champions Nick Shields (125), James Casadaban (140) and Matt Cotaya (152).

"When you don't win the consolation bracket you don't win the tournament," Brother Martin coach Lee Corso said.  "Our guys need to get better and sharper.

St. Paul was lead by Travis Lacour, who won the title at 171, and finalist Jared Stritzinger (125).

St. Paul was without its top two wrestlers, David Boyce (heavyweight) and Evan Bartholomew (215).  Wolves coach Craig Ketelsen said Boyce, a football player who committed to Southern Miss, was on his official visit to the college this weekend.  Boyce was the top seeded wrestler in the heavyweight division.  Ketelson said Bartholmew, seeded second at 215, was ill.

Pierce W. Huff can be reached at phuff@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3809.