Inver Grove Heights Schools: Winter Athletes Make History, Break Records

Press release from the Inver Grove Heights Schools:

March 14, 2022

Simley High School’s winter athletes have made the most of this year’s Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) championships. At their state tournaments, Simley Wrestling defended its team championship title and made history in the MSHSL Wrestling Individual Tournament. Simley Boys Swim and Dive placed in multiple events and set new varsity and state records.

The Simley Wrestling Team defended its title as state champions for the fourth year in a row this March. This state title marked the 15th time in school history that Simley’s wrestling team has been named the state champion. Simley also had 14 Spartan wrestlers qualify for the state individual tournament. Nine wrestlers placed at the tournament, including three state champions. Junior Kaiden Schrandt placed fifth in the 145-pound championship, and junior Travis Smith placed fourth in the 160-pound championship. Senior Peyton Spychalla in the 120-pound championship and sophomore Cash Raymond in the 138-pound championship placed third. Junior Soren Herzog placed second in the 195-pound championship, and senior Chase DeBlaere placed second in the 132-pound championship, finishing his impressive high school wrestling career just shy of four state titles.

Juniors Brandon Morvari and Gavin Nelson became 2022 state champions in their weight classes, and the third state champion was Charli Raymond, a seventh grader who won first place in the 100-pound girls wrestling championship. This is the first year that MSHSL has held a girls wrestling postseason division. Charli recorded the first victory and pin in the tournament’s history, according to MSHSL.

“Charli worked really hard for this,” Simley Wrestling Assistant Coach Mark Madigan said. “She is a great champion and continues the incredible tradition of Simley Wrestling.”

On the Simley Boys Swim and Dive Team, juniors Hunter Collins and Ethan Gregg and seniors Hunter Dilla and Eric Schroeder qualified for the Top 16 in the 200-Yard Medley Relay at state. In the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay, Hunter Dilla, Ethan Gregg, junior John Tabor, and senior Nico Losinski placed 16th as a team, earning an All State Honorable Mention. Junior Marioys Makar also earned an All State Honorable Mention after placing 11th in the 1-Meter Dive.

In his individual events, Nico Losinski left behind a legacy as he finished his high school swimming career at this year’s state tournament. In the 200-Yard Freestyle event, he broke Simley’s varsity record and the Minnesota state record, and he earned All American Consideration for his event time. Nico won first in the 500-Yard Freestyle event, being named the state champion for the third year in a row. His 500-Yard Freestyle time also broke Simley’s varsity record and Minnesota’s state record.

With so many talented seniors and promising juniors, the futures of Simley student athletes are bright! Congratulations to all of Simley’s winter athletes on their successful seasons.

This press release was produced by the Inver Grove Heights Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.