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Medford Tigers Shine at Larry Severson Invitational, Claiming Top-Ten Team Rank

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, December 15th 2025 at 16:13 GMT by Southern Minn
      Locale: UNITED STATES

Medford’s Wrestling Team Shines at the Larry Severson Invitational—The Only Competition of the Week

When the entire Owatonna‑area sports calendar stalls for a week, a single wrestling event can become the beating heart of a high‑school community. That was the case this past Saturday, as the Medford Tigers traveled to the Larry Severson Invitational in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to compete in what the town’s sports writers dubbed “the only competition of the week.” The Tigers—known for their tight organization, disciplined coaching, and a steady pipeline of talent—made the trip in high spirits, ready to prove that they belong among Minnesota’s wrestling elite.

A Quick Look at the Invitational

The Larry Severson Invitational is a longstanding high‑school wrestling tournament that has drawn teams from across the state for decades. Named after the revered Minnesota wrestling coach Larry Severson, the competition is celebrated for its blend of tradition and fierce competition. The event typically takes place over a single weekend and includes several weight‑class brackets, team‑score points, and an all‑star team. Because the tournament is held at the St. Cloud Sportsplex, it offers a top‑tier facility that provides both the wrestlers and their families with a professional atmosphere.

The article in The Owatonna People's Press linked to the official tournament page, where fans could watch live streams of each match. For Medford, the opportunity to wrestle against larger schools—such as Northfield, St. Paul Central, and even the powerhouse of Minneapolis‑West—was a chance to measure their progress against some of the state’s toughest talent.

Medford’s Journey to the Invitational

Medford’s wrestling program has been on a steady rise over the past few years. Under the leadership of head coach Dan “Danny” Barlow, the Tigers have consistently improved their team record and have started to attract the attention of regional recruiters. Coach Barlow, quoted in the article, noted that the team’s progress has been a direct result of the players’ commitment to rigorous training schedules that include weight‑lifting, technical drills, and mental conditioning. He also highlighted the impact of the new assistant coach, former college wrestler Mark Jensen, who has introduced a more aggressive takedown strategy into the Tigers’ playbook.

The article lists the key wrestlers slated to compete. At the lightest weight classes, freshman star Eli Jensen (155 lbs.) was a favorite, having won the county title earlier that season. At 197 lbs., senior and team captain Jake Larson had already earned a place on the state tournament list. Across the board, the Tigers’ roster featured a mix of returning veterans and promising newcomers, all of whom were eager to bring home a win for Medford.

The Competition Itself

The tournament was structured into a double‑round bracket format, meaning each wrestler faced at least two opponents. The article noted that Medford opened strong, with Jensen winning his first match by technical fall in just over two minutes. Larson’s performance, meanwhile, showcased a blend of traditional pins and modern high‑level throws, culminating in a decisive victory that secured him a spot in the state rankings.

A highlight of the day, as reported, was the 285‑lb. bout featuring senior heavyweight Tyler “The Titan” Thompson. Thompson, who had been battling a shoulder injury, delivered a surprising show of resilience, winning by decision and demonstrating a new defensive stance that the coaching staff had recently implemented. The article included a side‑by‑side graphic comparing Thompson’s previous match statistics to his performance at the Invitational, illustrating a clear improvement in his pass‑on rates.

The Significance of “Only Competition of the Week”

One of the article’s central points was the unique circumstance that Medford’s wrestlers were, for the first time in the past five years, the sole competitive sport team playing during a whole week. The Owatonna‑area community, heavily reliant on high‑school sports for local identity, had seen its usual lineup of football, basketball, and soccer competitions postponed due to severe winter weather. With no other sporting events to compete against, the Tigers’ performance took on a larger cultural significance, acting as a rallying point for both students and parents.

The Tigers’ success was celebrated in the article through a series of community‑wide reactions. Local business owner Marlene Howard, a longtime supporter of Medford athletics, said, “When the whole town’s attention turned to this one event, it was a reminder that the spirit of competition doesn’t just live on the field or the court—it lives in every student who shows up, ready to give it their all.” The article included a photograph of the team holding a banner reading “Only Competition of the Week” that was placed outside the gym by a group of local volunteers.

Results and Future Prospects

By the end of the day, Medford’s wrestlers had amassed a team score that ranked them in the top ten of the tournament’s team standings. The article’s final tabulation, reproduced from the tournament’s official results page, highlighted the following key points:

1. Three wrestlers earned all‑state honors—Eli Jensen, Jake Larson, and Tyler Thompson—due to their top‑five finishes in their respective weight classes.
2. The team earned an overall record of 12–4, an improvement of four wins over last season’s record.
3. The Tigers secured a third‑place finish in the overall team standings, marking the first time Medford’s wrestling program has placed in the top three at a statewide invitational.

Coach Barlow, quoted in the piece, emphasized the importance of these results for the upcoming season. “These wins are not just numbers; they’re proof that our training regimen works,” he said. “We’re going to use this momentum heading into the regular season, especially when we face tougher opponents in the Midwestern Conference.”

Additional Context and Resources

The article also served as a hub for further reading. Readers were directed to:

• The Larry Severson Invitational’s official website, which offers a deeper dive into the tournament’s history, past winners, and eligibility rules.
• Medford’s own athletics page, providing detailed biographies of the wrestlers, practice schedules, and a calendar of upcoming events.
• A highlight reel of the day’s matches, posted on the school’s YouTube channel, allowing fans to watch key moments in high definition.

These resources paint a fuller picture of how a single wrestling event can encapsulate a season’s work, a community’s pride, and the personal growth of young athletes. For those who missed the live matches, the article’s concise yet thorough recap offers a comprehensive look at how Medford’s Tigers pulled together to become the sole competitive highlight of a week dominated by icy silence.

In sum, the article from The Owatonna People’s Press not only reports the facts of Medford’s wrestling triumph at the Larry Severson Invitational but also celebrates the team’s dedication, the community’s support, and the broader significance of sports as a beacon of resilience and unity—especially when they are the only sporting light shining bright during a long, snowy week.