Polar wrestle medals in state tourney

Polar wrestler Johan Alcantara-Lund, right, wrestles for a place on the medals stand. Photo by Samual Wilbur. 

By Bravo Niyonkuru and Logan Lachermeier, North High School 

North High junior Johan Alcantara-Lund became the first Polar wrestler in a quarter-century to earn a medal at the Minnesota High School League state wrestling tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. 

A two-time state qualifier, Alcantara-Lund rallied after an early-round loss to take the fifth-place spot on the podium. He finished the season with a 46-7 record and said he would like to finish next season with a state championship. 

Alcantara-Lund made it to the medal round with an overtime win over the second-seed Benito Diaz of Sibley East. It was an especially satisfying win for him after losing to Diaz twice during the season. 

It was another successful year for a Polar program that was rebuilt a couple of years after several losing seasons. In addition to Alcantara-Lund’s medal, senior Cameron Wise placed second at the section championship to qualify for state (he was eliminated in the first round.) Polar assistant coach Norman Alston was named Class 4A Assistant Coach of the Year. 

Alcantara-Lund started wrestling in eighth grade, which was considered late; however, experience in judo helped him develop quickly. 

“I’m a brown belt, and it’s very similar to wrestling,” he said. “It’s similar to wrestling. (Judo) is a grappling sport with a lot more throws.” 

Looking back on his early-round loss in the tournament, Alcantara-Lund realized he didn’t time his eating to fit the meet schedule. 

“One thing I would’ve done differently was eaten more,” he said. “I was really hungry. I wrestled a lot better for fifth place after I ate.”