Over $1600 Raised at the 6th Annual Roger Benavides Memorial Scholarship Cornhole Tournament

Friday September 23, 2022-  Twelve teams competed in the 6th Annual Roger Benavides Memorial Scholarship Cornhole Tournament before the homecoming game.  $1678 was raised for the college scholarship fund, which goes to qualified Lutheran West wrestlers who have wrestled in the program since at least their fourth grade year.  To donate to the scholarship fund email Coach Dave Ressler at dressler@lutheranwest.com.  To date, Lutheran West Wrestling has given out $7500 in scholarships since 2015.  

The competition was close all afternoon as the teams were trying to knock off the 4x defending Champions, LW alumni Nate and Sam Stover.  Nate and Sam were able to capture their 5th straight title over LW teacher Josh Hubeler and future Longhorn James Hubeler.  Placing third were Assistant Wrestling Coach DJ Vondruska and his brother Chris Vondruska.  Lutheran West alumni Rory Zakerakis and former LW Parent Will Ellerbruch placed 4th.  Lutheran West alum and Head Wrestling Coach Dave Ressler and his partner Jenn Vondruska were honored to have Lutheran West Class of 1968 Alum Gary Wossilek partner with his son LW Alum and Minihorn Wrestling Coach Jacob Ressler.  Lutheran West Senior Adam Lummus partnered with his father, LW Alum/Teacher Mark Stover partnered with his son-in-law Josh Adams; LW student Josie Cogar partnered with her father; LW Alum Patrick Smith partnered with his father; LW student Hugo Perez partnered with LW Grandfather John Hurt and LW Alum Mark Watson partnered with his son and LW alum and assistant wrestling coach Brad Watson to round out the teams. 

Lutheran West parent Lynn Verhun won the pair of Browns tickets donated by LW Wrestling Alumni Jay Martinez.  Pat Smith Sr. won the custom Longhorn Cornhole set  donated by Lutheran West trainer Katelyn Peterson. 

Coach Dave Ressler and the Lutheran West Wrestling Team would like to thank everyone who participated in the tournament and those who donated to the scholarship fund.  Thank you to the following sponsors:  Pastor Rob Plain and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Ray Kashubeck-Pipefitters Local #120, Neil Quint- Quality Trophies and Awards, Maggie Vangelos-American Roofing, Keller Williams- Stacy Watson Realtor, Dr. Mark Petro-Modern Chiropractic, Jay Martinez, Katelyn Peterson and Karl Guenther-Statement Limousine. 

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Coach Roger Benavides (1969-2011) was a major influence in the start of the Lutheran West youth and junior high wrestling programs and was the assistant high school coach from 1996-1999.  A college scholarship has been established in honor of Coach Benavides.  This scholarship is awarded to Lutheran West senior wrestlers who have participated in the Minihorn, Shorthorn, and Longhorn wrestling teams every season since their fourth grade year. Lutheran West is currently seeking donations for the Roger Benavides Memorial Ironman Scholarship.  "We would like to grow this scholarship over the years to be able to award more wrestlers larger amounts of scholarship money", stated Coach Ressler.  If you would like to donate to the scholarship fund, please contact Coach Dave Ressler at dressler@lutheranwest.com or click the donate button at the top of this page.  

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Scholarship Winners:

2015:  Tim Mecklenburg and Jacob Ressler

2016:  Adler Vasiloff 

2019:  Parker Watson

2020:  Khalid Morales and Lachlan Thomas