Last Friday and Saturday 13 Bulldog wrestlers competed in the Section 1AA Individual Tournament held at the Mayo Civic Center. The weekend proved to be an emotional rollercoaster with many ups and downs. The Bulldogs battled through the adversity and when the dust had cleared, 11 of the 13 PEM wrestlers who competed had earned Section medals, (10 of them in the top 4), and two wrestlers were headed to the State Tournament.

At 106, freshman Jason Feils competed in his first ever section tournament. He lost both of his matches to two wrestlers who both ended up placing, but gained valuable experience as he heads into next season.

At 120 Garrett Olson was one place away from earning a trip to state, placing third. In the Friday evening quarterfinal, Olson needed only :15 seconds to pin Stewartville’s Lucas Larson and advance into the semis. In the semifinals, Olson ran into a buzzsaw in K-M’s Robby Horsman. The returning state placewinner defeated Olson 16-7, but Olson wrestled a complete match and nearly converted on a few takedowns. After falling to the wrestle-backs, Olson improved upon an early season performance, taking only 1:41 to pin LaCrescent’s Joey Schreier. Then in the 3rd place match, Olson earned a 12-4 major decision over Lake City’s Nash Nelson. When the two wrestlers competed earlier this season Olson had only won by a narrow 5-4 decision. Since Horsman lost in the tournament finals, Olson was denied a true-second wrestle-back opportunity, thus ending his outstanding sophomore season with 34 wins, the 3rd highest in the PEM line-up.

At 126, sophomore Kael Lamb was pitted against the eventual Section runner-up (K-M’s Giovanni Ruffo) in the quarterfinals. After dropping a decision to Ruffo on Friday evening, Lamb got back on track with a :47 second pin to earn his way into Saturday’s competition and a spot on the podium. In the first wrestle-back round of Saturday morning, Lamb faced Simley’s Ruben Saldivar. In December, Lamb was defeated by Saldivar 13-9, but on this day Lamb had his vengeance and battled to a 9-4 victory in arguably his best match of the season. In the third place match Lamb dropped a decision to 2018 State Entrant Cooper Peterson of Cannon Falls to earn 4th place in the Section. Lamb finishes his first season as a varsity regular with 20 wins.

At 132 sophomore Cael Marx found himself in a 0-0 dogfight after 1 period in the quarterfinals vs. Cannon Falls’ Levi Anderson. But in the 2nd period needed just :46 seconds to secure a takedown and pin and advance to Saturday’s semifinal. In the semis, Marx lost a 1 dropped a 1 point 7-6 decision to eventual Section Runner-Up Matthew Harfman of K-M to narrowly miss his first state birth. In the consolation semifinals, Marx needed just :21 seconds to pin Byron’s Parker Kline. Then in the 3rd place match Marx pinned Stewartville’s Ty Smidt in only :32 seconds to finish his season in 3rd place for the 2nd year in a row. Marx ends his sophomore season with 34 wins and 22 pins, which is the 2nd highest in the Bulldog lineup.

At 138 sophomore Cooper Hofschulte earned a hard-fought 9-6 quarterfinal victory over Lake City’s Joey Kozlowski to advance to the semifinals. In the morning semifinal round, Hofschulte faced off with 2x state placewinner Cael Berg of Simley and dropped a 9-1 major decision. In the consolation semifinals, Hofschulte rebounded with a narrow 8-5 victory over St. Thomas Academy’s Jacob Draxler in a back and forth match. Down 4-2 early in the match, Hofschulte rallied with 6 straight points to close out the match and earn his way into the top 4. In the 3rd place match Hofschulte had 2018 state placewinner Tanner Paulson on his back but couldn’t secure the pin, eventually surrendering a 9-4 decision. Hofschulte finished his sophomore campaign 4th place in the Section for the 2nd consecutive season and finishes with 23 wins and 58 takedowns, good enough for 4th highest in the PEM line-up.

At 145 junior Joe Stucky earned a quarterfinal victory on Friday afternoon with a first period pin over Lake City’s Aaron Schumacher. In the Saturday morning semifinal Stucky dropped a 6-1 decision to 2018 state placewinner Antonio Everett of Simley, and rebounded with a 2nd period fall in the consolation semifinals earning his way into the 3rd place match. In the 3rd place match, Stucky took 2017 state entrant Brody Nielson of Stewartville into overtime, but gave up the takedown to finish in 4th place. Joe ends his season placing in the Section tournament for the 5th time in his career. Joe will enter his senior season with 111 career victories, and will have the most experience of all PEM returners.

At 152 senior Carter Marx earned a quick first period pin in the Friday night quarterfinal. But Saturday morning’s semifinal found Marx in a dogfight with Cannon Falls’ Peter Fitterer. Marx was able to hang on for a 4-3 victory and a trip to the Section Finals for the 2nd year in a row. Also for the 2nd year in a row, Marx would face an opponent from Simley, #3 state ranked Gavin Nelson. Down 3-2 as time was winding down in the 3rd period, Marx threw Nelson in a hi-flyer and nearly had him on his back, but was unable to gain enough control to be awarded the takedown and lost the championship match by a point. In the meantime, KM’s Kail Wynia won the 3rd place match over Fitterer by 9-1 major decision, setting up a winner take all true-second match. With a win Marx would advance to state for the 2nd year in a row, with a loss Marx’s high school career would be over. In the first period, Marx was able to secure the all important first takedown of the match with a single leg, and after a Wynia escape Marx had a 2-1 lead at the end of the 1st period. Wynia chose down to start the 2nd period, and with a quick escape had the match tied up at 2-2. After a couple close scrambles that ended out of bounds, Marx was able to hit a slide-by for a takedown off of a Wynia single leg attack to secure 2 more points. Again Marx was unable to hold Wynia down and after another escape, Marx took a slim 4-3 lead into the 3rd period. Marx started the 3rd period in the down position and was able to gain a quick escape to extend the lead to 5-3. With less than a minute left, Wynia had his best offensive attack of the match and got Marx’s leg up in the air for nearly 20 seconds but could not secure the takedown as Marx hopped on 1 foot. With 18 seconds left in the match, Wynia was awarded a stalling point to bring the lead back to 1 point, but time would expire with the scoreboard still set at 5-4, and Marx had earned the right to continue his PEM career for one more week. Marx will face Adam Nueman of Annandale/Maple Lake in the first round of the Minnesota State Tournament on Friday morning.

At 160, senior Connor Jones wrestled the only preliminary round match of the entire Section 1AA tournament on Friday afternoon. Jones secured a first period pin over Pine Island’s Nathan Klusmann in the preliminary round to advance to the quarterfinals, but would lose to the eventual 3rd place finisher Keegan Zelinske of Stewartville. Then in the wrestle-back round, Jones would lose to eventual 5th place finisher Dane McCormick of LaCrescent to end his PEM wrestling career. Jones finishes his career as a 3 year starter that has wrestled almost 100 varsity matches for the Bulldogs.

At 170 sophomore Alex Rahman won his Friday afternoon quarterfinal match against St. Thomas Academy’s Michael Kenney getting a pin with just 1 second left in the 1st period. In the Saturday morning semifinals, Rahman lost to 2018 state placewinner, and eventual Section Champion Nolan Wanzek of Simley. In the consolation semifinals Rahman earned another pin, this time over Byron’s Beau Lorentzen to advance to the 3rd place match. In the final round Rahman lost to 33 match winner Derek Meincke of Lake City to finish in 4th place. Rahman concludes his sophomore season finishing with 18 wins, up 6 from last season.

Competing in his first ever Section tournament, freshman Martin Prieto started off hot in the quarterfinals, using 3 takedowns to earn a 7-3 victory over Lake City’s Thomas Frank. In the semis Prieto was defeated by 2x state champion Patrick Kennedy of Kasson Mantorville to fall into the consolation bracket. Prieto rallied with a pin over Byron’s Lucas Birch in the consolation semifinals to earn his way into the third place match. But in the final round, Prieto was defeated by Stewartville’s Ethan Meyer by a 8-4 decision. Prieto ends his freshman year with 28 wins in just his first season has a full-time varsity wrestler. In addition Prieto scored 283 match points and racked up 88 takedowns this season, the 2nd highest in the PEM lineup in both categories.

At 195, senior Dustin Dittrich began his tournament with a 1st period pin in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round. In the semis, Dittrich was bested by #9 state ranked Garrison Solliday of St. Thomas Academy by a 7-4 decision. Dittrich rebounded with a pin in the consolation semifinals to advance to the 3rd place match. In the 3rd place match Dittrich ran into #4 state ranked Grant Parrish of K-M. Parrish won the match 6-4 and went on to win the true second match to qualify for state. Dittrich ends his high school career as one of the most successful wrestlers in PEM history. Dittrich was a 2x state qualifier and state finalist. His 124 career wins put him at #13 in Plainview/PEM history, and his 75 career pins are the 8th most in program history.

At 220, junior Riley Wingert needed just 1:06 to pin #5 seeded Clayton Jorgenson of LaCrescent in the quarterfinal round to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal round, Wingert dropped a major decision to #2 state ranked Garson Schorr of K-M. Then in the consolation semifinals #3 seeded Max Balow of Lake City defeated Wingert to put Wingert in the 5th place match. In the final round, Wingert was again pitted against Jorgenson, and once again pinned him, this time in 2:51. Wingert finishes his junior season with 78 career victories, within striking distance of the 100 win milestone next season.

At 285, junior Logan Wingert started his tournament in Friday’s quarterfinals doing what he has done all season, getting a pin. This one over Cannon Falls’ Ryan Linde in :47 seconds was significant though. It marked Logan’s 33rd pin of the 2018-19 season, which is now a new school record, 1 ahead of 2004 graduate and state champion Jesse Kahn. In fact, 33 pins in a season is among the top 35 recorded seasons in any weight class, in the history of Minnesota wrestling. With the pin record under his belt, Wingert marched into the next day’s semifinals with another milestone yet to accomplish, his first trip to State. In the semis, Wingert would face K-M’s up and coming heavyweight Anthony Moe-Tucker. On the other side of the bracket loomed Simley’s #1 nationally ranked, 3 time state champion, and Ohio State commit Daniel Kerkvliet. So to say there was little room for error in the semis was a vast understatement. The first period started off fairly evenly, but finally Wingert was able to secure a leg and finish the first takedown to take a 2-0 lead which he would take into the 2nd period. Wingert began the 2nd period in the bottom position, and after a quick escape held a 3-0 lead. But then Tucker got to Wingert’s leg and got a takedown of his own to close the match back to 3-2. Wingert again escaped quickly and then finished the last takedown of the 2nd period to take a 6-2 lead into the final period. Tucker chose neutral to begin the final period, but Wingert was not to be denied, as he got one more takedown to put the exclamation point on his semifinal victory. In the consolation semifinals, both Linde and Tucker advanced to the 3rd place match, locking up a trip to state for Wingert before the finals even began. In the finals, Kerkvliet would get the win, but Wingert had earned his first state birth, and will continue his season on Friday as he faces Mora’s Tanner Grangruth in the first round of the Minnesota State Tournament.

Before the finals began, the MN Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards were presented. This year’s Section 1 AA Assistant Coach of the Year was none other than PEM’s own Nate Pfeilsticker. The award is determined by voting members of the MWCA and Coach Pfeilsticker beat out finalists from Simley, Kasson-Mantorville, and Stewartville. Pfeilsticker has been coaching wrestling in Section 1AA for the past 18 seasons, 12 of them at PEM. As an Assistant Coach, Pfeilsticker is critical in every phase of program and practice planning. He has also played a critical role in the development of athletes from all sports in the weight room, as well as the youth wrestlers in the PEM program as well. In the spring, Pfeilsticker also is a Head Coach for PEM Girls Track & Field, where has also won multiple Section Coach of the Year awards as well.

Pictures of the event can be located HERE!

MSHSL Section 1AA Results for PEM 106-Jason Feils (12-22) placed 8th Champ. Round 1 - Jason Feils (PEM) 12-22 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Jace Minelli (KM) 24-10 won by fall over Jason Feils (PEM) 12-22 (Fall 3:53)

Cons. Round 2 - Jason Feils (PEM) 12-22 received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 3 - Jon Laures (STEW) 12-20 won by fall over Jason Feils (PEM) 12-22 (Fall 4:38)

120-Garrett Olson (34-12) placed 3rd Champ. Round 1 - Garrett Olson (PEM) 34-12 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Garrett Olson (PEM) 34-12 won by fall over Lucas Larson (STEW) 3-11 (Fall 0:15), Semifinal - Robby Horsman (KM) 32-9 won by major decision over Garrett Olson (PEM) 34-12 (MD 16-7)

Cons. Semi - Garrett Olson (PEM) 34-12 won by fall over Joey Schreier (LaC) 21-14 (Fall 1:41), 3rd Place Match - Garrett Olson (PEM) 34-12 won by major decision over Nash Nelson (LC) 29-14 (MD 12-4)

2nd Place Match - Robby Horsman (KM) 32-9 won by rule over Garrett Olson (PEM) 34-12 (RULE)

126-Kael Lamb (20-22) placed 4th Champ. Round 1 - Kael Lamb (PEM) 20-22 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Giovanni Ruffo (KM) 16-11 won by decision over Kael Lamb (PEM) 20-22 (Dec 7-0), Cons. Round 2 - Kael Lamb (PEM) 20-22 received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 3 - Kael Lamb (PEM) 20-22 won by fall over Anthony Nelson (STEW) 2-9 (Fall 0:47), Cons. Semi - Kael Lamb (PEM) 20-22 won by decision over Ruben Saldivar (SIM) 9-12 (Dec 9-4) 3rd Place Match - Cooper Peterson (CF) 25-4 won by decision over Kael Lamb (PEM) 20-22 (Dec 7-0)

132-Cael Marx (34-13) placed 3rd

Champ. Round 1 - Cael Marx (PEM) 34-13 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Cael Marx (PEM) 34-13 won by fall over Levi Anderson (CF) 20-20 (Fall 2:46), Semifinal - Matthew Harfmann (KM) 27-8 won by decision over Cael Marx (PEM) 34-13 (Dec 7-6) Cons. Semi - Cael Marx (PEM) 34-13 won by fall over Parker Kline (Byron) 12-16 (Fall 0:24)

3rd Place Match - Cael Marx (PEM) 34-13 won by fall over Ty Smidt (STEW) 19-9 (Fall 0:32)

2nd Place Match - Matthew Harfmann (KM) 27-8 won by rule over Cael Marx (PEM) 34-13 (RULE)

138-Cooper Hofschulte (23-24) placed 4th Champ. Round 1 - Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) 23-24 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) 23-24 won by decision over Joe Kozlowski (LC) 23-20 (Dec 9-6)

Semifinal - Cael Berg (SIM) 30-2 won by major decision over Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) 23-24 (MD 9-1)

Cons. Semi - Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) 23-24 won by decision over Jacob Draxler (STA) 24-17 (Dec 8-5)

3rd Place Match - Tanner Paulson (KM) 33-8 won by decision over Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) 23-24 (Dec 9-4)

145-Joe Stucky (23-9) placed 4th Champ. Round 1 - Joe Stucky (PEM) 23-9 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Joe Stucky (PEM) 23-9 won by fall over Harold Schumacher (LC) 9-13 (Fall 1:18), Semifinal - Antonio Everett (SIM) 33-10 won by decision over Joe Stucky (PEM) 23-9 (Dec 6-1), Cons. Semi - Joe Stucky, (PEM) 23-9 won by fall over Dillen Anderson (CF) 7-22 (Fall 2:46) 3rd Place Match - Brody Olson (STEW) 27-4 won in sudden victory - 1 over Joe Stucky (PEM) 23-9 (SV-1 7-5)

152-Carter Marx (42-7) placed 2nd Champ. Round 1 - Carter Marx (PEM) 42-7 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Carter Marx (PEM) 42-7 won by fall over Eric Wittlief (PI) 5-18 (Fall 1:57)

Semifinal - Carter Marx (PEM) 42-7 won by decision over Peter Fitterer (CF) 31-14 (Dec 4-3)

1st Place Match - Gavin Nelson (SIM) 38-6 won by decision over Carter Marx (PEM) 42-7 (Dec 3-2)

2nd Place Match - Carter Marx (PEM) 42-7 won by decision over Kail Wynia (KM) 28-7 (Dec 5-4)

160-Connor Jones (10-20) placed 8th Champ. Round 1 - Connor Jones (PEM) 10-20 won by fall over Nate Klusmann (PI) 4-2 (Fall 1:34), Quarterfinal - Keegan Zelinske (STEW) 7-11 won by fall over Connor Jones (PEM) 10-20 (Fall 5:32)

Cons. Round 2 - Connor Jones (PEM) 10-20 received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 3 - Dane McCormick (LaC) 7-14 won by fall over Connor Jones (PEM) 10-20 (Fall 4:56)

170-Alex Rahman (18-22) placed 4th Champ. Round 1 - Alex Rahman (PEM) 18-22 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Alex Rahman (PEM) 18-22 won by fall over Michael Kenney (STA) 11-14 (Fall 1:59), Semifinal - Nolan Wanzek (SIM) 28-14 won by fall over Alex Rahman (PEM) 18-22 (Fall 3:49), Cons. Semi - Alex Rahman (PEM) 18-22 won by fall over Beau Lorentzen (Byron) 2-10 (Fall 3:54), 3rd Place Match - Derek Meincke (LC) 33-5 won by major decision over Alex Rahman (PEM) 18-22 (MD 14-0)

182-Martin Prieto (28-18) placed 4th Champ. Round 1 - Martin Prieto (PEM) 28-18 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Martin Prieto (PEM) 28-18 won by dec. over Thomas Frank (LC) 25-14 (Dec 7-3)

Semifinal - Patrick Kennedy (KM) 42-0 won by fall over Martin Prieto (PEM) 28-18 (Fall 0:54), Cons. Semi - Martin Prieto (PEM) 28-18 won by fall over Lucas Birch (Byron) 6-5 (Fall 2:57)

3rd Place Match - Ethan Meyer (STEW) 25-8 won by decision over Martin Prieto (PEM) 28-18 (Dec 8-4)

195-Dustin Dittrich (31-5) placed 4th Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Dittrich (PEM) 31-5 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Dustin Dittrich (PEM) 31-5 won by fall over Beau Zimmerman (CF) 2-16 (Fall 0:56), Semifinal - Garrison Soliday (STA) 32-6 won by decision over Dustin Dittrich (PEM) 31-5 (Dec 7-4) Cons. Semi - Dustin Dittrich (PEM) 31-5 won by fall over Caden King (STEW) 9-20 (Fall 2:28) 3rd Place Match - Grant Parrish (KM) 26-4 won by decision over Dustin Dittrich (PEM) 31-5 (Dec 6-4)

220-Riley Wingert (23-15) placed 5th Champ. Round 1 - Riley Wingert (PEM) 23-15 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Riley Wingert (PEM) 23-15 won by fall over Clayton Jorgenson (LaC) 19-12 (Fall 1:06)

Semifinal - Garsen Schorr (KM) 37-3 won by major decision over Riley Wingert (PEM) 23-15 (MD 9-0) Cons. Semi - Max Balow (LC) 28-9 won by fall over Riley Wingert (PEM) 23-15 (Fall 3:06) 5th Place Match - Riley Wingert (PEM) 23-15 won by fall over Clayton Jorgenson (LaC) 19-12 (Fall 2:51)

285-Logan Wingert (41-6) placed 2nd Champ. Round 1 - Logan Wingert (PEM) 41-6 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Logan Wingert (PEM) 41-6 won by fall over Ryan Linde (CF) 6-5 (Fall 0:47) Semifinal - Logan Wingert (PEM) 41-6 won by decision over Anthony Moe-Tucker (KM) 26-13 (Dec 8-2)

1st Place Match - Daniel Kerkvliet (SIM) 17-0 won by fall over Logan Wingert (PEM) 41-6 (Fall 0:27)

2nd Place Match - Logan Wingert (PEM) 41-6 won by rule over Anthony Moe-Tucker (KM) 26-13 (RULE)