Last Friday evening, the Bulldog wrestlers made the long trip down to Caledonia to face the Caledonia-Houston Warriors and the GMLOS Bulldogs in Three Rivers Conference action.
PEM vs. Caledonia
PEM junior Isaac Walch led the Bulldogs out the gate at 106, behind the strength of 4 takedowns and got PEM on the board first with an 11-2 victory. Then 8th grader Carson Rahman earned the first pin of his young varsity career at 113. After surrendering the first takedown, Rahman kept scrambling and reversed his opponent to his back, securing the pin in 1:37 and giving the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Caledonia would rattle off 18 points in the next 3 weight classes with a pin at 120, a forfeit at 126, and another pin at 132. Down 18-10 in the team score, senior Cooper Hofschulte righted the ship for the Bulldogs at 138. In what turned out to be a long and drawn out battle, Hofschulte found himself clinging to a 1 point lead heading into the final minute. With both men pressing hard for victory, Hofschulte converted on a 5 point fireman’s carry to win the match 9-3. At 145, in the match of the dual meet, Garrett Olson avenged a loss from last season, defeating Tucker Ginther by a score of 6-3. Two moments in the match proved critical for Olson in his victory. The first came at the end of a scoreless first period as Olson fought off three solid takedown attempts by Ginther and then converted on his own shot to finish the first period up 2-0. The second came in the closing seconds of the third period. Olson, holding to a 4-3 lead, weathered a storm of attacks, and when Ginther pressed too hard, Olson was able to secure the final takedown and the decision victory. With the 2 decision victories at 138 and 145 the Bulldogs had closed the gap on the scoreboard to 18-16 heading into the 2nd half of the meet.
At 152, senior Kael Lamb rattled off 4 takedowns in the first period, with the final takedown planting his opponent on his back for the fall in 1:50. The pin gave the Bulldogs the lead back and they did not relinquish it. At 160, sophomore Garion Wallgren stepped in for the Bulldogs earning the forfeit victory and 6 more points. Senior, Cael Marx kept the momentum rolling at 170 scoring 3 takedowns and a pin in just under a minute. Sliding up a weight class to 182, senior Dereck Boyum kept pace with a first period pin of his own. Then at 195, Alex Rahman closed out the senior run with a forfeit victory. At 220, junior Martin Prieto flashed some speed on this feet and popped off 3 takedowns before securing the first period fall. The Warriors would win the final bout of the dual, but it was too little too late and PEM would avenge a 1 point 2020 loss to the Warriors by a score of 52-24.
PEM 52 Caledonia-Houston 24
106: Isaac Walch (PEM) over Braxton Lange (CH) (MD 11-2)
113: Carson Rahman (PEM) over Jordon Beeman (CH) (Fall 1:37)
120: Owen Denstad (CH) over Korbin Pflaum (PEM) (Fall 3:26)
126: Brandon Ross (CH) over (PEM) (For.)
132: Cory Scanlan (CH) over Jacob Harlow (PEM) (Fall 1:22)
138: Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) over Isaac Blocker (CH) (Dec 9-3)
145: Garrett Olson (PEM) over Tucker Ginther (CH) (Dec 6-3)
152: Kael Lamb (PEM) over Bronson Knutson (CH) (Fall 1:50)
160: Garion Wallgren (PEM) over (CH) (For.)
170: Cael Marx (PEM) over Eric Mauss (CH) (Fall 0:59)
182: Dereck Boyum (PEM) over Gunner Tolleson (CH) (Fall 1:23)
195: Alex Rahman (PEM) over (CH) (For.)
220: Martin Prieto (PEM) over Sam Rogich (CH) (Fall 1:43)
285: Dameriz Davis (CH) over Cody Schneider (PEM) (Fall 1:16)
Pictures of the Caledonia/GMLOS Tri are available here!
PEM vs. GMLOS
In the second dual of the evening PEM, ran into a buzz-saw in #5 state-ranked Grand Meadow-Leroy/Ostrander-Southland. Boasting a line-up that features 8 wrestlers ranked individually in the top 5 in the state, GMLOS certainly has one of the very best teams in SE MN.
Yet again, Isaac Walch powered up the dual with a hard fought second period pin to start the scoring for PEM at 106. It was to be a short-lived lead as GMLOS maxed out their team points in the next 4 weight classes without needing as much as a second period. In a battle of seniors at 138, unranked and unbeaten Cooper Hofschulte of PEM bested #5 ranked Lucas Winfield of GMLOS. Hofschulte took a slim 2-1 lead into the 2nd period, then added an escape to make it 3-1. After fending off a Winfield attack, Hofschulte got another takedown this time planting Winfield on his back and making it stick with :40 seconds left in the period. At 145, GMLOS would get the points back with a pin of their own. 152 proved to be a very exciting match with senior Kael Lamb facing #2 state ranked Reece Voigt. As the final minute was closing in, Lamb was within striking distance of the upset, down only by 2, but Voigt would secure the final takedown and hang on for a hard fought 7-3 victory.
160 featured a battle of ranked seniors pitting PEM’s Cael Marx (#9) vs. GMLOS’ Daniel Smith (#3). After a scoreless 1st period, Smith scored an escape and was looking to add to it. But Marx won the scoring scramble putting Smith on his back temporarily. The nearfall points gave Marx the lead going into the 3rd period and he hung on for a 6-2 decision. Yet again, GMLOS responded with wins of their own by #5 ranked Christian Jacobsen at 170 and #2 ranked Noah Sayles at 182.
At 195, PEM junior Martin Prieto would exact his revenge on #6 ranked Cameron Sneed of GMLOS. In their only meeting last season Prieto was pinned by Sneed, but that was not to be the case this time. After a scoreless first period, Sneed opened the scoring with an escape in the second. But Prieto pushed the pace hard and scored the 1st takedown of the match in the 2nd period. Though unable to keep Sneed down, the match was tied 2-2 heading into the 3rd period where Prieto chose to begin in the neutral position. Using an onslaught of motion and level changes, Prieto was able to survive Sneed’s attacks while weakening his energy supply. As the final seconds of regulation were winding down, Prieto would eventually get the final takedown in an epic battle of two wrestlers that left it all on the mat. At 220 there was a double-forfeit, and then GMLOS closed out the dual with a pin at 285.
GMLOS 48 PEM 18
106: Isaac Walch (PEM) over Cole Sheely (GMLOS) (Fall 3:52)
113: Aiden Quintana (GMLOS) over Carson Rahman (PEM) (Fall 1:52)
120: James Jacobsen (GMLOS) over Korbin Pflaum (PEM) (Fall 1:46)
126: Cohen Wiste (GMLOS) over (PEM) (For.)
132: Braxten Wiste (GMLOS) over Jacob Harlow (PEM) (Fall 1:01)
138: Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) over Lucas Winfield (GMLOS) (Fall 3:20)
145: Donavon Felten (GMLOS) over Garrett Olson (PEM) (Fall 3:34)
152: Rece Voigt (GMLOS) over Kael Lamb (PEM) (Dec 7-3)
160: Cael Marx (PEM) over Daniel Smith (GMLOS) (Dec 6-2)
170: Christian Jacobsen (GMLOS) over Dereck Boyum (PEM) (Dec 12-6)
182: Noah Sayles (GMLOS) over Alex Rahman (PEM) (Fall 1:47)
195: Martin Prieto (PEM) over Cameron Sneed (GMLOS) (Dec 4-2)
220: Double Forfeit
285: Christian Luthe (GMLOS) over Cody Schneider (PEM) (Fall 3:06)
Pictures of the Caledonia/GMLOS Tri are available here!
PEM vs. Cannon Falls
The following morning, the Bulldogs were headed back south. This time to Rushford for a Section 1AA triangular with the Cannon Falls Bombers and the host Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson Screamin’ Eagles.
In PEM’s first dual of the day, the Bombers started out hot, getting pins in 3 of the first 4 weight classes. PEM’s lone win came at 120 where sophomore Korbin Pflaum outlasted his opponent in a back and forth high scoring affair. Leading 10-4 going into the 3rd period, Pflaum was able to put his opponent away with a pin, and earn his first varsity win. At 132, junior Jacob Harlow earned a forfeit victory for the Bulldogs after dropping down a weight class, which cut the Bomber lead to 18-12.
Senior Cooper Hofschulte continued to lead the way for PEM at 138. After giving up a first period takedown, Hofschulte converted on a granby roll on the edge of the mat. After securing his nearfall points, and with his opponent completely outside the circle, Hofschulte switched his grip into a headlock and kept his heels in-bounds to secure the pin and tie the dual at 18-18. At 145, Garrett Olson would earn a forfeit to give PEM their first lead of the dual. Cannon Falls would win a close 3-2 decision at 152, but from there on it was all Bulldogs.
Starting at 160, Cael Marx received a forfeit and Dereck Boyum followed up with a 2nd period pin at 170. PEM then collected forfeits at 3 of the next 4 weight classes. The final actual match of the dual occurred at 220 where Martin Prieto scored 4 takedowns enroute to an 8-4 victory.
PEM 57 Cannon Falls 21
106: Gavin Peterson (CF) over Isaac Walch (PEM) (Fall 1:41)
113: Calvin Singewald (CF) over Carson Rahman (PEM) (Fall 3:06)
120: Korbin Pflaum (PEM) over Ethan Albers (CF) (Fall 5:25)
126: Lucas Freeberg (CF) over Fischer Dittrich (PEM) (Fall 1:12)
132: Jacob Harlow (PEM) over (CF) (For.)
138: Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) over Colten Black (CF) (Fall 1:40)
145: Garrett Olson (PEM) over (CF) (For.)
152: Preston Carlisle (CF) over Kael Lamb (PEM) (Dec 3-2)
160: Cael Marx (PEM) over (CF) (For.)
170: Dereck Boyum (PEM) over Jonathan Banks (CF) (Fall 2:20)
182: Alex Rahman (PEM) over (CF) (For.)
195: Devyn Hutchison (PEM) over (CF) (For.)
220: Martin Prieto (PEM) over Riley Keenan (CF) (Dec 8-4)
285: Cody Schneider (PEM) over (CF) (For.)
Pictures of the Cannon Falls/LARP Tri are available here!
PEM vs. LARP
The final dual of the weekend would prove to be a nail-biter as the Bulldogs faced LARP in their home gym. For the 7th time of the season, Isaac Walch started the dual with a win, needing only 1:15 for the pin giving PEM a 6-0 lead. But LARP stormed back with 24 straight points in the next 4 weight classes to take a commanding 18 point lead in the dual.
Needing a change in momentum, the Bulldogs once again relied on the senior leadership of Cooper Hofschulte at 138. After giving up the first takedown, Hofschulte reversed his opponent to his back and finished the pin to cut the LARP lead down to 12, (24-12). Garrett Olson put the Bulldogs even closer after a dominating 15-0 tech fall victory at 145 bringing the team score to 24-17. But at 152, LARP responded with a pin of their own and the Bulldogs were again in a 13 point hole. Kael Lamb slid up a weight class to 160 and again pulled the Bulldogs to within 7 at 30-23. But at 170, LARP again responded with an upset pin to stretch the lead back to 13 points and leaving the Bulldogs on very thin ice.
The Bulldogs entered the final 4 weight classes with very little room for error. First at 182, senior Dereck Boyum bumped up from his normal spot at 170. Leading 4-1 in the 2nd period, Boyum locked up a cradle and finished it for the pin to once again pull the Bulldogs within 7. With the team score hovering at 36-29, Alex Rahman bumped up a weight class to 195 and needed just over a minute to get the fall and pull the Bulldogs ever so close (36-35). Finally, with a chance to take the lead for the first time since 106, Martin Prieto stepped onto the mat for the Bulldogs at 220. The Bulldogs were in search of bonus points at 220, knowing they would be vastly undersized in the HWT match. For his part, Prieto did not disappoint scoring 2 takedowns in the first period and 3 more in the second. On the final takedown of the 2nd period, Prieto executed a double leg and finished it by planting his opponent on his back. Prieto recorded the fall with just :02 seconds remaining in the period, giving the Bulldogs a 5 point lead. Finally, in the HWT match, PEM junior Tony Roberton, found himself outweighed by nearly 60 pounds. Roberton lost the match by decision 2-1, but gave great effort in not going to his back. The 3 saved team points proved to be the difference in the meet as the Bulldogs would hang on to win by 2.
PEM 41 LARP 39
106: Isaac Walch (PEM) over Spencer Nelson (LARP) (Fall 1:15)
113: Tyler Kreidemacher (LARP) over Carson Rahman (PEM) (Fall 0:33)
120: Jordan Zibrowski (LARP) over Korbin Pflaum (PEM) (Fall 0:56)
126: Quintin Betthaser (LARP) over (PEM) (For.)
132: Carter Jonsgaard (LARP) over Jacob Harlow (PEM) (Fall 1:51)
138: Cooper Hofschulte (PEM) over Titan Tekautz (LARP) (Fall 1:19)
145: Garrett Olson (PEM) over Caleb Mueller (LARP) (TF 15-0 3:03)
152: Gable Speltz (LARP) over Garion Wallgren (PEM) (Fall 1:42)
160: Kael Lamb (PEM) over Aaron Prinsen (LARP) (Fall 3:35)
170: Colin Klug (LARP) over Cael Marx (PEM) (Fall 2:38)
182: Dereck Boyum (PEM) over Brennan Corcoran (LARP) (Fall 2:57)
195: Alex Rahman (PEM) over Tyler Kryzer (LARP) (Fall 1:01)
220: Martin Prieto (PEM) over Jacob Meyer (LARP) (Fall 3:58)
285: Brock Frisik (LARP) over Anthony Roberton (PEM) (Dec 2-1)
Pictures of the Cannon Falls/LARP Tri are available here!
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