Stucky and Wingert Win Section Championships, Advance to State!
Last Friday and Saturday the PEM wrestlers competed for a chance to advance to the state tournament in the Section 1AA individual Tournament, held at the Mayo Civic Center. Section 1AA is regarded as THE toughest qualifying tournament in the state and one of the toughest in the country. The Bulldogs went toe to toe with some of the best wrestlers in the state and the nation. When the dust had settled, 10 Bulldogs earned a spot on the medalist podium, and two PEM seniors claimed the top spot, and in doing so advanced to the State Tournament.
Of the Bulldogs’ 14 tournament entrants, 7 were competing in their very 1st Section Tournament. Among those 7, were 7th grader Logan Dittrich wrestling at 126, sophomores Riley Boland at 113 and Cody Schneider at 220. All 3 of these wrestlers went 0-2 in their debut performance, but all wrestled well and showed promise for future seasons. Another 7th grader, Alex Hinrichs, competing in his first Section Tournament at 120, did not make the podium, but did win an exciting wrestle-back match in Friday’s afternoon session. In the midst of a close match in the 2nd period, Hinrichs looked like he was about to be taken down, when he executed a “hi flyer” throwing his opponent to his back and getting the pin.
Two other PEM sophomores Isaac Walch (106), and Anthony Roberton (182) made the Section Tournament podium by placing 6th in their 1st ever Section Tournament. Isaac’s tournament was highlighted by a very well wrestled consolation match in which he defeated St. Thomas Academy’s Thomas Holmquist in a 9-3 decision. Roberton also defeated STA opponent John Berdusco by a 7-2 decision on Friday afternoon to advance into the placing rounds and earn his first Section medal.
PEM juniors Kael Lamb and Alex Rahman cracked the top 5 in the Section with their performances at 138 and 170lbs. Lamb lost a quarterfinal bout to Pine Island’s Dan Krier, but battled back in the Friday evening session to stay alive in the tournament by defeating Kasson Mantorville’s Henry Paulson by a 12-3 margin. In the consolation semis, Lamb wrestled a great match against #2 seeded Gable Speltz of LARP but dropped a 6-2 decision. Then in the 5th place match, Lamb finished on a high note, defeating STA’s Jack Spring by a 10-2 major decision.
Conversely, Rahman won his quarterfinal match versus Cannon Falls’ Beau Zimmerman to advance to Saturday morning’s semifinal, but lost to defending state champion Bennett Berge of Kasson Mantorville. In the consolation semifinal round, Rahman executed a great 5 point throw against Lake City’s Dominic Goihl Krier, but was unable to get the fall and fell just short, losing 6-5. The 5th place match again saw Rahman facing Zimmerman of Cannon Falls, and again Rahman won by major decision victory to end his junior season with a win.
Sophomore Austen Michel (132) and junior Dereck Boyum (160) each advanced to a top 4 spot in their first ever Section Tournament. Michel’s run was highlighted by a first round pin over LaCrescent’s Joey Schrier to advance into Saturday’s semifinal. In the semifinal round, Michel fell to 2018 State Champion Mitchell Peterson of Byron. But Michel would battle back in the consolation semifinals, with a 3-1 victory of Levi Anderson of Cannon Falls to advance into the top 4. Boyum would follow a similar path, winning a very close 9-8 victory in the quarterfinal round over Stewartville’s Keegan Zalinsky to advance to Saturday morning’s semifinal competition. In the morning round, Boyum would drop a decision to top seeded Nolan Wanzek of Simley. But like Michel, Boyum rebounded with a victory by fall over STA’s Jake Borman to move into the top 4.
Junior Cael Marx and sophomore Martin Prieto both fell one spot shy earning a trip to state with their top 3 finishes. Marx’s path to 3rd place included a Friday afternoon pin in only :23 seconds. But Marx would drop the all important semifinal match to KM’s Tanner Paulsen by an 8-1 decision. In the wrestle-backs, Marx would collect 2 more pins to earn third place. But Paulsen would lose in the finals to Simley’s defending state and national champion Ryan Sokol erasing any possibility of a true second match. Prieto would advance through the quarterfinals on a 10-5 win over Lake City’s Sam Nutt. Then in the semifinals, Prieto would lose a tight 5-2 decision to KM’s Jackson Kennedy and drop into the wrestle-backs. In the consolation semifinals, Prieto made quick work of Pine Island’s Jaxon Klusmann, getting a pin in just under 2 minutes. In the 3rd place match Prieto avenged a loss from early February, this time defeating 34 match winner Riley Keenan of Cannon Falls, by fall in the 2nd period. By virtue of Jackson Kennedy winning in the championships match, Prieto earned a “true second” match versus Simley’s Landon Duval with the winner advancing to state. Unfortunately, Prieto was defeated 7-2 and was denied the chance to advance.
At 152, senior Joe Stucky wrestled in his 6th career Section Tournament. Stucky placed in the top 4 in his previous 5 Section Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in 2018, and this year entered the tournament as the #1 seed for the first time. Despite being run-down with illness through the beginning of the week, Stucky wasted no time in Friday’s quarterfinals, pinning Byron’s Wyatt Nemechek in under a minute and earning a trip to the semifinals. In Saturday morning’s semi-final round, Stucky got the first takedown versus Lake City’s Luke Becker, but Becker responded with an escape and takedown of his own to take and early 3-2 lead. But it was short-lived as Stucky got another escape and takedown and held a 5-3 lead at the end of the opening period. In the second period, Stucky scored another escape/takedown combo plus 3 nearfall points to build his lead to 8 points. In the final period, Becker chose neutral, but Stucky got yet another takedown and finished with a fall to advance to the finals. In the final round, versus Simley’s Travis Dohmen, Stucky got a critical first period takedown and after a Dohmen escape led 2-1 at the end of the opening period. Dohmen chose down in the 2nd period and wasted no time tying up the match with an escape knotting the score at 2-2. But in the 3rd, Stucky chose down, and got an escape of his own to take a 3-2 lead. The score would hold until the final second clicked off the clock, earning Stucky his first Section Championship.
At 285, Logan Wingert, the other half of PEM’s senior duo, also entered the tournament as the top seeded wrestler after finishing as a Section and State Runner-Up last season. In Friday’s opening round, Wingert required only :23 seconds to finish the match against Byron’s Carter Geerts. Then in Saturday morning’s semifinal round, Wingert was set to face Simley’s Chris Celis, but in a strange twist, Celis was ruled out by injury default giving Wingert the automatic win and advancement into the finals. In the final bout of the championship round, the #2 state ranked Wingert would square off against the #5 state ranked Anthony Moe Tucker of Kasson Mantorville in what would turn out to be a very high scoring heavyweight match. Wingert would strike first with a 1st period takedown to take a 2-0 lead in the match, but Tucker evened the score with a reversal. Not to be outdone, Wingert would earn an escape to maintain a slim 3-2 as the 1st period ended. Tucker earned an escape of his own to begin the 2nd period, again tying the match at 3-3. Wingert again showed his power on the feet, getting another takedown, but was again unable to hold Tucker down and the 2nd period ended with Wingert maintaining a 5-4 lead. Wingert would choose down to begin the 3rd period, and earn a quick escape, followed by a takedown to open up a commanding 8-4 lead. But Tucker was not finished yet as Wingert was called for clasping not once, but twice and the lead had shrunk to 8-6. Tucker continued to scramble in the bottom position, and earned another reversal to tie the match at 8-8 with under a minute to go. But Wingert was not to be denied as he earned one final escape to take a 9-8 lead that he would maintain until time ran out, to earn his first Section Title.
Joe and Logan will next wrestle on Friday morning in the opening round of the 2020 MN State Tournament, held in St. Paul at the Xcel Center. There will be a send-off at the high school at 9:00 on Thursday morning.
PEM Individual Results:
106-Isaac Walch (17-20) placed 6th
Champ. Round 1 - Isaac Walch (PEM) 17-20 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Jon Laures (STEW) 20-16 defeated Isaac Walch (PEM) 17-20 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Isaac Walch (PEM) 17-20 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Isaac Walch (PEM) 17-20 defeated Thomas Holmquist (STA) 14-15 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Semi - Dominic Mann (KM) 22-15 defeated Isaac Walch (PEM) 17-20 (Dec 7-0)
5th Place Match - Jon Laures (STEW) 20-16 defeated Isaac Walch (PEM) 17-20 (Fall 2:39)
113-Riley Boland (4-24) placed 8th
Champ. Round 1 - Riley Boland (PEM) 4-24 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Jacob Thompson (Byron) 24-8 defeated Riley Boland (PEM) 4-24 (Fall 0:45)
Cons. Round 2 - Riley Boland (PEM) 4-24 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Steven Ramirez (LC) 12-20 defeated Riley Boland (PEM) 4-24 (TF-1.5 5:26 (18-3))
120-Alex Hinrichs (8-27) placed 8th
Champ. Round 1 - Preston Hitterdal (KM) 13-15 defeated Alex Hinrichs (PEM) 8-27 (Fall 0:00)
Cons. Round 1 - Alex Hinrichs (PEM) 8-27 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Alex Hinrichs (PEM) 8-27 defeated Lucas Larson (STEW) 11-16 (Fall 3:22)
Cons. Round 3 - Kaiden Schrandt (SIM) 25-17 defeated Alex Hinrichs (PEM) 8-27 (MD 10-0)
126-Logan Dittrich (2-6) placed 8th
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Dittrich (PEM) 2-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Ross Herber (LARP) 27-5 defeated Logan Dittrich (PEM) 2-6 (Fall 1:11)
Cons. Round 2 - Logan Dittrich (PEM) 2-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Eli Haight (Byron) 10-16 defeated Logan Dittrich (PEM) 2-6 (Fall 0:51)
132-Austin Michel (21-22) placed 4th
Champ. Round 1 - Austin Michel (PEM) 21-22 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Austin Michel (PEM) 21-22 defeated Joey Schreier (La Crescent) 19-14 (Fall 3:01)
Semis - Mitchel Petersen (Byron) 12-1 defeated Austin Michel (PEM) 21-22 (TF-1.5 5:33 (23-7))
Cons. Semi - Austin Michel (PEM) 21-22 defeated Levi Anderson (CF) 20-18 (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match - Luke Skifton (LC) 30-10 defeated Austin Michel (PEM) 21-22 (Fall 1:23)
138-Kael Lamb (19-22) placed 5th
Champ. Round 1 - Kael Lamb (PEM) 19-22 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Dan Krier (PI) 27-13 defeated Kael Lamb (PEM) 19-22 (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Kael Lamb (PEM) 19-22 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Kael Lamb (PEM) 19-22 defeated Henry Paulson (KM) 7-28 (MD 12-3)
Cons. Semi - Gable Speltz (LARP) 32-10 defeated Kael Lamb (PEM) 19-22 (Dec 6-2)
5th Place Match - Kael Lamb (PEM) 19-22 defeated Jack Springer (STA) 18-12 (MD 10-2)
145-Cael Marx (30-8) placed 3rd
Champ. Round 1 - Cael Marx (PEM) 30-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Cael Marx (PEM) 30-8 defeated Riley Schwictenberg (STEW) 8-20 (Fall 0:23)
Semis - Tanner Paulson (KM) 28-10 defeated Cael Marx (PEM) 30-8 (Dec 8-1)
Cons. Semi - Cael Marx (PEM) 30-8 defeated Mason West (LC) 19-10 (Fall 1:22)
3rd Place Match - Cael Marx (PEM) 30-8 defeated Jacob Draxler (STA) 27-13 (Fall 4:00)
152-Joe Stucky (31-2) placed 1st
Champ. Round 1 - Joe Stucky (PEM) 31-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Joe Stucky (PEM) 31-2 defeated Wyatt Nemechek (Byron) 5-23 (Fall 0:58)
Semis - Joe Stucky (PEM) 31-2 defeated Luke Becker (LC) 18-17 (Fall 4:32)
1st Place Match - Joe Stucky (PEM) 31-2 defeated Travis Dohmen (SIM) 20-10 (Dec 3-2)
160-Dereck Boyum (24-17) placed 4th
Champ. Round 1 - Dereck Boyum (PEM) 24-17 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Dereck Boyum (PEM) 24-17 defeated Keegan Zelinske (STEW) 14-14 (Dec 9-8)
Semis - Nolan Wanzek (SIM) 39-7 defeated Dereck Boyum (PEM) 24-17 (Dec 9-2)
Cons. Semi - Dereck Boyum (PEM) 24-17 defeated Jake Borman (STA) 7-9 (Fall 3:04)
3rd Place Match - Derek Meincke (LC) 16-4 defeated Dereck Boyum (PEM) 24-17 (MD 13-4)
170-Alex Rahman (15-17) placed 5th
Champ. Round 1 - Alex Rahman (PEM) 15-17 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Alex Rahman (PEM) 15-17 defeated Beau Zimmerman (CF) 19-20 (MD 13-0)
Semis - Bennett Berge (KM) 39-1 defeated Alex Rahman (PEM) 15-17 (Fall 1:57)
Cons. Semi - Dominic Goihl-Krier (LC) 26-14 defeated Alex Rahman (PEM) 15-17 (Dec 6-5)
5th Place Match - Alex Rahman (PEM) 15-17 defeated Beau Zimmerman (CF) 19-20 (MD 9-1)
182-Anthony Roberton (13-22) placed 6th
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Roberton (PEM) 13-22 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Quayin Short (SIM) 41-3 defeated Anthony Roberton (PEM) 13-22 (Fall 0:42)
Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Roberton (PEM) 13-22 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Anthony Roberton (PEM) 13-22 defeated John Berdusco (STA) 3-9 (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Semi - Christian Sackett (STEW) 23-13 defeated Anthony Roberton (PEM) 13-22 (Fall 3:55)
5th Place Match - Jacob Meyer (LARP) 19-19 defeated Anthony Roberton (PEM) 13-22 (Dec 6-0)
195-Martin Prieto (21-7) placed 3rd
Champ. Round 1 - Martin Prieto (PEM) 21-7 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Martin Prieto (PEM) 21-7 defeated Sam Nutt (LC) 18-13 (Dec 10-5)
Semis - Jackson Kennedy (KM) 30-11 defeated Martin Prieto (PEM) 21-7 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Semi - Martin Prieto (PEM) 21-7 defeated Jaxon Klusmann (PI) 3-10 (Fall 1:53)
3rd Place Match - Martin Prieto (PEM) 21-7 defeated Riley Keenan (CF) 34-8 (Fall 3:24)
2nd Place Match - Landan DuVal (SIM) 38-6 defeated Martin Prieto (PEM) 21-7 (Dec 7-2)
220-Cody Schneider (2-10) placed 8th
Champ. Round 1 - Cody Schneider (PEM) 2-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Bennett Tabor (SIM) 43-0 defeated Cody Schneider (PEM) 2-10 (Fall 0:16)
Cons. Round 2 - Cody Schneider (PEM) 2-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Parker Theobold (STEW) 17-18 defeated Cody Schneider (PEM) 2-10 (Fall 0:43)
285-Logan Wingert (38-2) placed 1st
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Wingert (PEM) 38-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarters - Logan Wingert (PEM) 38-2 defeated Carter Geerts (Byron) 6-21 (Fall 0:23)
Semis - Logan Wingert (PEM) 38-2 defeated Chris Celis (SIM) 1-3 (Inj. 0:00)
1st Place Match - Logan Wingert (PEM) 38-2 defeated Anthony Moe-Tucker (KM) 13-5 (Dec 9-8)
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