Aiden Graner Takes Home All State Medal; Alex Bedsted Finishes Top 8 in State!
The dictionary definition of excel is to be exceptionally good at an activity or subject. That definition ran true for the PEM wrestlers this past weekend in St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. Aiden Graner earned all-state honors by finishing in 6th place at 133 pounds. Alex Bedsted also impressed with a 2-2 record at 215 pounds, just missing out with a place on the podium. Both wrestlers made their PEM coaches and community proud with outstanding efforts that will carry them into next season.
Added Coach Nate Pfeilsticker, "these two showed the rest of Minnesota what they are made of and the sky's the limit the next two years, I'm excited to see what happens next!"
Graner opened with a tough loss to the #1 seed, Dylan Louwagie of Marshall. After that he earned tough wins over Chandler Mickleson of Perham and Tomas Ochocki of South St. Paul to stamp his place in PEM history by becoming an all-state wrestler! Added, Coach Daren Wingert, "Aiden earned this spot. He worked very hard this summer by wrestling at the Northern Plains and Fargo Nationals and seeing some of the best competition in the nation!"
Alex Bedsted started with a fall in the first round over #5 seeded Zack DeBeer of Dawson-Boyd. Commented Coach Cam Miller, "what just happened?!?! Alex locked up the bear hug and the guy couldn't move! He came ready to wrestle!" Bedsted lost in the next round to the #4 seed Ivan Petrich of Little Falls but stormed back with an early pin over Andrea Sanders of Fridley in the wrestle-back round to lock up a top 8 finish in his weight bracket. Unfortunately Alex lost a heartbreaker to Milaca's Jack Hanson to fall just short of all-state status. Added Coach Marc Melcher, "Alex took the state tournament by storm! He was all guts the past 6 weeks of the season. I know he's disappointed but he got a taste of what the best of the best in Minnesota is like. I couldn't be prouder of him!"
MSHSL State Championships Results for Plainview-Elgin-Millville
133AA- Aiden Graner (37-10) placed 6th
Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Louwagie (Marshall) 51-1 won by major decision over Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 37-10 (MD 13-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 37-10 won by decision over Chandler Mickelson (Perham) 30-8 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 2 - Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 37-10 won by decision over Tomas Ochocki (South Saint Paul) 32-18 (Dec 9-2)
Cons. Semi - Jack Krier (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) 46-4 won by major decision over Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 37-10 (MD 14-3)
5th Place Match - Alex Lehman (Grand Rapids) 47-7 won by decision over Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 37-10 (Dec 6-0)
215AA -Alexander Bedsted (40-15) place is unknown
Champ. Round 1 - Alexander Bedsted (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 40-15 won by fall over Zach DeBeer (Dawson-Boyd - Lac Qui Parle - Montevideo United) 34-10 (Fall 1:35)
Quarterfinal - Ivan Petrich (Little Falls) 39-6 won by fall over Alexander Bedsted (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 40-15 (Fall 1:28)
Cons. Round 1 - Alexander Bedsted (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 40-15 won by fall over Andrea Sanders (Fridley) 22-16 (Fall 2:01)
Cons. Round 2 - Jack Hanson (Milaca-Faith Christian) 34-8 won by decision over Alexander Bedsted (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 40-15 (Dec 10-4)
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