The Blue Earth Area wrestling team had to come from behind to claim the South Central Conference title.

The Bucs defeated the Waseca Bluejays 32-24 in a makeup meet Feb. 3 in Waseca.

“We knew it would be a battle tonight. Waseca moved some people around and matched up with us real well,” says head coach Randy Wirtjes. “The guys wrestled hard and we had some nice wins. It was great to go 5-0 in the conference.”

BEA once again had to count on the ‘Big Guys’ to pull out a victory and improve its record to 24-1.

Trailing 24-20 with just two matches remaining, Mat Willner put the Bucs ahead 26-24 with a fall in 1:42.

The Buc senior is ranked No. 5 at 215 pounds in the latest Class A rankings and improved his record to 28-0.

Senior heavyweight Jake Lee earned a forfeit to put his record at 27-1 and make the final score, 32-24 in favor of BEA. Lee is currently ranked No. 3.

BEA 32, Waseca 24

103: Tanner Pehrson (W) dec. Travis Hagedorn, 3-0.

112: Jake Wirtjes (BEA) dec. Hunter Pehrson, 8-4.

119: Zach Gehloff (Waseca) dec. D.J. Gronewald,10-3.

125: Joe Franta (BEA) major dec. Mikal McDaniel, 16-7.

130: Carter Hanson (BEA) major dec. Adam Brouwers, 9-1.

135: Bryce Werner (BEA) technical fall David Knutson, 18-3.

140: Bruce Harguth (W) pinned Collin Nienhaus, 3:48.

145: Caleb Korb (Waseca) dec. Sinjin Bell, 5-2.

152: Dan Eckhardt (BEA) major dec. Aaron Ingram, 13-4.

160: Jamal McDaniel (W) dec. Cody Klinksiek, 9-6.

171: Sam Milbrett (Waseca) dec. Cody Eckhardt, 6-4.

189: Brandon Pederson (W) dec. Taylor Andrews, 8-3.

215: Mat Willner (BEA) pinned Justin Deling, 1:42.

285: Jake Lee (BEA) forfeit.

WEM/JWP duals

The Bucs picked up three team wins at the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/JWP duals held Jan. 30.

BEA defeated Grand Meadow-Le Roy-Ostrander-Kingsland, 35-25; WEM/JWP, 41-27; and River Valley, 58-13.

Five wrestlers had a perfect day, winning all of their three matches.

Senior heavyweight Jake Lee had 9-1 major decision and a pin in 3:09. He also notched his 60th career win to improve his season record to 26-1.Mat Willner remained unbeaten on the year with a 14-6 major decision and a pin in 3:03. The Buc senior boasts a 27-0 record.

Travis Hagedorn (103), Jake Wirtjes (112) and Carter Hanson (130) went undefeated for the day.

Two of Hanson’s wins were a tech fall in 2:21 and a pin in 3:26. Hagedorn and Wirtjes both earned tech falls.

BEA 35, GMLOK 25

103: Travis Hagedorn (BEA) forfeit.

112: Jake Wirtjes (BEA) dec. Noah Schlee, 3-2.

119: D.J. Gronewald (BEA) maj. dec. Lucas Roe, 17-6.

125: Tyler Jennings (GMLOK) dec. Joe Franta, 10-8.

130: Carter Hanson (BEA) forfeit.

135: Bryce Werner (BEA) maj. dec. Perry Stejskal, maj. dec. 14-6.

140: Bill Holmen (GMLOK) maj. dec. Collin Nienhaus, 12-0.

145: Brennen Mensink (GMLOK) dec. Sinjin Bell, 2-0.

152: Dan Eckhardt (BEA) dec. Caleb Leichtnam, 9-2.

160: Dylan Buchanan (GMLOK) dec. Cody Klinksiek, 7-4.

171: Mitch Wolfgram (GMLOK) dec. Cody Eckhardt, 11-9.

189: Carter Brandt (GMLOK) pinned Taylor Andrews, 3:19.

215: Mat Willner (BEA) maj. dec. Jacob Hamlin, 14-6.

285: Jake Lee (BEA) maj. dec. Scott Wilson, 9-1.

BEA 41, WEM/JWP 27

103: Hagedorn (BEA) tech fall Jeff Purvis, 17-2.

112: Wirtjes (BEA) tech fall Dustin Wolff, 17-1.

119: Dylan Habinger-Burris (WEM/JWP) pinned Gronewald, 1:49.

125: Franta (BEA) maj. dec. Nick Borneke, 14-2.

130: Hanson (BEA) tech fall Tucker Roecker, 17-1.

135: Derek Marzahn (WEM/JWP) dec. Werner, 5-4.

140: Nienhaus (BEA) forfeit.

145: Bell (BEA) maj. dec. Tyler Neal, 9-1.

152: Brady Ayers (WEM/JWP) dec. D. Eckhardt, 14-11.

160: Blake Boran (WEM/JWP) pinned Klinksiek, 4:50.

171: Alex Eustice (WEM/JWP) dec. C. Eckhardt, 6-4.

189: Kevin Lamont (WEM/JWP) Andrews, 7-5.

215: Willner (BEA) pinned Colton Schroer, 3:03.

285: Lee (BEA) pinned Andrew Wolter, 3:09.

BEA 58, River Valley 13

103: Hagedorn (BEA) forfeit.

112: Wirtjes (BEA) dec. Jacob Anderson, 10-5.

119: Zach Streich (RV) dec. Gronewald, 9-5.

125: Jared Resutek (BEA) forfeit.

130: Hanson (BEA) pinned Colton Deberd, 3:26.

135: Tony Vaske (RV) pinned Werner, 2:16.

140: Mitch Johnson (RV) maj. dec. Nienhaus, 10-2.

145: Bell dec. Bill Kreuger, 7-2.

152: D. Eckhardt (BEA) maj. dec. Caleb Hillesheim, 10-1.

160: Klinksiek (BEA) forfeit.

171: C. Eckhardt (BEA) forfeit).

189: Andrews (BEA) forfeit.

215: Willner (BEA) forfeit.

285: Lee (BEA) forfeit.