Ten of the 14 matches ended by way of a pin, but the Buc wrestlers were on the short end of a dual meet held Dec. 21 in Blue Earth.

Defending state champion and Class A No. 1-ranked Jackson County Central built a 24-0 lead on four straight pins and ended the night with six.

“When you get pinned, it’s like losing two matches. We have to figure out a way to stay off our backs,” says head coach Randy Wirtjes.

“The kids are working hard and improving. There’s a lot of season left and we’re not throwing in the towel by any means,” he adds.

The Huskie lineup boasts six ranked wrestlers, while the Bucs have four.

BEA had wins at 132, 145, 182, 220 and heavyweight.

Jordan Stelter got the Bucs on the scoreboard, pinning Dakota Rossow in 2:33 at 132 pounds.

Buc 145-pounder Jesse Alleven added a 15-4 major decision over Dylan Riggle to make the score 30-10, in favor of JCC.

The visitors increased the lead to 42-10, before Gus Phillips registered an upset win at 182 pounds.

Phillips, entering the match rated No. 9 at 160 pounds in Class A, pinned No. 5 rated Keegan Moore in 1:21.

The Buc junior says Moore is a tough and aggressive wrestler, but he went into the match confident.

“He’s good on his feet. I wanted to get the first takedown,” he says. “We got into a scramble and I got him in a headlock. I just did what I had to do.”

Kysten Zierke, ranked No. 7 at 195, put Jack Ziemer’s shoulders to the mat in 1:02 for a pin at 220 pounds.

And, 10th-ranked heavyweight Martin Granados pinned Nate Horn in 1:57.

In another battle of rated wrestlers at 170 pounds, No. 1 Darick Vancura outlasted the Bucs Carter Hanson, who is rated No. 8.

A defending state champion, Vancura led 5-3 after the first period and ended up winning a 12-8 decision.

At 160, David Franta dropped a tough 5-1 decision to JCC’s Luke Norland, rated No. 1 at 152.

JCC 45, BEA 28

106: Dalton Wagner (JCC) pinned Adam Legred, 1:04.

113: Ryker VanderWoude (JCC) pinned Wyatt Tungland, 1:33.

120: Kyle Edlin (JCC) pinned Camden Bowers, 1:59.

126: Jordan Biehn (JCC) pinned Alec Huber, 5:24. Biehn is rated No. 7 at 120 pounds in Class A.

132: Jordan Stelter (BEA) pinned Dakota Rossow, 2:33.

138: Eliot Jurries (JCC) pinned Mike Ankeny, :42. Jurries is rated No. 1 at 132 pounds.

145: Jesse Alleven (BEA) maj. dec. Dylan Riggle, 15-4.

152: Paden Moore (JCC) pinned Luke Schavey, 3:58. Moore is rated No.2 at 145 pounds. 160: Luke Norland (JCC) dec. David Franta, 5-1. Norland is rated No. 1 at 152 pounds.

170: Darick Vancura (JCC) dec. Carter Hanson, 12-8. Vancura is ranked No. 1 at 170 pounds.

182: Gus Phillips (BEA) pinned Keegan Moore, 1:21. Moore is rated No. 5 at 160 pounds and Phillips is No. 9.

195: Nate Guggisberg (JCC) dec. Chris Ramos, 6-2.

220: Kysten Zierke (BEA) pinned Jack Ziemer, 1:02. Zierke is rated No. 7 at 195 pounds.

285: Martin Granados (BEA) pinned Nate Horn, 1:57. Granados is rated No. 10.