Bucs go 3-0, improve to 20-4
It was quite a week for the Blue Earth Area wrestling team.
First, on Jan. 25 they defeated St. James 33-22 to clinch at least a share of the South Central Conference title.
It was the first conference loss for the Saints in four years.
Then, on Tuesday the Bucs downed the Windom/Mountain Lake Cobras and Maple River Eagles in a home triangular.
The Eagles are, along with BEA, considered among the top teams in Section 2A vying for a State berth on Feb. 16.
Against St. James, BEA fell behind 15-3 after the first five matches, but the Saints were able to earn bonus points in only one match.
“As a team, I thought that was the best we have wrestled. The kids took it up a notch and really wanted the SCC title. That’s one of our goals at the beginning of the year,” says head coach Randy Wirtjes.
The Bucs mounted a comeback, with Jesse Alleven earning at 9-1 major decision at 138, followed by another major decision from Luke Schavey at 145.
David Franta won a 9-5 decision at 152 and Carter Hanson (160) and Gus Phillips (170) added back-to-back tech falls to give their team a 24-15 lead.
St. James closed the gap to 24-19 with a major decision, but Kysten Zierke put three points on the scoreboard for BEA with a 7-2 decision.
Senior 220-pounder Micah Twedt sealed the team victory when he pinned Adrian Torres in 5:04.
In the triangular on Tuesday, BEA again fell behind after the first five matches.
The middle weights sparked a comeback and the upper weights clinched two wins, upping the team’s record to 20-4 overall and 4-0 in the SCC.
Wirtjes was particularly pleased with the win over Maple River.
“It was nice to beat a section team because that will be important when it comes to seeding,” he says.
BEA 33,
St. James 22
106: Zach Buseman (BEA) dec. Mario Garcia, 3-2.
113: Angel Zamarripa (St. James) dec. Camden Bowers, 8-7.
120: Cody Hanson (St. James) pinned Matt Goodrich, 127. Hanson is rated No. 9 at 113 pounds in Class A.
126: Rich Soto (St. James) dec. Jordan Stelter, 6-3. Soto is ranked No. 2.
132: Isaac Carreon (St. James) dec. Mike Ankeny, 2-0.
138: Jesse Alleven (BEA) maj. dec. Mark Alvarado, 9-1.
145: Luke Schavey (BEA) maj. dec. Kody Curry, 11-3.
152: David Franta (BEA) dec. Zack Gleiter, 9-5.
160: Carter Hanson (BEA) tech fall Carlos Marquez, 4:36.
170: Gus Phillips (BEA) tech fall Colin Hoppe, 2:30.
182: Ryan Westman (St. James) maj. dec. Chris Ramos, 12-1.
195: Kysten Zierke (BEA) dec. Devin Wolle, 7-2.
220: Micah Twedt (BEA) pinned Adrian Torres, 5:04.
285: Victor Torres (St.. James) dec. Martin Granados, 6-3. Torres is rated No. 5 and Granados is ranked No. 9.
BEA 35,
Windom Area 23
106: Hunter Quiring (W) dec. Buseman, 11-8.
113: Wyatt Stevens (W) pinned Wyatt Tungland, 1:10. Stevens is rated No. 5 at 106 pounds in Class AA.
120: Joe Fischenich (W) tech fall Bowers, 3:20.
126: Stelter (BEA) tech fall Hayden Fast, 3:42.
132: Jared Willaby (W) dec. Ankeny, 4-2.
138: Alleven (BEA) tech fall Jacob Suess, 5:56.
145: Schavey (BEA) dec. Clay Hockel, 3-0.
152: Franta (BEA) Ben Matter, 7-3.
160: Hanson (BEA) tech fall Andrew Larson, 4:57.
170: Phillips (BEA) tech fall Gavin Muitz, 3:31.
182: Jake Junker (W) dec. Ramos, 4-1.
195: Zierke (BEA) dec. Vince Johnson, 6-5. Johnson is rated No. 4 at 182 pounds.
220: Twedt (BEA) tech fall Aaron Flatgard, 4:58.
285: Neil Litfin (W) dec. Granados, 3-2.
BEA 42,
Maple River 24
106: Derek Moore (MR) dec. Buseman, 8-3.
113: Bowers (BEA) pinned Prince Bade, 3:21.
120: Zack Kuhns (MR) pinned Tungland, :34. Kuhns is rated No. 6 at 113 pounds in Class A.
126: Russell Caldwell (MR) dec. Stelter, 5-2.
132: Ankeny (BEA) dec. Zak Walters, 13-7.
138: Alleven (BEA) won by injury default.
145: Aaron Trio (MR) dec. Schavey, 6-3. Trio is rated No. 7 in Class A.
152: Franta (BEA) maj. dec. Kyle Schoneck, 18-10.
160: Hanson (BEA) tech fall Mitch Stolzsman, 3:03.
170: Phillips (BEA) pinned Lukas Trio, :42.
182: Tyler Olsen (MR) maj. dec. Ramos, 10-3.
195: Zierke (BEA) won by forfeit.
220: Luke Krengel (MR) pinned Twedt, :41.
285: Granados (BEA) won by forfeit.