As expected, No. 2-seed Blue Earth Area and No. 3-seed United South Central advanced to the semi-finals of the Section 2A Team Championships on Feb. 16 in New Richland.

BEA (23-4) downed Medford (4-9) 58-24, while USC (16-8) defeated St. Clair/Loyola 58-14 in the quarterfinal held Thursday in Blue Earth.

The two teams meet in a rematch, with the winner facing either No. 1-seed Jackson County Central or No. 4-seed New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva to earn a berth to the State Team Meet beginning Feb. 28 in St. Paul.

BEA defeated USC 34-33 on Feb. 5 and both head coaches anticipate another close dual.

Buc head coach Randy Wirtjes admits he’s “a little nervous,” while Rebel head coach Marcus Eytcheson says he’s “super excited.”

“We have to stay focused, stay off our backs to prevent bonus points and score them when we can,” says Wirtjes.

Eytcheson thinks some of the matches may have different results than the first time the teams met, but the outcome of the dual will come down to the wire again.

He says his team also has some added motivation.

“It should be a very heated environment, there were a lot of people who weren’t happy we got the third seed. So, I expect there will be a lot of booing,” says Eytcheson. “I told the boys, ‘the more people boo, the harder they wrestle.”

Against Medford, the Bucs collected five forfeits, three pins and two tech falls for an easy victory.

Getting pins were Camden Bowers (113), Mike Ankeny (132) and Gus Phillips (170).

Jesse Alleven was a tech fall winner in 3:43 at 138 pounds and Carter Hanson earned a tech fall in 5:04 at 160.

The Rebels had four pins, four forfeits, one major decision and two decisions for their wins.

Dom Alger (106), Adam Knutson (113), Jacob Gonsalez (120) and Colten Carlson (182) all won by a pin.

Carlson’s win was a milestone, the 100th of his career.

At 220 pounds, Isaac Hernandez defeated his opponent on a 17-4 major decision.BEA 58, Medford 24

106: Seth Elwood (M) pinned Adam Buseman, 3:34.

113: Camden Bowers (BEA) pinned Nate Miexner, 1:02.

120: Marcus Deleon (M) pinned Matt Goodrich, 3:29.

126: Tyler Keller (M) pinned Jordan Stelter, 4:57.

132: Mike Ankeny (BEA) pinned Javis Von Ruden, :55.

138: Jesse Alleven (BEA) tech fall Nick Masso, 16-0, 3:43.

145: Luke Schavey (BEA) wins by forfeit.

152: David Franta (BEA) wins by forfeit.

160: Carter Hanson (BEA) tech fall Nick Von Ruden, 17-2, 5:04.

170: Gus Phillips (BEA) pinned Trevor Grems, 1:24.

182: Chris Ramos (BEA) wins by forfeit.

195: Kysten Zierke (BEA) wins by forfeit.

220: Nathan Elzen (M) pinned Micah Twedt, :41.

285: Martin Granados (BEA) wins by forfeit.

USC 58, St. Clair 14

106: Dom Alger (USC) pinned Dylan Rasmussen, 4:45.

113: Adam Knutson (USC) pinned Aaron Drummer, :37.

120: Jacob Gonsalez (USC) pinned David Loeffler, :40.

126: Shawn Redman (USC) dec. Bryce Flowers, 9-5.

132: Dylan Herman (USC) wins by forfeit.

138: Derek Herman (USC) wins by forfeit.

145: Matt Harpestad (USC) wins by forfeit.

152: Chance Oftedahl (St. Clair) tech fall Seth Olson, 4:48.

160: Jordan Schmitz (St. Clair) pinned Cory Ehlert, 1:25.

170: Gage Thom (St. Clair) dec. Travis Brown, 8-4.

182: Colten Carlson (USC) pinned Nico Gronewold, 1:08.

195: Logan Sonnek (USC) wins by forfeit.

220: Isaac Hernandez (USC) maj. dec. Ben Grabowska, 17-4.

285: Joe Matthews (USC) dec. Tanner Hauser, 1-0.