The Bulldogs built a 33-6 lead on Thursday behind four early pins, a technical fall, and a major decision. A late pin sealed the match for Paynesville.
The wrestling team, which is rated third in Class A, returned to the mat with an impressive victory after a two-week layoff for the holidays. Big Lake is ranked ninth in Class AA.
Adam Christian at 112 got the Bulldogs' first pin, but the Hornets got narrow decisions at the other two lightest weights to tie the score at six.
Nathan Glenz started a string of five consecutive wins for the Bulldogs with a major decision at 125. Jeremy Sogge needed only 17 seconds for a pin at 130, and Jeremy Fuchs earned a technical fall at 135.
Seniors David Kerzman (140) and Joe Hiltner (145) pinned their opponents to give the Bulldogs a 33-6 advantage. Kerzman wrestled only his second match of the season after missing several weeks due to injury.
Sogge and Hiltner are both undefeated in seven matches this winter. Hiltner has six pins, and Sogge has five. Glenz and Fuchs are both 6-1 this season.
The lower portion of Big Lake's lineup featured four state entrants from a year ago, including state runner-up Kelly Flaherty at 171. He is rated first in his weight class in Class AA, his brother, Ryan, is rated third; and heavyweight Nate Pecoraro is rated eighth.
The Bulldogs' lone win against the murderous row in Big Lake's lower weights came from Ryan Glenz at 160. He pinned Ben Hoglund, a state entrant from a year ago. Any sort of victory by Glenz would have sealed the match for Paynesville and he led 6-1 in the third before pinning Hoglund with 24 seconds left in the match.
The Bulldogs will wrestle at Melrose on Thursday, Jan. 11.
The team will host their annual invitational on Saturday, Jan. 13. The junior varsity teams will wrestle in a dual tournament starting at 9:30 a.m., using both the high school and middle school gymnasiums.
Varsity teams will wrestle an individual tournament in the high school gym. The first round will start at about 12:30 p.m. with the semifinals following.
The junior varsity championship could start around 4:30 p.m. and the varsity championships around 6:30 p.m.
Participating teams are Dassel-Cokato, Deer River, Forest Lake, Minneota, Park Rapids, Paynesville, and Scott West.
Paynesville 39, Big Lake 27
103-Chance Jordan (BL) dec. Sean Glenz, 11-10; 112-Adam Christian (P) pinned Keith Lumley, 5:00; 119-Ben Talkington (BL) dec. Pat Noonan, 5-3 (OT); 125-Nathan Glenz (P) maj. dec. Ryan Lumley, 13-4; 130-Jeremy Sogge (P) pinned Nick Greccia, 0:17; 135- Jeremy Fuchs (P) tech. falled Joe Robel, 17-2; 140-David Kerzman (P) pinned Ryan Beacon, 2:30; 145-Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Mel Bucholtz, 3:14; 152-Clint Lumley (BL) dec. Josh Schreifels, 14-7; 160-Ryan Glenz (P) pinned Ben Hoglund, 5:36; 171-Kelly Flaherty (BL) pinned Max Meagher, 1:36; 189-Ryan Flaherty (BL) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 0:39; HWT-Nate Pecoraro (BL) pinned Brad Person, 0:55.
Farmington tourney
The Bulldogs split four matches and finished sixth out of 12 teams at a dual meet tournament in Farmington on Saturday.
The tournament was stocked with state-rated teams, with Bloomington Kennedy (#3 in Class AAA) winning the title. Jackson County Central and St. Michael-Albertville, #1 and #2 in Class AA, finished second and third.
In pool competition, the Bulldogs beat Rochester John Marshall 59-9 but lost to Blue Earh Area 42-24. Blue Earth is rated fifth in Class AA.
The Bulldogs got pins from Adam Christian, Nathan Glenz, David Kerzman, and Joe Hiltner against Blue Earth, but the Bucs won the other nine matches, including close ones at several weights. The Bucs have two defending state champions: Jeff Pfaffinger at 125 and Ty Eustice at 152.
Against Rochester John Marshall, the Bulldogs won the first 11 matches, including four pins, fout technical falls, and two forfeits to take a 59-0 lead.
The Bulldogs defeated Faribault 48-17 to advance to the fifth-place match, where they were edged by Goodhue 30-27.
In that match, the Bulldogs led 21-6 and 27-9 after Joe Hiltner beat a state-rated opponent 105 and Josh Schreifels followed with a decision. But Goodhue - ranked 12th in Class A - won the final five matches, including two by pin, to rally for the victory.
Against Faribault, the Bulldogs built a 45-0 lead with pins in the first five matches, a decision, and two more pins. Faribault won four of the final five weights, but the outcome was sealed after the 140-pound match.
Four Paynesville wrestlers finished unbeaten for the day and earned individual champion honors: Adam Christian at 112, Nathan Glenz at 119, David Kerzman at 130, and Joe Hiltner at 140. Glenz had four pins, and both Christian and Kerzman had three pins and a technical fall.
As a team, the Bulldogs are now 8-3 for the season.
The junior varsity had two individual champions at Farmington: Pat Noonan at 112 and Matt Kerzman at 125.
Goodhue 30, Paynesville 27
103-Sam Gadient (G) pinned Sean Glenz, 1:20; 112-Adam Christian (P) tech. falled Pat Ryan, 20-5; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) pinned Trevor Ryan, 5:43; 125-Jeremy Sogge (P) maj. dec. Kyle Huneke, 16-4; 130-David Kerzman (P) pinned Mark O'Connor, 3:40; 135- Chad Lexvold (G) dec. Jeremy Fuchs, 11-6; 140-Joe Hiltner (P) dec. Brandon Lexvold, 10-5; 145-Josh Schreifels (P) dec. Carl Ahlers, 8-5; 152-Wade Luhman (G) dec. Ryan Glenz 9-3; 160-Tim O'Conner dec. Max Meagher 10-7; 171-Jeff Schrimpf (G) dec. Josh Kerzman, 9-4; 189-Ben O'Reilly (G) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 1:20; HWT-Peter Barfeind (G) pinned Brad Person, 0:22.
Paynesville 48, Faribault 17
103-Sean Glenz (P) pinned Gene Taylor, 3:10; 112-Adam Christian (P) pinned Mark Pureerst, 1:26; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) pinned Andy Brevers, 3:11; 125-Jeremy Sogge (P) pinned Nick Togte, 5:09; 130-David Kerzman (P) pinned Aaron Mevors, 1:28; 135- Jeremy Fuchs (P) dec. Adam McDonough, 3-2; 140-Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Tommy Hugenstin, 1:30; 145-Josh Schreifels (P) pinned John Pohlmann, 3:30; 152-Eric Duchene (F) tech. falled Ryan Glenz, 19-1; 160-Josh Chas (F) dec. Josh Kerzman, 4-1; 171-Max Meagher (P) dec. David Diercks, 8-2; 189-Adam Little (F) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 1:43; HWT-Bill Bellingham (F) dec. Brad Person, 1-0.
Blue Earth 42, Paynesville 24
103-Jared Evans (BE) pinned Sean Glenz, 1:32; 112-Adam Christian (P) pinned Taylor Teems, 0:48; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) pinned Blake Murphy, 3:58; 125-Jeff Pfaffinger (BE) tech. falled Jeremy Sogge, 21-6; 130-David Kerzman (P) pinned Jake Ankeny, 3:41; 135-Travis Olson (BE) dec. Jeremy Fuchs, 5-1; 140-Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Matt Bartley, 021; 145-Josh Markutz (BE) dec. Josh Schreifels, 6-1; 152-Ty Eustice (BE) won by forfeit; 160-Travis Krinkle (BE) maj. dec. Ryan Glenz, 13-3; 171-Rich Rasmussen (BE) dec. Max Meagher, 7-5; 189-Jay Frederickson (BE) pinned Aaron Flint, 0:55; HWT- David Mensing (BE) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 3:45.
Paynesville 59,
Rochester John Marshall 9
103-Sean Glenz (P) dec. Bryan Fogg, 8-4; 112-Adam Christian (P) won by forfeit; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) pinned Brandon Knotts, 0:23; 125-Jeremy Sogge (P) won by forfeit; 130-David Kerzman (P) tech. falled Chuck Zeng, 23-7; 135- Jeremy Fuchs (P) tech. falled Dan Lickert, 17-2; 140-Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Tom Torrez, 1:28; 145-Josh Schreifels (P) pinned Matt Arnold, 0:47; 152-Ryan Glenz (P) tech. falled Brett Stein, 18-2; 160-Max Meagher (P) pinned Zach Schraufnagel, 3:33; 171-Josh Kerzman (P) tech. falled Sean Savage, 18-3; 189-Tim Eggert (RJM) pinned Aaron Flint, 2:35; HWT-Matt Savage (RJM) dec. Jason Leyendecker, 11-9.