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The individual tournament featured six state-rated teams. Scott West, rated #3 in Class AA, won the tournament with 226.5 points, ending a two-year reign by Minneota, ranked #4 in Class A. Minneota had won the team title the past two years, including edging the Bulldogs by a half point last year.

Senior Adam Christian was one of two Bulldogs to reach the finals at the Paynesville Invite on Saturday. Christian (now 14-2) took second at 135. Senior Marty Engen was the only champion for the Dogs.

Minneota took third this year behind Scott West, who had five individual champions, and Dassel-Cokato, a sectional rival for the Dogs, who had three individual champions. Scott West had edged the Bulldogs 29-28 for the tourney title at Farmington two weeks ago.

The Bulldogs, rated #9 in Class AA, had 12 wrestlers place, but only two made the finals and only three placed in the top three.

Senior Marty Engen (now 17-0) won his second straight title at 189 and continued his undefeated season. He defeated Craig Myhre of Minneota, rated #2 in Class A, 7-3 in the final.

Senior Adam Christian (now 14-2) also advanced to the final at 135 but suffered his second loss of the season at the hands of Evan Huotari of Deer River, who won a 3-1 decision. Christian took second.

Senior Justin Reeck (now 14-5) was the only other Paynesville wrestler to win at least three matches on Saturday. He went 3-1, with his only loss to the eventual champion, and placed third at 140.

Going 2-2 and placing fourth for the Bulldogs were senior Pat Noonan at 119, junior Matt Kerzman at 145, and junior Pat Utsch at 215. Going 2-2 and placing fifth were freshman Joey Sheridan at 103, senior Josh Johnson at 130, freshman Joel Kerzman at 152, and senior Josh Kerzman at 160.

Sophomore Jim Jansen placed sixth at 171 and senior Brad Person took sixth at 275 for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs wrestled without regulars Sean and Ryan Glenz.

This week, the Bulldogs will wrestle at a tournament at Eastview in Apple Valley on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. They will also wrestle in a triangular at Annandale/Maple Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Dogs will wrestle Rocori at 6:30 p.m. and will wrestle Annandale/Maple Lake at 8 p.m.

Team scores
1. Scott West-- 226.5
2. Dassel-Cokato-- 185.5
3. Minneota-- 150.0
4. Forest Lake-- 146.0
5. Deer River-- 130.0
6. Paynesville-- 122.0
7. Park Rapids-- 54.0
8. Sartell/St. Stephen-- 42.0

Individual Results
103-Joey Sheridan (P)...lost 9-1 to Kurt Salmen (DC)...won 5-3 in overtime over Jeff Stang (S/S)...lost 7-4 to Ed Dvorak (SW)...won 7-2 over Derek Elsing (M)... Fifth Place;
112-Andrew Christian (P) ...lost by fall to Sean Hogan (FL)...lost by fall to Tim Bebeau (DR)...Did Not Place;
119-Pat Noonan (P)...won 8-1 over Stripling (M)...lost 10-2 to Safratowich (PR)...won by fall over Harrison (FL)...lost 10-7 to Matt Hohenstein (DC)...Fourth Place;
125-Cory Christensen (P)...lost by fall to Jordan Kolbow (FL)...lost by fall to Jon Schear (DR)...Did Not Place;
130-Josh Johnson (P)...lost 15-5 to Jac Roberts (SW)...won 10-3 over Jake Menk (FL)...lost 9-6 to Rick Peterson (M)...won 9-7 over Marshal Sager (DC) ...Fifth Place;
135-Adam Christian (P) ...bye...won 3-2 over Boomeester (SW) ...lost 3-1 to Evan Huotari (DR)... Second Place;
140-Justin Reeck (P) ...won by fall over Mike Swenson (PR)...lost by fall to Brand Girtz (FL)... won 6-2 over Greg Colosey (SW)... won 8-1 over Nels Benda (DC)...Third Place;
145-Matt Kerzman (P)...lost 8-2 to Brian Traut (S/S)...won by fall over Steve Rogers (DR)...won by fall over Josh Determan (FL)...lost 4-2 to Traut (S/S)...Fourth Place;
152-Joel Kerzman (P)...won by fall over Jim House (FL)...lost by technical fall to Adam Hermann (SW)...lost 16-3 to Mike Lundeen (DC)...won by fall over House (FL)...Fifth Place;
160-Josh Kerzman (P)...lost 22-9 to Doug Joyer (FL)...bye...lost 17-4 to Wade Gillund (M)...won 6-4 in overtime over Zach Serfling (DR)...Fifth Place;
171-Jim Jansen (P)...lost by fall to Osterbauer (FL)...bye...lost by fall to James Forbord (DR)...lost by fall to Tony Buysse (M)... Sixth Place;
189-Marty Engen (P)... bye...won 14-2 over Orrin Polzin (DC) ...won 7-3 over Craig Myhre (M)...First Place;
215-Pat Utsch (P)...won by fall over Der Moehling (DR)...lost 6-4 to Mark Olson (M)...won 4-2 over Pet Philippi (DC)...lost by fall to Alex Behling (FL)...Fourth Place
275-Brad Person ...lost 4-0 to Nic Philippi (DC)...bye... lost 4-2 to John Martin (DR)...lost by fall to Brandon Engel (FL)...Sixth Place.

Paynesville 45, Albany 24
The Bulldogs finished their conference dual meet schedule unbeaten after defeating Albany 45-24 on Thursday, Jan. 9.

The Dogs, who had seven pins in the match, got three in a row from 189 to 275 to break a 12-12 tie and build a 30-12 lead. Junior Pat Utsch got a pin at 189, senior Marty Engen pinned at 215, and senior Brad Person pinned at 275.

After Albany cut that lead to 30-24, the Bulldogs won the last three weights, including a pin at 130 by freshman Keith Klein. Sophomore Cory Christenson added a decision at 125, and senior Pat Noonan won by forfeit at 119.

Other winners for the Bulldogs were senior Adam Christian by decision at 135, freshman Joel Kerzman by decision at 152, and senior Josh Kerzman by pin at 160.

With the win, the Dogs are 4-0 in conference and 12-3 overall.

Paynesville 45, Albany 24
135-Adam Christian (P) dec. Scott Schlangen, 4-1; 140-Kris Doll (A) dec. Justin Reeck, 10-8; 145-Jake Ziermen (A) dec. Matt Kerzman, 7-1; 152-Joel Kerzman (P) dec. Brian Mergen, 8-7; 160-Josh Kerzman (P) pinned David Goeritz, 1:52; 171-Adam Goebel (A) pinned Jim Jansen, 0:17; 189-Pat Utsch (P) pinned Andy Reiling, 3:02; 215-Marty Engen (P) pinned Brad Mandrel, 3:43; 275-Brad Person (P) pinned Jeff Dirkes, 3:47; 103-Brad Maciejeski (A) pinned Andrew Christian, 3:10; 112-Mark Blackmore (A) pinned Joey Sheridan, 3:48; 119-Pat Noonan (P) won by forfeit; 125-Cory Christen-son (P) dec. Alex Plattenberg, 7-6; 130-Keith Klein (P) pinned Adam Doll, 2:49.