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In both matches, the Bulldogs found themselves facing large early deficits, and late rallies came up short for Paynesville.

Annandale/Maple Lake won six of the first seven weights, building a 26-3 lead against the Dogs, who got their only victory from sophomore Andrew Christian at 112.

Trailing 26-3, the Dogs won five of the last seven matches, but their loss was sealed with three weights to go and Annandale/Maple Lake leading 35-10.

Junior Josh Tebben recorded the only pin for the Bulldogs at 189. Seniors Matt Kerzman and Pat Utsch added major decisions, at 152 and 215 respectively. Sophomore Sean Glenz won a decision at 145, and senior Derek Burris won by injury default at 275.

Against Litchfield, the defending state champions in Class AA who have beaten the Bulldogs in the section finals the past two years, the Bulldogs won only four matches.

Litchfield, rated #9 in Class AA, won the first six weights, building a 33-0 lead. Then the Bulldogs got back-to-back-to-back pins from sophomore Joel Kerzman at 140, Glenz at 145, and Matt Kerzman at 152. But Litchfield answered with two pins of their own after this Paynesville run.

Utsch was the only other victorious wrestler for the Bulldogs against Litchfield, winning a major decision at 215.

The Dogs are now 13-8 this season. This week, the Bulldogs will wrestle in the West Central Conference Meet, hoping to earn All Conference honors, on Saturday, Jan. 31, at New London-Spicer High School. This year, all 11 schools, from both the north and south halves of the conference, are wrestling in one conference meet.

The first round starts at 10 a.m. The championship quarterfinals are scheduled to start at 11:45 a.m., the consolation quarterfinals at 2 p.m., the semifinals (both champ-ionship and consolation) at 3:15 p.m., and the finals at 5:30 p.m.

A/ML 35, Paynesville 26
103-Zach Stumpf (A/ML) dec. Jordan Christian, 7-2; 112-Andrew Christian (P) dec. Nick Clemence, 8-5; 119-Tyler Wadman (A/ML) dec. Todd Thielen, 9-7; 125-Ben Anderson (A/ML) tech. falled Aaron Burris, 16-1; 130-Phil Roemer (A/ML) pinned Cory Spanier, 1:08; 135-Aaron Hemper (A/ML) won by forfeit; 140-Stephen Pilgrim (A/ML) dec. Joel Kerzman, 4-0; 145-Sean Glenz (P) dec. Nate Roemer, 7-1; 152-Matt Kerzman (P) maj. dec. Nick Demarais, 12-2; 160-Scot Christen (A/ML) dec. Aaron Bachman, 6-4; 171-Brad Salveson (A/ML) pinned Jordan Spaeth, 1:34; 189-Josh Tebben (P) pinned Ben Hylla, 3:05; 215-Pat Utsch (P) maj. dec. Adam Michalski, 9-0; 275-Derek Burris (P) won by injury default over Dusty Hicka.

Litchfield 54, Paynesville 22
103-Reed Wimmer (L) pinned Jordan Christian, 3:13; 112-Dan Klapotz (L) pinned Andrew Christian, 3:54; 119-David Malepsy (L) dec. Todd Thielen, 6-2; 125-Seth Hansvick (L) pinned Aaron Burris, 1:16; 130-Beau Penk (L) pinned Cory Spanier, 0:25; 135-Joe Buschette (L) won by forfeit; 140-Joel Kerzman (P) pinned Dan Smith, 3:44; 145-Sean Glenz (P) pinned Blayne Johnson, 3:58; 152-Matt Kerzman (P) pinned Jon Malepsy, 3:18; 160-A.J. Werner (L) pinned Aaron Bachman, 1:00; 171-Terry Staton (L) pinned Kevin Klein, 1:13; 189-Pat Utsch (P) maj. dec. Aaron Kromann, 11-2; 215-Tony Gutterson (L) dec. Josh Tebben, 12-9; 275-Bryar Johnson (L) won by forfeit.