The Paynesville Bulldogs avenged a year-old loss to Milaca by defeating them in the finals of the Paynesville Duals on Saturday 31-22. Last year, Milaca rallied to beat the Bulldogs 28-26 for the tournament championship.This time, Paynesville won six of the first eight matches and sealed the victory with a pin by senior Chris Sogge at 160.
Ninth grader Adam Christian set the tone for the Bulldogs in the final. Trailing 3-1, he took down his opponent, who entered the tournament with a record of 17-7, and put him on his back. The four-point move lifted Christian to a 5-3 victory.
Jeremy Sogge and David Kerzman recorded back-to-back technical falls at 119 and 125 to give the Bullogs a 13-5 lead. After Jeremy Fuchs limited a state-rated wrestler to a major decision, Max Meagher(pictured)recorded a key pin at 135.
That set the stage for a feature match between undefeated wrestlers Adam Johnson of Milaca and Chris Welle of Paynesville, both 26-0. Johnson was a state runner-up last year, while Welle placed sixth. Welle threw Johnson to his back twice in the first period and built a 9-2 lead. Johnson cut it to 9-5 with an escape and a takedown, but Welle scored the last points to win 12-5.
Joe Hiltner followed with a 9-4 decision to give the Bulldogs a 25-9 lead. Sogge's pin, which came against Craig Kotsmith, a 20-win senior wrestler, after Sogge trailed 6-1, gave Paynesville an insurmountable 31-12 advantage.
The Bulldogs needed it as Milaca, rated tenth in Class AA, has six seniors at the bottom of its lineup. They won the last three weights by decision.
Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs throttled Dawson-Boyd 54-9 and rallied to beat Belview-Danube-Renville-Sacred Heart (BDRSH) 38-21.
In the opening round, the Bulldogs won the first seven matches against Dawson-Boyd, who are 15th in the state rankings for Class A, in building a 36-0 lead. Dawson-Boyd managed wins at just two weight classes. Pins were recorded for the Bulldogs by David Kerzman (130) and Chris Sogge (160). Nathan Glenz (112), Jeremy Sogge (119), and Welle (140) won by technical fall. Dawson-Boyd also forfeited three weight classes.
In the semifinals, BDRSH, rated tenth in Class A, jumped to a 12-0 lead, recording a fall and two decisions. Glenz lost in the waning seconds, and Jeremy Sogge lost 6-4 to Derek Zieske, who was fourth in state last year.
The Bulldogs rallied by winning seven of the final ten weights, earning bonus points for five pins and a technical fall. Kerzman (125), Hiltner (140), Chris Sogge (160), Scott Braun (189), and Josh Bork (HWT) pinned their opponents. Welle (135) won by technical fall, and Josh Schreifels won by decision at 145.
Undefeated varsity wrestlers for Paynesville on Saturday were Kerzman, Welle, Hiltner, and Chris Sogge.
The junior varsity team also won the championship in their dual tournament. The Bulldogs beat Dawson-Boyd 43-21, Perham 40-27, and Milaca 48-24. Undefeated junior varsity wrestlers for Paynesville were Pat Noonan (112), Justin Spanier (119), Bryan Kotten (125), Justin Reeck (130), Max Meagher (135), Ryan Glenz (145), Josh Kerzman (152), and Jason Leyendecker (171).
Paynesville 31, Milaca 22
103: Adam Christian (P) dec. Joel Wirz, 5-3;
112: Clay Hoeck (M) tech. fall Nate Glenz, 19-4;
119: Jeremy Sogge (P) tech. fall Mark Anson, 27-10;
125: David Kerzman (P) tech. fall Mitch Vedders, 17-2;
130: Mike Weyer (M) maj. dec. Jeremy Fuchs, 19-7;
135: Max Meagher (P) pinned Justin Peterson, 1:04;
140: Chris Welle (P) dec. Adam Johnson, 12-5;
145: Joe Hiltner (P) dec. David Burma, 9-4;
152: Travis Westling (M) dec. Josh Schreifels, 10-3;
160: Chris Sogge (P) pinned Craig Kotsmith, 2:42;
171: Tony Meixell (M) dec. Shaun Fleischhacker, 9-4;
189: Nick Hermanson (M) maj. dec. Scott Braun,10-1;
Hwt: Larry Stark (M) dec. Josh Bork, 3-0.
Paynesville 38, BDRSH 21
103: David Schjenken (BDRSH) pinned Adam Christian, 5:06;
112: Phil Wohlman (BDRSH) dec. Nate Glenz, 8-5;
119: Derek Zieske (BDRSH) dec. Jeremy Sogge, 6-4;
125: David Kerzman (P) pinned Brain Smith, 3:02;
130: Chase Thielen (BDRSH) dec. Jeremy Fuchs, 2-1;
135: Chris Welle (P) tech. fall Mike Johnson, 20-6;
140: Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Andy Ryks, 1:04;
145: Josh Schreifels (P) dec. Josh Holien, 7-2;
152: Brent Fagen (BDRSH) dec. Josh Kerzman, 9-3;
160: Chris Sogge (P) pinned Shane Freiborg, 2:28;
171: Jason Schon (BDRSH) dec. Shaun Fleisch-hacker, 7-3;
189: Scott Braun (P) pinned Jaime Martinez, 3:20;
Hwt: Josh Bork (P) pinned Andy Davis, 5:10.
Paynesville 54, Dawson-Boyd 9
103: Adam Christian (P) won by forfeit;
112: Nate Glenz (P) tech. fall. Ryan Sather, 18-2;
119: Jeremy Sogge (P) tech. fall Joe Williand, 20-5;
125: Brad Schultz (P) won by forfeit;
130: David Kerzman (P) pinned Jammy Strand, 3:51;
135: Jeremy Fuchs (P) dec. Travis Campbell, 9-8;
140: Chris Welle (P) tech. fall Wade Sather, 20-5;
145: Terry Lein (DB) pinned Ryan Glenz, 0:41;
152: Josh Schreifels (P) dec. Troy Estling, 2-1; 160: Chris Sogge (P) pinned Jordan Martinson, 1:24;
171: Rick Bothun (DB) dec. Shaun Fleischhacker, 9-5;
189: Scott Braun (P) won by forfeit;
Hwt: Josh Bork (P) dec. Jeremy Estling, 8-5.
Paynesville 37, Waska 25
The Bulldogs jumped to an 18-3 lead in the West Central Conference showdown against Minnewaska, rated eighth in Class AA, and beat the Lakers 37-25.
Paynesville, the champions of the WCC North, had three consecutive pins after Minnewaska, the south champion, got a decision at 103. Nathan Glenz (112), Jeremy Sogge (119), and David Kerzman (125) recorded pins for Paynesville. Sogge's came against Brett Braaten, a state-rated opponent.
In the latestGuillotinerankings, Sogge is rated ninth at 119 in Class A. He joins Kerzman, Chris Welle, and his brother, Chris Sogge, who have been rated all year in the rankings.
At 135, Welle proved his ranking by scoring a technical fall against Aaron Erickson, who was previously undefeated and is also ranked in state. Joe Hiltner and Josh Bork added decisions, and Shaun Fleischhacker and Scott Braun had major decisions to seal the victory.
Paynesville won eight of the 13 weights. Of their five wins, three of Minnewaska's victories were by pin.
The Bulldogs' only match this week will be a rematch against Minnewaska at home on Friday night.
Paynesville 37, Minnewaska 25
103: Wes Tessman (M) dec. Adam Christian, 9-5;
112: Nate Glenz (P) pinned Jeremy Fischer, 1:44;
119: Jeremy Sogge (P) pinned Brett Braaten, 1:44;
125: David Kerzman (P) pinned Eric Bowen, 1:05;
130: Doug Noyes (M) pinned Brad Schultz, 3:52;
135: Chris Welle (P) tech. fall Aaron Erickson, 5:52;
140: Joe Hiltner (P) dec. Craig Cihlar, 5-2;
145: Tyler Swenson (M) maj. dec. Josh Schreifels (P), 9-1;
152: Dan Mitchell (M) pinned Ryan Glenz, 3:50;
160: Shaun Fleischhacker (P) maj. dec. Jake Bryce, 11-2;
171: Scott Braun (P) maj. dec. Mitch Piekarski, 11-3;
189: Joe Bryce (M) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 1:07;
Hwt: Josh Bork (P) dec. Bryan Kvitek, 7-4.
Canby 30, Paynesville 29
Canby, ranked eighth in Class A, rallied from a 29-6 deficit to nip the Bulldogs 30-29 in a battle between traditional wrestling powers in Paynesville on Thursday.
After an opening pin for Canby, the Bulldogs reeled off six straight wins, including a technical fall by David Kerzman, and pins by Jeremy Fuchs, Chris Welle, and Joe Hilner.
Canby, though, has five state-rated wrestlers in the last six weights, and swept those in their successful comeback. The Lancers had two pins and won four decisions.
The Bulldogs wrestled without two regulars in their lower weights, who were out due to injury.
Canby 30, Paynesville 29
103: Lance Citrowske (C) pinned Adam Christian, 1:27;
112: Nate Glenz (P) dec. Jeff Kern, 10-4;
119: Jeremy Sogge (P) dec. Chris Oelken, 9-7;
125: David Kerzman (P) tech. fall David Schrunk, 26-8;
130: Jeremy Fuchs (P) pinned Keith Peterson, 5:14;
135: Chris Welle (P) pinned Matt Hoffman, 0:40;
140: Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Nick Kockelman, 5:00;
145: Ryan Otto (C) dec. Josh Schreifels (P), 6-5;
152: Blaine Merritt (C) pinned Ryan Glenz, 5:37;
160: Ryan Stoks (C) dec. Scott Braun, 6-3;
171: Derek Claeys (C) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 1:36;
189: Travis Winter (C) dec. Shaun Fleischhacker, 5-2;
Hwt: Tim Hentges (C) dec. Josh Bork, 8-3.
Cheerleaders take first
The Paynesville wrestling cheerleaders took first place in the cheerleading competition at the Paynesville Duals on Saturday. Pictured with the trophy, trying to look as tough as their state-rated wrestling team, are (left to right) Steph Thomsen, Krista Kotschevar, mascot Rachel Koehn, Jessie Lang, advisor Cindy Fuchs, Kelly Schultz, and Sara Hittle.