Return to Sports Archives

Seniors Adam Christian, Marty Engen, and Ryan Glenz and ninth grader Sean Glenz competed individually in Class AA.

Senior Ryan Glenz ended his wrestling career at PAHS with a record of 29-9 in his senior season and 95-40 for his career. He made his second appearance as an individual at the state wrestling tournament.

Engen came the closest to placing by winning two matches before being eliminated. Ryan Glenz won one match, while Christian and Sean Glenz went winless.

Engen, at 189, and Ryan Glenz, at 171, won their first-round matches on Thursday night but lost in the second round.

Engen, the defending state champion at 189 defeated Sheldon Murphy, a senior from Fosston/ Bagley 9-0 in the first round. Engen scored a takedown in the first period, a reversal in the second, and two near falls in the third to win.

Glenz, meanwhile, defeated Ethan Vogt, a junior from Sauk Centre who was the defending state champion at 171. With the match tied 4-4 late in the second period, Vogt escaped but Glenz immediately grabbed Vogt in a headlock and threw him to his back, scoring four points and taking an 8-5 lead. Vogt scored only one point in the third period, and Glenz won 8-6, ousting the defending champ.

Last year, Glenz beat Vogt three times, but they did not meet at state and Vogt won the 171-pound title. In their only previous meeting this year, Vogt had won 4-3.

In the second round, Glenz lost a close match 7-6 to Tyler Johnson, a junior from Plainview/Elgin-Millville. In a third-period flurry, Glenz took a 5-4 lead with an escape and a takedown, but Johnson responded with an escape and takedown of his own and won 7-6.

Senior Adam Christian competed in his second state tournament individually at 135. He ended his senior season with a record of 31-6 and with a career record of 110-50.

As he left the mat, Glenz pointed to his back, questioning a lack of back points. In the second period, Glenz turned Johnson with a gut wrench, but the referee did not get into position in time to get a count for back points. A two-point near fall could have changed the outcome of the match.

Johnson took sixth a year ago at 160 and finished fifth this year.

Engen lost in the second round to Jeremy Pederson, a junior from Becker. Pederson, a fifth-place finisher from a year ago, finished the season unbeaten and won the 189-pound title.

After a scoreless first period, Engen scored an escape in the second period, but Pederson got a takedown with five seconds to go in the period. Engen, trailing 2-1, tried to turn Pederson throughout the third period but could not. And despite pleas from the Paynesville coaches Pederson, who had been warned for stalling in the first period, was not called for stalling again in the third period.

Both Christian and Sean Glenz lost in the first round. Christian lost 11-5 to Justin Fruechte, a senior from Pipestone-Jasper at 135, and Glenz lost 17-5 to Kent Nathe, a senior from Sartell who finished second at 125, losing to Tony Noyes of New London-Spicer in the finals.

Ninth grader Sean Glenz made his second trip to state last week. With three years of eligibility left, he has several more chances to go to state and could break the school record for most individual appearances.

In the wrestlebacks on Friday, both Glenzes lost their first match. Sean Glenz lost 8-4 to Cody Nord, a junior from Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena, and Ryan Glenz lost 13-8 to Andrew Fredrickson, a senior from Waconia/Mayer Lutheran.

Engen won his first wrestleback match, defeating Mark Kohn, a senior from Plainview/Elgin-Millville 8-0. But Engen lost his second wrestleback match 5-2 to Tom Nesseth, a junior from Jackson County Central. Engen, who beat Nesseth in January 9-8 in what his coaches called one of his toughest matches of the year, would have placed if he had beaten Nesseth.

Christian did not get a wrestleback match.

Engen finished the season with a record of 39-3 and with a career record of 129-31, including two plus seasons with Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. He is tied for eighth on the career victory list for the Bulldogs. He made two appearances at state as an individual.

Ryan Glenz had a record of 29-9 this season and finished his career with a record of 95-40. He also made two trips to state as an individual.

Adam Christian finished his senior season with a record of 31-6. He ended his career with a record of 110-50. He also made two trips to state as an individual.

Sean Glenz finished the season with a record of 25-11. He has made two trips to state as an individual with three years of eligibility left.

Senior Marty Engen finished his senior season with a record of 39-3 and a career record of 129-31. In two years wrestling for the Bulldogs, Engen had a record of 83-4 and won a Class AA state title at 189 as a junior.

One note: Litchfield, who beat the Bulldogs in the section final, won their first state title, improving on their runner-up finish from 2002.

State Results
125-Sean Glenz (P)...lost 17-5 to Kent Nathe (Sartell)...lost 8-4 to Cody Nord (Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena)...Did Not Place;
135-Adam Christian (P)...lost 11-5 to Justin Fruechte (Pipestone-Jasper)...Did Not Place;
171-Ryan Glenz (P)...won 8-6 over Ethan Vogt (Sauk Centre)...lost 7-6 to Tyler Johnson (Plainview/Elgin-Millville)...lost 13-8 to Andrew Fredrickson (Waconia/Mayer Lutheran)...Did Not Place;
189-Marty Engen (P)...won 9-0 over Sheldon Murphy (Fosston/Bagley)...lost 2-1 to Jeremy Pederson (Becker)...won 8-0 over Mark Kohn (Plainview/Elgin-Millville)...lost 5-2 to Tom Nesseth (Jackson County Central)...Did Not Place.