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The Dogs, seeded second, beat third-seeded Rocori 35-34 and beat Pequot Lakes 54-25 in the pool wrestling but lost to Foley, rated #8 in Class AA, 59-13 in the final. The Foley Tournament normally has eight teams, but Becker and Pierz pulled out because they played in the Prep Bowl on Friday.

Against Rocori, senior Josh Tebben recorded a first-period pin at 215 with Paynesville leading 29-28 to seal the match, giving the Dogs an insurmountable 35-28 lead with one match to go.

Just as important, said coach Tim Woehler, who got his first varsity victory in the tight match, were ninth graders Jordan Spaeth and Kevin Klein wrestling well at 171 and 189. Both lost decisions to upperclassmen from Rocori but neither yielded any bonus points, which was key in the one-point win.

The Dogs built a 29-15 lead against Rocori by winning six of the first nine weights. Ninth grader Jordan Christian scored a pin at 103 for the Dogs' first points. Junior Joel Kerzman recorded a major decision over a state-rated opponent at 140, junior Keith Klein added another major decision at 145, senior Todd Thielen won a decision at 130, and the Dogs received two forfeits from Rocori in building that lead.

Senior Jack Mueller appeared to be heading to a key victory at 160, taking a 7-1 lead over his Rocori opponent, but he suffered a cut above his eye while shooting for a takedown and had to forfeit the match due to injury. That reversal made the score 29-21 entering the final four weights instead of 35-15.

Against Pequot Lakes, the Dogs won eight of the first ten weights and built a 48-9 lead before winning 54-25. Christian (103), Thielen (130), junior Cody Block (135), Kerzman (140), Klein (145), junior Sean Glenz (160), and Tebben all recorded pins for the Dogs, who also received two forfeits from Pequot Lakes.

Against Foley, the Dogs only won three matches. Glenz recorded a first-period pin at 160, Kerzman major decisioned another state-rated wrestler at 140, and Christian won a decision at 103. All three were undefeated for the Dogs on Saturday.

Klein came the closest to adding a fourth victory for the Dogs against Foley, losing 4-3 on a third-period takedown at 152.

The Dogs (2-1) do not wrestle competitively this week. Next week, they will open their conference schudule with a match at Albany on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Paynesville 35, Rocori 34
103-Jordan Christian (P) pinned Zach Walz, 0:33; 112-Derik Gertkens (R) pinned Dillin Christiansen, 3:40; 119-Jon Kerzman (P) won by forfeit; 125-Sam Howe (R) dec. A.J. Christian, 7-0; 130-Todd Thielen (P) dec. Scott Hansen, 14-9; 135-Darren Schoen-berg pinned Cody Block, 1:07; 140-Joel Kerzman (P) maj. dec. Grant Johnson, 14-4; 145-Keith Klein (P) maj. dec. Nate Klein, 12-1; 152-Sean Glenz (P) won by forfeit; 160-Chuck Aho (R) won by injury default over Jack Mueller; 171-Matt Toren (R) dec. Jordan Spaeth, 8-2; 189-Kyle Schroeder (R) dec. Kevin Klein, 14-6; 215-Josh Tebben (P) pinned Jeff Torgerson, 0:34; 275-Darrin Massmann (R) won by injury default over Cody Flanders.

Paynesville 54, Pequot Lakes 25
103-Jordan Christian (P) pinned Nick Harrison, 0:41; 112-Audrey McCoy (PL) won by forfeit; 119-Kabinda Kamangala (PL) dec. Jon Kerzman, 9-6; 125-A.J. Christian (P) won by forfeit; 130-Todd Thielen (P) pinned Levi Allen, 1:57; 135-Cody Block (P) pinned Jeremiah Ellestad, 3:29; 140-Joel Kerzman (P) pinned Jesse Hernandez, 3:39; 145-Keith Klein (P) pinned Zach Humphrey, 0:47; 152-Jack Mueller (P) won by forfeit; 160-Sean Glenz (P) pinned Marcus Hernandez, 1:43; 171-Charlie McCoy (PL) maj. dec. Jordan Spaeth, 16-3; 189-Josh Tebben (P) pinned Pat Bresenhan, 2:58; 215-Adam Kish (PL) pinned Jimmy Jansen, 3:44; 275-Mike Hedstrom (PL) won by forfeit.

Foley 59, Paynesville 13
103-Jordan Christian (P) dec. Josh Seppelt, 8-5; 112-Jake Bowland (F) pinned Dillin Christiansen, 0:51; 119-Cory Foss (F) pinned Jon Kerzman, 1:07; 125-Eric Baumann (F) pinned Todd Thielen, 2:35; 130-Travis Miller (F) pinned A.J. Christian, 1:41; 135-Jake Jaekels (F) pinned Cody Block, 1:40; 140-Joel Kerzman (P) maj. dec. Zach Rajkowski, 12-0; 145-Greg Stumvoll (F) pinned Aaron Burris, 1:49; 152-Mike Fouquette (F) dec. Keith Klein, 4-3; 160-Sean Glenz (P) pinned Neil Studenski, 1:16; 171-Nick Kotsmith (F) maj. dec. Jordan Spaeth, 10-0; 189-Kyle Henry (F) maj. dec. Josh Tebben, 15-3; 215-Jared Freuden-berg (F) pinned Jimmy Jansen, 0:47; 275-Adam Messer (F) won by forfeit.