Return to Sports Archives

The young Bulldogs squad - with only one senior but five ninth graders and one eighth grader in their varsity lineup - fell to the Huskies, with nine juniors and seniors in their varsity lineup, for the second time in three years.

Albany built leads of 19-6 and 25-9 against the Dogs. Trailing 29-12 with three matches to go, the Dogs could have pinned out to win, but they won only one decision while Albany got two to make the final score 35-15.

Junior Cory Spanier lost a 3-0 decision against this Albany opponent on Thursday, Dec. 7, but he was the only Bulldog wrestler to win all three of his matches at the Wayzata Tournament on Saturday, recording two pins.

The Dogs got all their points from five decisions: eighth grader Matt Doom at 112; junior Jordan Christian at 125; sophomore Jon Kerzman at 145; ninth grader Andrew Moser at 160; and junior Kevin Klein at 189. Kerzman and Klein won in overtime, Kerzman with a five-point move the extra minute of time (coming the closest of any Bulldog to getting a pin) and Klein with a takedown.

Albany also won five decisions (two by four points and three by three points). But the Huskies also scored the only bonus points in the match, getting two pins and two major decisions to score another 20 team points, winning 35-15.

This week, the Dogs wrestled at New London-Spicer on Tuesday. Their next match is hosting Minne-waska, the defending conference champions, on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Albany 35, Paynesville 15
103-Jamie Holt (A) dec. Dustin Sieben, 6-2; 112-Matt Doom (P) dec. Philip Maus, 9-2; 119-Matt Dowell (A) pinned Jeff Albright, 4:30; 125-Jordan Christian (P) dec. Jacob Sand, 5-2; 130-Brad Maciejewski (A) pinned Hayden Spaeth, 1:44; 135-John Bredeck (A) maj. dec. Justin Wendlandt, 11-3; 140-Bryan Schlangen (A) dec. Dillin Christinsen, 5-2; 145-Jon Kerzman (P) dec. Sergei Krouguv, 13-8 (OT); 152-Taylor Holthaus (A) dec. Ryan Gale, 8-4; 160-Andrew Moser (P) dec. Kyle Litchy, 9-5; 171-Kurt Schlangen (A) maj. dec. Brad Torborg, 11-3; 189-Kevin Klein (P) dec. Wade Persson, 8-6 (OT); 215-Andrew Nienaber (A) dec. Cory Spanier, 3-0; 275-Scott Groetsch (A) dec. Luke Frank, 3-0.

Wayzata Tourney
The Bulldogs lost three matches at the six-team Wayzata Tourney on Saturday, including close calls against state-rated Owatonna (38-32) and Watertown-Mayer (36-33) that were decided by the last match.

The Dogs rallied from an opening 18-0 deficit against Owatonna, ranked #5 in Class AAA, tying the match at 29-29 and again at 32-32. Top-ranked senior Pat Mahan of Owatonna won by fall at 275 to give the Huskies the 38-32 win.

Owatonna proceeded to the finals, where they lost to host Wayzata, ranked #6 in Class AAA, 38-29.

The Dogs rallied to tie Owatonna 29-29 by getting pins from junior Jordan Christian (125) and ninth grader Justin Wendlandt (135) and then scoring four straight wins from 145-171. Sophomore Jon Kerzman won a major decision at 145, junior Ryan Gale added a decision at 152, ninth grader Andrew Moser won by forfeit at 160, and senior Brad Torborg recorded a major decision at 171.

After Owatonna took a 32-29 lead, junior Cory Spanier tied the score again for the Dogs with a decision at 215, tying the match at 32-32 going into the final match.

In their next pool play match, the Dogs lost to Ellsworth (Wis.) 53-10. Ellsworth won the first 11 weights, including three pins and two technical falls, to build a 46-1 lead. (The Dogs' only team point came on a penalty point.)

Spanier, who was the only PAHS wrestler to win three matches on Saturday, recorded a fall at 189 for the Dogs' first victory. Junior Luke Frank followed with a decision at 215, giving the Dogs ten points.

Against Watertown-Mayer, the Dogs built an early lead only to see the Royals rally for the win.

Eighth grader Matt Doom (112) and junior Jeff Albright (119) recorded back-to-back pins to give the Dogs a 12-6 lead. Christian (125) followed with a major decision for a ten-point advantage (16-6).

Wendlandt (135) and Kerzman (145) won major decisions as the Dogs maintained their lead (24-28) through 145.

Watertown-Mayer tied the score at 24-24 at 152, but Moser won a decision at 160 to give the Dogs the lead again 27-24. A pin by #1-rated Eric Reinert at 171 returned the lead to Watertown-Mayer 30-27, and another decision expanded their lead to 33-27.

Spanier again tied the score with a pin at 215, knotting the match 33-33. At 275, Watertown-Mayer's heavyweight won a 4-3 decision with a third-period escape to secure the match 36-33.

Owatonna 38, Paynesville 32
103-Matt Dinse (O) pinned Dustin Sieben, 3:25; 112-Dane Schroeder (O) pinned Matt Doom, 2:25; 119-Richard Rodriguez (O) pinned Jeff Albright, 5:44; 125-Jordan Christian (P) pinned Taylor Hedberg, 1:02; 130-Zach Schreiber (O) tech. falled Hayden Spaeth, 15-0; 135-Justin Wendlandt (P) pinned Jeremy Duruji, 3:50; 140-Justin Vick (O) pinned Dillin Christinsen, 1:28; 145-Jon Kerzman (P) maj. dec. Derek Moe, 11-1; 152-Ryan Gale (P) dec. Cory Francis, 7-2; 160-Andrew Moser (P) won by forfeit; 171-Brad Torborg (P) maj. dec. T.J. Sherman, 12-4; 189-Kirby Sorenson (O) dec. Kevin Klein, 3-2; 215-Cory Spanier (P) dec. Sean Wallace, 9-6; 275-Pat Mahan (O) pinned Luke Frank, 3:37.

Ellsworth (Wis.) 53, Paynesville 10
103-Sam Hubbert (E) maj. dec. Dustin Sieben, 14-3; 112-Chance Kinneman (E) pinned Matt Doom, 2:54; 119-Dane Solantis (E) pinned Jeff Albright, 1:45; 125-Mike Brunner (E) dec. Jordan Christian, 7-3; 130-Jordan Foy (E) pinned Hayden Spaeth, 3:48; 135-Hayden Hammerschmidt (E) dec. Justin Wendlandt, 8-2; 140-Travis Dietder (E) maj. dec. Dillin Christinsen, 10-0; 145-Jordan Zimmer (E) dec. Jon Kerzman, 6-5; 152-Ryan Foley (E) tech. falled Ryan Gale, 16-1; 160-Derek Foley (E) dec. Andrew Moser, 6-2; 171-Jeremy Nelson (E) dec. Kevin Klein, 3-2; 189-Cory Spanier (P) pinned Conrad Knutson, 1:48; 215-Luke Frank (P) dec. Cory Diess, 5-3; 275-Alex Hoyer (E) won by forfeit.

Watertown-Mayer 36, Paynesville 33
103-Joey Stadnirk (W-M) pinned Dustin Sieben, 4:42; 112-Matt Doom (P) pinned Drake Matuskn, 5:06; 119-Jeff Albright (P) pinned Luke Schultz, 0:24; 125-Jordan Christian (P) maj. dec. Zac Luebke, 12-2; 130-Bill McCain (W-M) pinned Hayden Spaeth, 1:58; 135-Justin Wendlandt (P) maj. dec. Kyle Jones, 11-2; 140-Matt Hirsch (W-M) pinned Dillin Christinsen, 0:37; 145-Jon Kerzman (P) maj. dec. Jon Dailing, 12-4; 152-Brad Falde (W-M) pinned Ryan Gale, 5:34; 160-Andrew Moser (P) dec. Taylor Neaton, 4-3; 171-Eric Reinert (W-M) pinned Brad Torborg, 3:49; 189-Kory Bender (W-M) dec. Kevin Klein, 5-2; 215-Cory Spanier (P) pinned Nate Dickhausen, 3:39; 275-Thomas Reinert (W-M) dec. Luke Frank, 4-3.