Six area wrestlers still in contention at state meet

Published 10:45 pm Friday, March 2, 2018

Two area wrestlers are still in play for state championships and four others have a shot at third place after the first day of the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday.

Westfield sophomore Colton Krell, a 160-pounder, and GMLOS junior Jackson Hale both won their first two matches to advance to the Class A semifinals. Krell, who is 37-3 overall, had 16-6 major decision over Joe Hennan of Norwood Young America and a 12-4 win over Matt Ziebell of Pelican Rapids.

Westfield’s Colton Krell controls Jon Hennen of Norwood Young America in the Minnesota Class A state wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Hale, who is 33-3 overall, had a 10-0 major decision over Bryce Bergeron of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River and a 4-1 decision over Jorge Hernandez of LeSuer-Henderson.

Jackson Hale of GMLOS holds down Bryce Bergeron of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River in the Minnesota Class A state wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

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Austin’s Isaac Arjes had two pins at 220-pounds in Class AAA, but he was pinned by Eden Prairie’s Sam Horn in the quarterfinals. Arjes is now 18-2 overall.

Westfield’s Ethan Arett, at 106 pounds, Morgen Moreno, at 195-pounds, and Mitchell Oswald, at 285-pounds, are all still alive in the wrestlebacks.

Westfield’s Ethan Arett, right, lunges at Dane Niemi of New York Mills in the Minnesota Class A state wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

CLASS AAA

220: Isaac Arjes (A) pinned Luke Paryzyk (White Bear Lake) (1:00); Sam Horn (Eden Prairie) pinned Arjes (3:54); Arjes pinned Adam Skogman (Maple Grove) (1:58)

CLASS A

106: Ethan Arett (Westfield) 5-2 dec. over Dane Niemi (New York Mills); Will Magaard (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) 10-3 dec. over Arett; Arett pinned Christian Pater (Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena) (:33)

120: Jackson Hale (GMLOS) 10-0 maj. dec. over Bryce Bergeron (Badger/Greenbush-Middle River); Hale 4-1 dec. over Jorge Hernandez (LeSuer-Henderson)

160: Colton Krell (Westfield) 16-6 maj. dec. over Joe Hennan (Norwood Young America); Krell 12-4 dec. over Matt Ziebell (Pelican Rapids)

195: Morgen Moreno (Westfield) 16-11 dec. over Taylor Eigenheer (Crosby-Ironton); Jacob Bennett (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) 2-1 dec. over Moreno; Moreno 6-4 dec. over Ryan Torkelson (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg)

Westfield’s Morgen Moreno battles with Taylor Eigenheer of Crosby-Ironton in the Minnesota Class A state wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

220: Grant Ludwig (Paynesville Area) pinned Dylan Nirk (Westfield) (6:57)

Westfield’s Dylan Nirk battles with Grant Ludwig of Paynesville Area in the Minnesota Class A state wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

285: Mitchell Oswald (Westfield) pinned Sam Meeker (Norwood Young America) (3:39); Trevor Oppedal (Blue Earth) pinned Oswald (3:48); Oswald pinned Brent Robley (Caledonia/Houston) (2:38)

Westfield’s Mitchell Oswald grapples with Sam Meeker of Norwood Young America in the Minnesota Class A state wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com