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Austin junior Sam Winkels has done a lot of winning for the Packer wrestling team, but few were as satisfying as the one he came up with in Ove Berven Gym Thursday night.

Winkels outlasted Rochester John Marshall’s Wyette Stanton in a 19-4 major decision to give Austin a 32-30 dual win over the Rockets after the Packers had trailed 30-27 before the 285-pound match.

“He’s a strong kid. You’ve just got to stay in a good position and have good technique without exposing yourself,” Winkels said of his match. “This one is up there. Last year hearing the crowd after pinning Mayo’s Ethan Pepper was probably my number one win (in Ove), but this one’s up there too. It was nice to get the win in front of the home crowd and my teammates and win the dual.”

Winkels, who is ranked No. 4 in the state at 285 is 23-1 overall on the season.

“Sam is our leader and he’s the guy who always sets the tone,” Austin head coach Jacob Nelson said. “He’s hoping to get a state championship and he’s working really, really hard. He stays after practices to get extra workouts in and he comes in on weekends to get extra work. He’s got a drive in him, where he doesn’t want to lose and he wants to put his name up on the record books. He’s well on his way.”

Lincoln Cole, Will Mullenbach, David Thaung and Tony Garcia all scored pins in the win for Austin. Garcia, a senior who wrestles at 152-pounds has emerged as a leader this season after he returned to wrestling last year after he took his sophomore season off.

“It took some time to figure out how to wrestle again last year,” Garcia said. “I think I’ve figured it out now and it feels good. I love being back and it feels good to win matches.”

Nelson said that Garcia’s efforts have been big for an Austin squad with a lot of new wrestlers.

“Over the summer, Tony really put the work in and he’s got a drive to him this year,” Nelson said. “He’s one of the hardest workers in the wrestling room and he’s got some DIII schools looking at him. He’s excited about that and he really wants to leave his mark with a run towards the state tournament.”

While he didn’t win, sophomore John Pepper helped Austin win by fighting off a pin for the last couple of minutes of his match. Pepper eventually lost 9-4 at 189, but the points he saved were crucial.

Thursday’s match was senior night for the Packers as Jamie Beyer, Hernandez and Ezequiel Tomas Nicolas, who lost 5-4 on a last second pin at 160, were honored.

Hernandez said that he’s enjoyed wrestling this winter and he’s also embraced a leadership role.

“I try to relate to these guys on a personal level,” Hernandez said. “We’ve all gone through things and I can relate to some of these guys and they’re battles.”

AUSTIN 32, JM 30

107: Alvin Vang (JM) pinned Jaxon Learn (A) 

114: Brayden Becker (A) 7-4 dec. over Evangelene Chittanavong (JM)

121: Jayden Xiquita (A) pinned Andre Thrower (JM)

127: double forfeit

133: Lincoln Cole (A) pinned Mason Weaver (JM)

139: Will Mullenbach (A) pinned Jaxson Sebring

145: David Thaung (A) pinned Owen Karsten

152: Tony Garcia (A) pinned Owen Chounard (JM)

160: Ezequiel Tomas Nicolas (A) lost 5-4 dec. to Devin Nelson (JM)

172: Neko Gabriel (JM) pinned Jamie Beyer (A)

189: John Pepper (A) lost 9-4 dec. to Arsene Lukong (JM)

215: Evan Hernandez (JM) won by for forfeit

285: Sam Winkels 19-4 maj. dec. over Wyette Stanton (JM)