Teams included in the Central Minnesota Conference Report are Kimball Area, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Royalton-Upsala, Holdingford, Eden Valley-Watkins, and Paynesville Area.
Kimball Area Cubs
The Cubs defeated Section 4A and Central Mn. Conference rival Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted in the Section Team quarterfinal 52-18. They had a 10-4 match split, that included six falls. The Cubs had a huge week, winning three big duals, they defeated No. 3 ranked Conference rivals Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City for the Section 4A Championship 34-21 with a 9-5 split. Then defeated Section 1A champion Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the state quarterfinals 35-23 with a 8-6 match split to advance to the state semifinals. They have built a very good season dual record of 23-4. Zack Holtz, Ashton Hanan, Haden Rosenow, Carter Holtz all went 3-0 and Jack Bollman, Alex Nelson, Gavin Winter and Lucas Jurek all went 2-1. Special Note: Gavin Winter 126 10th Earned His 100th Career Match. The Cubs had an outstanding Section 4A tournament, as they did qualify all 14 wrestlers to the Super Section 1/4 Tourney. Wrestlers that advanced to the Section 4 Championship were: Gavin Winter (126), Alex Nelson (138), Zach Holtz (160), Ashton Hanan (170), Haden Rosenow (182), Carter Holtz (195) and Brandon Guggisberg (220). Those that advanced to the Third Place match were: Mark Schiefelbein (106) Jack Bollman (113), Chase Anderson (120), Lucas Jurek (132), Brett Schiefelbein (145), Cody Leither (152) and Ace Meyer (285). Special Note: Head Coach David Joseph was honoed by his coaching peers as the Section 4A Head Coach of the season and Ben Fox was honored as the Assistant Coach of the season. The Cubs is one of four Region Dual Champions and now wrestle in the final four (semifinals) of the state tournament against a Central Mn. Conference rival the Royalton-Upsala Royals. The Cubs overall had eleven place winners at the Super Region 1/4. Zack Holtz earned their lone championship at (160) he will enter the state with a 19-0 record. State qualifiers were: Carter Holtz (195) 28-3, Ashton Hanan (170) 27-1 and Gavin Winter (126) 23-6. Brandon Gussisberg, 3rd place (220) 27-4, Ace Meyer, 4th place (285) 14-18, Jack Bollman, 4th place (113) 19-9, Lucas Jurek, 5th place (132) 24-6, Hayden Rosenow 5th place (182) 11-2, Brett Schiefelbein, 5th place (145) 12-8 and Mark Schiefelbein, 5th place (106) 11-12.
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons
The Falcons defeated Section 4A rival and Central Mn. Conference foe Eden Valley-Watkins 62-12 with a 11-3 match split. The Falcons were defeated by the No. 4A ranked and conference rivals Kimball Area for the Section 4A championship 34-21 with a 5-9 match split. Cole Holien, Brady Holien and Mason Straumann both went 2-0. The Falcons overall dual record was an impressive 21-4. The Falcons had 12 Section 4A place winners, including: Edwyn Gonzlez (106), Jevon Williams (113), Cole Holien (132), Brody Holien (138), Hayden Straumann (145), Jake Mortenson (152), Taylor Fester (182) and Logan Sherwood (285) all advancing to the finals. Advancing to the third place match were: Jaxon Behm (220), Mason Studemann (160), Isaiah Renne (195), Morgan Kidd (126). The Falcons had a good day with ten Super Section 1/4 tournament place winners, including four state qualifiers. Jevon Williams, 1st place (113) 26-4, Logan Sherwood, 1st place (285) 26-5, Brady Holien, 2nd place (138) 25-5, 2nd place (220) 24-6. Cole Holien, 4th place (132) 28-3, Taylor Fester, 4th place (182) 20-9, Hayden Straumann, 4th place (145) 25-6, Jake Mortensen, 4th place (152) 20-8, Edwyn Gonzales, 5th place (106) 22-7 and Logan Straumann, 5th place (170) 15-14.
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars
The Jaguars defeated the No. 7A ranked Minnewaska Area 40-20 with a 9-5 match split, including three falls. The Jaguars defeated the No. 1A ranked Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville 33-23 with a 8-6 match split, including three falls, to win the Section 5A championship. They were defeated in the state quarterfinals by No. 5A ranked Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie 33-30 with a 6-8 match split, including three falls. Brett DeRoo, Ryan Jensen, Walker Bents, Tyler Jensen and Blaine Fischer were all 3-0 and Wyatt Engen and Mark Jenniges were both 2-1. The Jaguars posted a very impressive dual meet of 28-3. Special Note: Walker Bents 126 11th Earned His 150th Career Match. The Jaguars had a good Section 5A tournament with nine place winners. Those that advanced to the finals were: Ryan Jensen (120), Walker Bents (126), Tyler Jensen (138), Blaine Fischer (145), Dylan T. Kampsen (160) and Mark Jenniges (220). Those that advanced to the third place match were: Wyatt Engen (132), Maximus Hanson (152) and Carson Gilbert (195). The Jaguars earned nine places at the Super 5/6 Section, including four state qualifiers. Ryan Jensen, 1st place (120) 31-4, Walker Bents, 1st place (126) 33-2, Blaine Fischer, 1st place (145) 34-1 and Tyler Jensen, 2nd place (138) 33-2. Maximus Hanson, 3rd place (152) 27-8, Dylan T. Kampsen, 4th place (160) 26-10, Carson Gilbert, 4th place (195) 14-13, Mark Jenniges, 5th place (220) 26-8 and Wyatt Engen, 6th place (132) 29-4.
Royalton-Upsala Royals
The Royals defeated Section 7A foe Crosby-Ironton 57-15 with a 10-4 match split, including nine falls. The Royals defeated the Section 7A rival Mille Lacs in their 2nd round of Section duals 65-15 with a 11-3 match split split, that included ten falls. The Royals had a very good Saturday as they defeated their Section 7A rivals Aitkin for the Section 7A championship 43-21 with a 9-5 match split, including five falls. The Royals defeated the Section 8A champion Crookston 49-26 with a 9-5 match split in the state quarterfinals to advance to the state semifinals. The Royals had six falls against the Crookston Pirates, they have now built a 20-10 dual meet record. Nick Leibold, Jacob Leibold, Gabe Gorecki, Aidan Olson and Tyson Leners all went 4-0, Mason Novitzki went 3-0 and Will Gorecki and Sawyer Simmons both went 3-1. The Royals had a very good Section 7A tournament, as they qualified 10 to the Super 7/8 Section. Wrestlers that advanced to the Section 7A Championship were: Will Gorecki (126), Sawyer Simmons (138), Jacob Leibold (145), Gabe Gorecki (160), Austin Wensmann (195) and Mason Novitzki (285). Those that advanced to the Third Place match were: Lane Olson (106), Michael Zimmerman (120), Eli Psyck (152) and Aiden Olson (182). Special Note: Section 7A Head Coach of The Year Terry Gorecki and Assistant Coach of the Year Shane Fensenmaier. The Royals will take on Central Mn. Conference rivals the Kimball Area Cubs in the final four next Saturday. The Royals had ten place winners and five state qualifiers at the Super Section 7/8 tournament. Those that qualified for the final eight man bracket area: Jacob Leibold, 1st place, (145) 20-1), Gabe Gorecki, 1st Place (160) 28-1, Mason Novitzki 1st Place (285) 28-4, Sawyer Simmons, 2nd place (138) 25-5 and Will Gorecki, 2nd Place (126) 21-10. Earning places were: Aiden Olson, fourth place (182) 22-8, Austin Wensmann, 4th place (220) 19-12, Michael Zimmerman, 5th place (120) 16-13 and Lane Olson, 5th place (106) 7-5.
Holdingford Huskers
The Huskers defeated Section 7A rival in their first round of Section duals Rush City/Braham 57-15 with a 10-4 match split, including nine falls. The Huskers were defeated by Section 7A rival Aitkin 33-33 on a 8-6 match split, this did include five falls. Simon Boeckman, Drew Lange, Luke Bieniek, Tate Lange, Sam Harren and Brandon Doll all went 2-0. The Huskers posted a good dual meet mark of 23-11. The Huskers had a good Section 7A tournament, as they qualified seven to the Super 7/8 Section. Wrestlers that advanced to the Section 7A Championship were: Maysyn Patrick (113), William Pilarski (120), Drew Lange (126), Tate Lange (170), Sam Harren (195) and Brandon Doll (285) and Gabe Urbanski (220) advanced to the Third Place match. The Huskers had a good Super 7/8 Section tournament with seven place winners and two state qualifiers. Tate Lange, 1st place (170) 31-3 and Drew Lange, 1st place (126) 29-6, Masyn Patrick, 4th place (113) 30-8, William Pilarski, 3rd Place (120) 30-6, Sam Harren, 5th place, (195) 30-6, Brandon Doll, 3rd place (285) 23-9 and Gabe Urbanski, 4th Place (220) 12-7
Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles
The Eagles defeated Section 4A rival Sibley East in their first round of Section 4A duals 46-30 wth a 9-5 match split, witch included six falls. The Eagles were defeated by Section 4A and Conference rivals, the No. 3A ranked Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 62-12, with a 3-11 match split. The Eagles advanced five wrestlers to the Super Section 1/4 Tournament. Wrestlers that advanced to the Section 4A championship were: Teagyn Ludwig (120), Gavin Mathies (152) and Austin Schlangen (285) and Sam Nistler (160) and Tryce Ludwig (126) both advanced to the Third Place match. The Eagles had five place winners at the Super 1/4 Section, with one state qualifier Austin Schlangen, 2nd place (285) 32-6, Teagyn Ludwig, 4th place (120) 29-9, Sam Nistler 4th place (160) 28-9, Gavin Mathies, 5th place (152) 25-10 and Tryce Ludwig, 4th place (126) 10-19.
Paynesville Area Bulldogs
The Bulldogs were defeated in their first round of Section 5A duals by No. 7A ranked Minnewaska Area 60-7. The Bulldogs earned three placers at the Section 5A tournament; advancing to the championship were: Craig Schmitz (138) and advancing to the third place match were: Peyton Hemmesch (182) and Spencer Eisenbraun (220). The Bulldogs had two earn places at the Super Section 5/6; Craig Schmitz, 5th place (138) 17-11 and Peyton Hemmesch, 6th place (182) 16-10.