The 2016-17 wrestling season concluded on Saturday at the Xcel Center. Four PEM wrestlers earned the opportunity to compete in the tournament. And while all the Bulldogs competed well, none were able to bring home a state medal by placing in the top 6.

At 132, senior Reed DeFrang scored the first takedown in his preliminary match against eventual state finalist Payton Anderson of Fairmont, but in the second period was turned in a cradle and surrendered 3 nearfall points. DeFrang fought off his back and recovered, but was unable to turn his opponent in the third period and gave up a reversal, ending the match with a 6-3 loss. Since Anderson advanced in the next round, DeFrang was given the opportunity to wrestle-back in the consolation bracket late Friday evening. In that match, DeFrang was sharp on his feet and on the mat and cruised to a 10-3 victory, guaranteeing a chance to wrestle on Saturday morning. In the morning round, DeFrang was pitted against eventual 4th place winner, Sam Tibbits of Litchfield. Since it was a wrestle-back match, the first period was only 1 minute long. Towards the end of the first period, DeFrang executed a throw near the edge of the mat that was close to a takedown, but the referee ruled that it was out of bounds and the first period ended 0-0. In the second period DeFrang was unable to escape, and it the third period Tibbets was able to score a reversal, ending the match and DeFrang’s tournament by a score of 2-0. DeFrang, ends his career as one of the winningest wrestlers in PEM history with a career record of 126-26.

At 160, PEM’s Dustin (Ducky) Dittrich was one of only two sophomores that qualified for the state tournament in his bracket. In the first round, Dustin was able to put a string of takedowns and nearfall points as well as hold off some of his opponents dangerous rolls to win his first ever match at the state tournament by a score of 11-4. In the quarterfinal round, Dittrich faced eventual state runner-up, Collin Steuber of Fairmont. While Dittrich wrestled very well in the bottom position, surrendering 0 nearfall points to the very long Steuber, he was unable to stop the attacks on the feet and ended up losing the match 9-5. Then in the Friday night wrestle-back round, Dittrich was eliminated from the tournament losing 9-4 to Corey Jobe of Watertown-Mayer. Dittrich finishes his sophomore season with 23 wins including 7 wins against wrestlers that qualified for the state tournament.

At 182, senior Frank Wingert competed in his first ever state tournament. In the first round Wingert lost to Hutchinson’s Josh Filk. The first period, featured no offensive scoring happened, but there was a penalty point awarded to Filk when Wingert’s hand got caught in the singlet. There was also a large head to head collision that caused a gash in Wingert’s head and swelled Filk’s eye almost shut. In the 2nd period, Filk scored a reversal to make the score 3-0, and Wingert answered with an escape to close the gap to 2-1. In the third period, Wingert chose down and had a chance to close the gap to 1 point with an escape, but instead, Filk was able to execute a turn and win the match 6-1. In the next round, Filk was defeated thus denying Wingert a wrestle-back opportunity. Wingert ends his wrestling career at PEM with a career record of 85-34.

At 220, senior Jacob Clark, also wrestling in his first ever state tournament, scored an impressive victory in the preliminary over a much larger Dakotah Neid of Pine City, who came into the tournament with only 1 loss on the season. Clark gave up a first period takedown and ended the period down 2-0. In the second period, Neid chose the neutral position, but this time it was Clark with the takedown at the end, tying the match at 2-2. In the third period Clark chose down and reversed his opponent to his back to take a 7-2 lead. Neid would get an escape at the end, but it proved to be too little, as Clark held on for the 7-3 victory. In the quarterfinal round, Clark was pitted against a very fast opponent from United Clay Becker. Down 2-0 in the 2nd period, Clark got caught in a scramble that resulted in giving up a pin. Then in the wrestle-back round, Clark would fall to eventual 5th place winner John Allen of Fridley by a score of 7-3. Despite being able to escape Allen’s ride, Clark was unable to defend Allen’s leg attacks, and he was eliminated from the tournament. Clark finishes his PEM career with 61 career victories, 48 of them coming in his last two seasons.

Coach Marx commented, “Going into this tournament, we had high hopes of coming home with multiple place-winners, but it was not to be. I’m very proud of the four qualifiers for the effort they put forth throughout the entire season, including this weekend. This tournament features the very best that high school wrestling has to offer and 3 of the athletes won a match on the biggest stage in MN wrestling. I’m very thankful for the commitment and leadership of our outgoing seniors, and wish them the best as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.”

Pictures of this event are located HERE

2017 MSHSL State Championships Results for Plainview-Elgin-Millville 132AA - Reed DeFrang (35-3) Champ. Round 1 - Payton Anderson (Fairmont-Martin County West) 39-8 won by decision over Reed DeFrang (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 35-3 (Dec 6-3) Cons. Round 1 - Reed DeFrang (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 35-3 won by decision over Nic Fite (Fridley) 34-8 (Dec 10-3) Cons. Round 2 - Sam Tibbits (Litchfield) 40-9 won by decision over Reed DeFrang (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 35-3 (Dec 2-0)

160AA - Dustin Dittrich (22-14) Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 22-14 won by decision over Dylan Lentz (Columbia Heights) 34-6 (Dec 11-4) Quarterfinal - Collin Steuber (Fairmont-Martin County West) 42-5 won by decision over Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 22-14 (Dec 9-5) Cons. Round 1 - Corey Jobe (Watertown Mayer-Mayer Lutheran) 25-5 won by decision over Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 22-14 (Dec 9-4)

182AA - Frank Wingert (31-5) Champ. Round 1 - Josh Filk (Hutchinson) 35-11 won by decision over Frank Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 31-5 (Dec 6-1)

220AA - Jacob Clark (26-10) Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Clark (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 26-10 won by decision over Dakotah Neid (Pine City-Hinckley-Finlayson) 22-2 (Dec 7-3) Quarterfinal - Sam Wamre (United Clay Becker) 32-8 won by fall over Jacob Clark (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 26-10 (Fall 2:26) Cons. Round 1 - John Allen (Fridley) 32-4 won by decision over Jacob Clark (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 26-10 (Dec 7-3)