Bulldog Wrestlers win in Section 1AA Quarters, End Dual Season vs. Top Ranked Simley

On Thursday February 13, the 4th seeded PEM wrestling team began postseason competition against 5th seeded Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson at home in the PEM gym. The meet was a rematch of a regular season Three River Conference meet that took place only two weeks earlier.

Isaac Walch got the Bulldogs started at 106 with a 19-4 technical fall victory over the opponent that he beat by only a 5-1 score 2 weeks prior, giving the home team a 5-0 lead. The strength of LARP’s line-up came next as the Screamin Eagles ripped off 4 straight pins to charge out to a 24-5 lead. Kael Lamb again slowed the momentum as did two weeks earlier with a critical victory by decision at 138. LARP bounced back at 145, with their 5th pin in 6 matches, giving them a decisive 30-8 lead halfway through the meet.

With little room left for error, the Bulldogs made their charge beginning at 152. Cael Marx bumped up a weight class and earned a 3rd period pin to put the Bulldogs in double digits still down 30-14. Then Joe Stucky received a forfeit at 160, and Dereck Boyum earned a 2nd period pin at 170, and suddenly it was a 4 point meet with the Bulldogs only down 30-26. Alex Rahman gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the night since 106, with another pin at 182, this time in the 1st period. Tony Roberton followed suit with a 1st period pin of his own at 195 giving PEM an 8 point lead, puttin LARP between a rock and a hard place.

With only 2 weight classes remaining, LARP needed a pin and a decision vs. Martin Prieto at 220 and Logan Wingert at 285 to win the dual. But neither was meant to be as Prieto cruised to a 15-3 major decision, and Wingert needed only :14 seconds to end his match and the dual meet at heavyweight.

PEM 48 LARP 30

106: Isaac Walch (PEM) over Quintin Betthaser (LARP) (TF 19-4 4:18)

113: Tyler Kreidemacher (LARP) over Korbin Pflaum (PEM) (Fall 1:31)

120: Jordan Zibrowski (LARP) over Alex Hinrichs (PEM) (Fall 3:05)

126: Carter Jonsgaard (LARP) over Logan Dittrich (PEM) (Fall 0:42)

132: Ross Herber (LARP) over Austin Michel (PEM) (Fall 2:50)

138: Kael Lamb (PEM) over Caleb Mueller (LARP) (Dec 6-4)

145: Gable Speltz (LARP) over Garion Wallgren (PEM) (Fall 0:55)

152: Cael Marx (PEM) over Kolton Riser (LARP) (Fall 4:26)

160: Joe Stucky (PEM) over (LARP) (For.)

170: Dereck Boyum (PEM) over Brennan Corcoran (LARP) (Fall 2:20)

182: Alex Rahman (PEM) over Colin Klug (LARP) (Fall 1:55)

195: Anthony Roberton (PEM) over DJ Plank (LARP) (Fall 1:34)

220: Martin Prieto (PEM) over Jacob Meyer (LARP) (MD 15-3)

285: Logan Wingert (PEM) over Alex Perez (LARP) (Fall 0:14)

Two days later, the Bulldogs faced the 12x state champion Simley Spartans, currently ranked #1 in Minnesota and #18 in the United States. The Spartans were as good as advertised effectively ending PEM’s 2019-20 dual meet season. The Bulldogs did win 3 matches vs. the defending state champs including an 18-3 technical fall by Joe Stucky at 152. Dereck Boyum also scored an 11-0 major decision victory at 160, and Logan Wingert earned a first period fall at 285.

Simley 62 PEM 15

106: Peyton Spychalla (SIML) over Isaac Walch (PEM) (MD 14-2)

113: Cory Primeau (SIML) over Korbin Pflaum (PEM) (Fall 1:03)

120: Reid Nelson (SIML) over Logan Dittrich (PEM) (Fall 0:50)

126: Vristol Short (SIML) over Alex Hinrichs (PEM) (MD 11-0)

132: Chase DeBlaere (SIML) over Austin Michel (PEM) (Fall 1:04)

138: Cael Berg (SIML) over Kael Lamb (PEM) (Fall 2:30)

145: Ryan Sokol (SIML) over Jacob Harlow (PEM) (Fall 0:45)

152: Joe Stucky (PEM) over Brent Holzem (SIML) (TF 18-3 4:08)

160: Dereck Boyum (PEM) over Marshall Spychalla (SIML) (MD 11-0)

170: Nolan Wanzek (SIML) over Alex Rahman (PEM) (Fall 0:46)

182: Gavin Nelson (SIML) over Anthony Roberton (PEM) (Fall 0:23)

195: Quayin Short (SIML) over Martin Prieto (PEM) (Fall 2:29)

220: Bennett Tabor (SIML) over Cody Schneider (PEM) (Fall 0:18)

285: Logan Wingert (PEM) over Victor Flores (SIML) (Fall 1:17)

The Bulldogs finish their 2019-20 dual meet season with a 14-10 overall record. They will be in action again on Friday and Saturday at the Mayo Civic Center attempting to earn Individual State Tournament births at the Section 1 AA Individual Tournament.

Pictures of the 2019-2020 Team Section Tournament will be available shortly!