Bulldogs Versus Minnesota!

Graner and Hinrichs Rumble with the State's Best

The Xcel Energy Center is home to the Minnesota Wild in the winter, many good concerts throughout the year and for 3 days in February it's the epicenter of wrestling in our state!  It's the dream of every Minnesota high school wrestler to someday compete at the "X" at some point in their career.

Aiden Graner and Alex Hinrichs punched their tickets to state with Section 1AA titles the weekend before and now it's time to get down to business with the best Minnesota can offer.

Aiden Graner grabbed the attention of wrestling fans from Roseau to Caledonia as he took down some of the best 145 pound wrestlers around.  In the first round he dispatched of Kaleb Gau of Mpls Roosevelt byTech Fall in the first round, roughed up Mason Breeggemann of Scott West in the quarterfinals, 12-6, then held on in a tight 9-7 match with Noah Cameron of Little Falls in the state semis to earn a trip to the state finals!

Commented PEM coach Daren Wingert, "Aiden used his quickness on his feet to earn numerous takedowns.  The other wrestlers in the early rounds had no answer for his speed and agility in the neutral position"

The Xcel Center's energy in preparation for Saturday's evening final is second to none.  The video highlight reels on their jumbotrons and music is a huge buildup to the parade of champions.  Each wrestler in the finals enters the arena to march across the match and

shake the hand of their opponent before an assumed crowd of 15,000+ wrestling fans.  Added PEM coach Mike Matiash, "there's not any high school sport in Minnesota that can duplicate this type of atmosphere in this awesome venue.  The MN State High School League has got this nailed down to perfection as the fans get ready for the finals!"

Aiden would face Becker wrestling standout senior Landen Kujawa in the finals.  The match was a showdown of #1 vs #2 in the state.  Every fan had this bracket and potential showdown on their must see list.  The match did not disappoint.  Each wrestler traded jabs, snaps and fakes in the first period with no points scored.  In the 2nd period Kujawa, 52-3, was awarded an escape to jump to a 1-0 lead.  With no further points scored in the 2nd, Graner chose down and with every ounce of effort earned an escape with 30 seconds left in the match to make it a 1-1 score.  Unfortunately Kujawa scored a late takedown with time running out in the match to earn the state title.  PEM coach Nate Pfeilsticker added, "that was as good of a state finals match as you will see.  Aiden gave his 100% heart and came up just short.  No disappointment in that unfortunately somebody has to take home the silver medal." 

Alex Hinrichs earned his first trip to state this weekend and in the first round did not disappoint.  Alex earned a first period takedown against Brooklyn Center senior Mitchell Pickens.  Hinrichs then secured an arm bar and a fall in 1:36 to make his first time on the mat at the Xcel a memorable one!  Commented PEM coach Cam Miller, "Alex showed the Section title was no fluke in that first round.  He prepared hard all week for this opportunity.  I couldn't be prouder of where he's at in the quarterfinals."  Hinrichs next moved on to face senior Caleb Johnson of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, the returning state finalist at this weight in 2024.  Both wrestlers made short takedown attempts in the first period, but ended with a 0-0 tie after 2 minutes.  Hinrichs chose down for the 2nd period and unfortunately was ridden out for the whole 2nd period.  Johnson chose down for the 3rd and earned an escape to put him up 1-0.  After 2 minutes of numerous shot attempts and injury time by Johnson, the match ended in a 1-0 Johnson victory to put him in the state semi-finals.  Commented PEM coach Marc Melcher "that was a tough one.  Alex showed he can wrestle with the best by losing such a close-tough match."  Unfortunately for Hinrichs, his season ended in the wrestle back round after losing to Senior Matthew Busse of Howard Lake-Waverly in the wrestle back.  Busse went on to place 5th in the 215 pound bracket.

PEM Head Coach Steve Hinrichs summarized the Xcel Energy efforts by the 2 PEM captains.  "I couldn't be prouder of these two and the work and efforts put into making this a spectacular season.  Aiden came up just short, but brought the fans from PEM for his finals match.  I think there was a whole half-section of Bulldogs cheering him on for his finals match.  He brought his A-game and Kujawa pulled the trigger on a tough low double as time ran out.  Aiden will be a favorite for his senior year to get back in this position again.  His work ethic will be second to none in his efforts to get back to this point."  "Alex saved his best for last.  I wasn't sure if we would get him back after rolling his ankle in mid January.  We slowly brought him back and once the ankle got better he was off and running!"  "As his coach-dad this is a bittersweet moment as he wraps up his wrestling career.  He has done everything I've asked from him from Pre-K through his senior year.  He shined when he needed to most at Sections and State!."

MSHSL State Championships Results for Plainview-Elgin-Millville

145AA

Aiden Graner (45-4) placed 2nd and scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 45-4 won by tech fall over Kaleb Gau (Minneapolis Roosevelt) 25-7 (TF-1.5 2:34 (20-3))

• Quarterfinal - Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 45-4 won by decision over Mason Breeggemann (Scott West) 40-13 (Dec 12-6)

• Semifinal - Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 45-4 won by decision over Noah Cameron (Little Falls) 32-7 (Dec 9-7)

• 1st Place Match - Landen Kujawa (Becker) 52-3 won by decision over Aiden Graner (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 45-4 (Dec 8-1)

215AA

Alex Hinrichs (32-10) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Alex Hinrichs (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 32-10 won by fall over Mitchell Pickens (Brooklyn Center-Concordia Acad) 13-18 (Fall 1:36)

• Quarterfinal - Caleb Johnson (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 39-5 won by decision over Alex Hinrichs (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 32-10 (Dec 1-0)

• Cons. Round 1 - Matthew Busse (Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted) 29-17 won by decision over Alex Hinrichs (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 32-10 (Dec 7-1)