PEM Wrestlers End Dual Season with 14 Wins!

All good things must come to an end was once quoted from a famous philosopher.  So went the dual season for the PEM Bulldog wrestling team.  PEM finished the season with a 14 win season as they defeated Austin in the first round of the Section 1AA team championship, but fell in a close dual to the highly seeded Stewartville Tigers on Thursday night.  The grapplers came out firing on all cylinders on Thursday versus the Austin Packers.  PEM opened with a commanding 36-0 lead in the early bouts then pulled away with pins at 189 and 215 to lock up the dual.  Final score PEM 57;  Austin 17.

Added Coach Pfeilsticker,  "you never know how the team will respond in the first round in an unfamiliar gym like Stewartville.  Our guys not only showed up but dominated with some impressive individual performances.  Once you get going early like we did with Reid, Nash, Tucker and Aiden the rest just takes care of itself".

The Bulldogs next task was to take on #3 Stewartville.  The Tigers have put together one of their best seasons in 7 years as their senior dominated lineup has been instrumental in  their quest for a section championship.  Stewartville packed the gym with a strong fan base who's still feeling the adrenaline from their state football title.  PEM jumped off to a strong start with wins by Cooper Mack and Carson Rahman with a pin.  But the night was highlighted with two of the section's top 133 pounders battling in a match sure to be talked about for months to come!  Aiden Graner and Hunter Kartnitz battled in a see-saw match with both wrestlers gaining the upper hand only for a bit then to see the other trying to gain the momentum.  It was during the 3rd period that saw Graner almost go to his back then flipped out of the predicament and caught Karnitz not only for a decisive win but a pin that sent the PEM bench erupting!  Added Coach Daren Wingert, "I have a feeling these 2 will see each other in the Section 1AA individual tournament next weekend.  Fans better hold their breath for that one, because you can almost guarantee another epic battle is brewing!"

PEM unfortunately could not hold the lead as they fell behind 33-15.  With the season on the line both Alex Hinrichs and Alex Bedsted battled back to secure falls to pull the Bulldogs within 6 points.  Unfortunately it was not meant to be as Stewartville 285 pounder, Graysen Schneider secured the victory with a win at Hwt.  Coach Bobby Bedsted summarized the dual, "I think the fans got their money's worth tonight.  Lots of passion that came from both teams and their fans.  I couldn't be more proud of our guys to never give up and to lay it all on the line!"

PEM's season does not end though as the second part of the postseason begins on Friday February 23rd with the Section 1AA individual tournament at Mayo Civic Center.  The top 2 individuals from Section 1AA go on to the state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center, February 29th - March 2nd.  Stay tuned next week for all the exciting action from Rochester!   

Photos of the dual's located Here!

Plainview-Elgin-Millville defeated Austin 56-17

107 – Reid Ihrke (PEM) over Cameron Riedl (Austin) Fall 1:57

114 – Nash Graner (PEM) over Brayden Becker (Austin) Fall 0:58

121 – Carson Rahman (PEM) over Jaydn Xiquita (Austin) Fall 0:50

127 – Tucker Binner (PEM) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

133 – Aiden Graner (PEM) over Lincoln Cole (Austin) Fall 0:45

139 – Nolan Ford (PEM) over William Mullenbach (Austin) Fall 1:59

145 – Nolan Pfeilsticker (PEM) over Lukas Jorgenson (Austin) Dec 9-3

152 – David Thaung (Austin) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

160 – Trenton Whiteaker (Austin) over Aaron Matiash (PEM) Fall 0:00

172 – Brady Melcher (PEM) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

189 – Alex Hinrichs (PEM) over Sean Josephs (Austin) Fall 0:12

215 – Alexander Bedsted (PEM) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

285 – Samuel Winkels (Austin) over Drew Rahman (PEM) TF 23-5

PEM’s team score was adjusted by -1.0 for presenting wrong weight

Stewartville defeated Plainview-Elgin-Millville 39-27

107 – Cooper Mack (PEM) over Cade Sursely (Stew) Dec 5-3

114 – Quade Mullenbach (Stew) over Nash Graner (PEM) Dec 10-4

121 – Carson Rahman (PEM) over Brolin Stier (Stew) Fall 2:46

127 – Reid Rinn (Stew) over Tucker Binner (PEM) Dec 10-3

133 – Aiden Graner (PEM) over Hunter Karnitz (Stew) Fall 5:18

139 – Jace Deyoung (Stew) over Nolan Pfeilsticker (PEM) Fall 3:35

145 – Lucas Larson (Stew) over Nolan Ford (PEM) Dec 12-9

152 – Caden Hyke (Stew) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

160 – Jackson Hewitt (Stew) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

172 – Tanner Elzen (Stew) over Brady Melcher (PEM) Fall 1:47

189 – Alex Hinrichs (PEM) over Lincoln Dube (Stew) Fall 3:34

215 – Alexander Bedsted (PEM) over Anthony Nelson (Stew) Fall 1:50

285 – Graysen Schneider (Stew) over Drew Rahman (PEM) Fall 1:07