Pin in 285 lbs. match lifts Eagles over Warriors

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

New York Mills had a flare for the dramatic as the Eagles swept a triangular against United North Central and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley-Nevis on Thursday night. The Eagles trailed 36-12 before they rounded off five straight wins, including a pin at heavyweight, to come away with a 37-36 win. It was the only time the Eagles led in the entire match. 

NY Mills also defeated WHAN by a score of 54-30 in the regular season opening triangular. 

Head Coach Eric Niemi said it was great to get back on the mat as the team has had a great preseason wrestling room leading up to the regular season opener. 

“It was a good thing to get athletes back on the mat. Considering the challenges we all face, and guidelines put in place, we have had a great practice room,” said Head Coach Eric Niemi. “Athletic Director Matt Radniecki has done a great job of managing everything handed down by the high school league and our teaching staff works extremely hard for kids.  It’s a difficult time for all students and especially student athletes.” 

The Eagles opened the night with a win over WHAN, before taking on UNC in the second match of the night. The Warriors came into the match being ranked in the Lean and Mean category by The Guillotine and led all the way up until the final bout. After wrestling a tough match against WHAN team to open the night, Niemi said he was concerned about the shape the wrestlers were in so early in the season. However, the Eagles pulled through down the stretch when it mattered the most.

“It’s been 12 weeks since these guys were working out on the football field so I was concerned about shape. Peters, Guck, Rinerson and Roberts all had grinding six minute matches for us. Mann, Niemi, Salo and Peterson delivered huge pins.”

Following a pin by UNC at 106 lbs., Joe Mann tied the match up with a fall for NY Mills at the 1:32 mark of his 113 lbs. match. The Warriors won the next four matches to take a 24-6 lead, before Dane Niemi secured a pin at the 44 second mark of his 145 lbs. match to make the score 24-12 in favor of UNC.

The Warriors came away with back-to-back second period pins to make their lead 36-12, before the Eagles won the final five matches of the night to defeat the Warriors 37-36 in dramatic fashion.

Bren Salo secured a pin at the 1:16 mark of his 170 lbs. match, before Jon Rinerson secured a 5-2 decision at 182 lbs. Cody Barthel won by forfeit at 195 lbs. and Bode Roberts secured a 14-5 major decision at 220 lbs. to cut the UNC lead to 36-31.

Needing a pin to secure the come-from-behind win, Braeden Peterson pulled through with a fall at 285 lbs. over Marcus Peterson to give NY Mills a 37-36 win.

Niemi said he was proud of the way the wrestlers performed in the opening triangular of the season both on and off the mat. 

“There is always so much people do not see in the sport of wrestling; sacrifice from guys just starting out, wrestling six minutes once your established and then being able to go out and deliver that fall,” said Niemi. “(It) was a good team win.” 

This week the Eagles will host a pair of triangulars. On Friday they will host Border West and Crookston with matches against Border West vs. NY Mills beginning at 5 p.m., Border West vs. Crookston at 6:15 p.m. and Crookston vs. NY Mills at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday the Eagles will host another triangular, this time against Badger-Greenbush-Middle River and Barnesville. The Eagles will face BGMR at 1 p.m., BGMR vs. Barnesville will get underway at 2:15 p.m. and Barnesville vs. NY Mills will begin at 3:30 p.m.

New York Mills 37 United North Central 36

106- Fordyce Johnson (UNC) defeated Elijah Geiser (NYM)  Fall 0:38 (Score: 6-0)

113- Joe Mann (NYM) defeated Zack Davidson (UNC)  Fall 1:32 (Score: 6-6)

120- Aaron Lake (UNC) defeated Austin Geiser (NYM)  Fall 0:16 (Score: 12-6)

126- Wyatt Olson (UNC) defeated Nick Peters (NYM)  Decision 5-1 (Score: 15-6)

132- Hunter Skaro (UNC) defeated Chris Yoder (NYM)  Fall 4:04 (Score: 21-6)

138- Ethan Hendrickson (UNC) defeated Jacob Guck (NYM)  Decision 6-2 (Score: 24-6)

145- Dane Niemi (NYM) defeated Dylan Rasmussen (UNC)  Fall 0:44 (Score: 24-12)

152- Hank Tellers (UNC) defeated Hunter Rust (NYM)  Fall 2:33 (Score: 30-12)

160- Eion Ness (UNC) defeated Mason Unger (NYM)  Fall 2:44 (Score: 36-12)

170- Bren Salo (NYM) defeated Dakota Meech (UNC)  Fall 1:16 (Score: 36-18)

182- Jon Rinerson (NYM) defeated Logan Torma (UNC)  Decision 5-2 (Score: 36-21)

195- Cody Barthel (NYM) defeated Forfeit (UNC)  Decision 0-0 (Score: 36-27)

220- Bode Roberts (NYM) defeated Cooper Hasbargen (UNC)  Maj Dec 14-5 (Score: 36-31)

285- Braeden Peterson (NYM) defeated Marcus Peterson (UNC)  Fall 3:40 (Score: 36-37)

NYM/ Walker- Hackensack-Akeley-Nevis   54-30

106- Dylan Johnson (WHAN) defeated Elijah Geiser (NYM) Fall 0:58 (Score: 6-0)

113- Eli Johnson (WHAN) defeated Joe Mann (NYM) Fall 0:54 (Score: 12-0)

120- Nick Peters (NYM) Forfeit (Score: 12-6)

126- Chris Yoder (NYM) Forfeit (Score: 12-12)

132- Callen Whitney (WHAN) Forfeit (Score: 18-12)

138- Jacob Guck (NYM) defeated Dawson McGee (WHAN) Fall 1:19 (Score: 18-18)

145- Dane Niemi (NYM) Forfeit (Score: 24-18) 

152- Hunter Rust (WHAN) Forfeit (Score: 30-18) 

160- Steven Hausken (WHAN) defeated Mason Unger (NYM) Fall 1:19 (Score: 30-24)

170- Bren Salo (NYM) defeated Devin Johnson (WHAN) Fall 1:39 (Score: 36-24)

182- Fischer Smith (WHAN) defeated Jon Rinerson (NYM) Fall 1:03 (Score 36-30)

195 Cody Barthel (NYM) Forfeit (Score: 42-30)

220- Bode Roberts (NYM) defeated Johnny Johnson (WHAN) Fall 1:59 (Score: 48-30)

285- Braeden Peterson won by fall    (WHAN) Fall 1:19 ) Score 54-30)

Season preview

Ten letter winners will highlight an experienced and talented group of NY Mills wrestlers this season. Among the returning letter winners will be Dane Niemi who finished his sophomore season with a 34-3 record and spot in the state wrestling tournament. He is currently the seventh ranked wrestler in Class A at 145 lbs. 

Also returning for the Eagles are Nick Peters, Bode Roberts, Jon Rinerson, Jacob Guck, Bren Salo, Braeden Peterson, Hunter Rust, Cody Barthel and Chris Yoder. 

While the Eagles will return an experienced line up, they will need to replace a number of seniors with a vast number of years of mat time. Among the seniors lost to graduation were a pair of state entrants in Elliot Mann and Gabe Geiser, who both finished in sixth place at state last year. 

“Our team graduated two state place winners in Elliot Mann and Gabe Geiser along with three multiple year starters in Derrik Wegscheid, Logan Small and Alex Sandoval,” said Head Coach Eric Niemi. “It takes a lot of mat time and practice to replace a group like that.”

In addition to the returning letter winners, Niemi said the Eagles have a number of seventh and eighth graders that could make an impact at the varsity level over the next two years. His goal is to get those wrestlers the experience they need to continue to grow on the mat.

“My goal as a coach is to try to get our younger wrestlers the experience they need and have our veterans be ready to compete at a high level every week,” said Niemi. 

As far as the season goes, Niemi said the Park Region Conference is the most competitive conference in the state with top ranked Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville once again bringing back a tough line up.

Team captains this season include Dane Niemi, Jacob Guck, Bren Salo and Chris Yoder.