By Chad Koenen

Publisher

For the first time in school history the New York Mills girls wrestling team was represented at the state tournament. Shauna Geiser joined Grady Roberts at the state wrestling tournament with both wrestlers picking up a pair of wins and coming just one win shy of placing at state. 

After falling to eventual runner-up George Doherty, of LeSueur-Henderson, by an 8-0 major decision in the opening round of state, Roberts picked up a pair of decisions to come just one match short of making it to the medal round.

Roberts defeated Garrett Penning, of Adrian Area, by an 8-3 decision in the first round of the consolation bracket, before securing a 10-3 decision over Colby Kesteloot, of Fulda-Murray County Central, to advance to the quarterfinals of the consolation. 

Unfortunately, Roberts fell to Chase Drazkowski, of Lewiston-Altura-Rushford-Peterson, by a 9-5 overtime devision to end his state tournament. In an exciting second period, Roberts took a 5-4 lead after starting the period in the down position and earning an escape, a take down and another escape with just five seconds remaining in the period, after Drazkowski got an escape and a take down of his own.

Drazkowski started the third period in the down position and earned an escape just 15 seconds into final two minutes of action,
but the two wrestlers remained scoreless the rest of the way to set up overtime. Drazkowski started overtime in the down position and earned an escape with 23 seconds left and a take down with five seconds left to take a 9-5 lead. Roberts started the second overtime period in the down position, but couldn’t earn an escape or take down and fell by a score of 9-5.

The loss ended Roberts state tournament and his senior season with a record of 33-9.

Geiser secured a win in the first round of Charlie Jones of Stillwater by a forfeit and fell to eventual runner up Roselane Verrett of Monticello by a pin at 1:51 in the quarterfinals to fall to the consolation. Just like Roberts, Geiser was able to secure a win in the consolation to advance to the final day of action at the state tournament. Geiser secured a 6-4 decision over Lauren Leuthard of Wayzata after securing a take down in the first prior and starting the second period in the down position. She took a 4-0 lead when she earned an escape with 48 seconds left, and made the score 6-0 in the third period after picking up a quick reversal. Leuthard earned an escape with 15 seconds left and a take down with seven seconds left to cut the score to 6-4, but would get no closer as Geiser advanced to the consolation bracket quarterfinals. 

In the quarterfinals Geiser had her freshman season come to an end when she fell to eventual fourth place finisher Dayna Kielty of Glencoe-Lester Prairie by an 8-0 major decision. Geiser finished her season with a record of 29-14.