Wedde takes second place to advance to state

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Three Eagles captured first place and another took second at the Section 6A tournament on Saturday. All four wrestlers, including Simon Snyder, Dane Niemi, Bren Salo and Sawyer Wedde will advance to the state wrestling tournament, which will kick off on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. 

“I cant say enough about our three champs. Simon, Dane and Bren really dominated the finals and Wedde came up big in the semi’s,” said head coach Eric Niemi.

The NY Mills coach said the Eagles had a good showing overall at the section meet as they were forced to overcome some early season injuries to compete down the stretch. 

“Our team has had to push through some injuries and adversity the entire year,” said Niemi. “Wrestling is a grueling season, even when you are on top and it’s even harder when you experience setbacks along the way.”  

Snyder captured first place at 145 lbs. when he defeated Reubens Swanson of West Central Area by a 5-0 decision. Snyder, who is 38-6 on the season, won his opening two matches of the tournament by a pin. 

Dane Niemi also captured first place at 152 lbs. after securing a close 6-4 decision over Carter Johnson of Pelican Rapids in the semi-finals. He then defeated Logan Schleske of Otter Tail Central by a 9-2 decision in the championship match. Niemi is currently 36-9 on the season.

This is the fifth straight section championship for Niemi. Over the years the Eagles have had several three time section champions, but a fifth section championship is an extremely rare accomplishment for competitors across the state. 

The final section champion was Salo at 182 lbs. The senior needed just 36 seconds to defeat Seth Stroeing of Wadena-Deer Creek in the semi-finals, before winning a 2-1 decision over Beau Robinson of West Central Area in the championship match. Salo is 31-4 on the season. 

The final state tournament entrant came at heavyweight by Wedde who needed a combined 2 minutes to win his opening two matches by pin. In the championship match, Wedde fell to Kale Rich of Otter Tail Central by pin to finish in second place. Wedde has a record of 14-17 overall.

The Eagles nearly had three other state entrants as Braeden Peterson forced a true second match at 195 lbs., but fell to Will Rustan of West Central Area in the true second match to finish in third place. 

Blake Unger also forced a true second match after dropping his opening round match. He worked his way through the consolation bracket, before falling to Koby Endres of Wadena-Deer Creek by fall at 170 lbs. to finish in third place. 

At 132 lbs., Jay Mindermann forced a true second match against Deagen Captain of West Central Area, but fell by a pin in the second period to finish in third place. 

“We had three of the four matches for true second. We had our chances there against some good wrestlers. Jay, Blake and Braeden had to wrestle well to put themselves in a position to advance and that’s all you can ask for,” said Niemi.

In addition to the four state entrants and three true second matches, Niemi said many of the younger wrestlers turned their early season losses into some nice showings at the section meet. He said the team is starting to peak at the right time as they prepare for the state tournament. 

“Wrestlers need to be discipline and enjoy hard work even during times of failure and I think these guys have done a great job of staying mentally and physically strong and we are peaking right now,” said Niemi.

The NY Mills wrestlers will now turn their attention to the state tournament. Snyder will open his state tournament against sixth ranked John Paul Fitzpatrick of Crosby-Ironton. Fitzpatrick comes into the match with a record of 43-5. The winner of the match will take on either Tucker Ginther of C-H or 10th ranked Gavin Winter of Kimball Area.

Niemi, who is ranked sixth in the state, will take on Jacob Blair of Minnewaska Area in the opening round. Blair has a record of 30-6 overall. The winner of the match will take on either fourth ranked Gavin Gust of Dover-Eyota or Logan Kuseske of Kimball Area. 

Salo will take on Vander Mathiowetz of RRC in the opening round of the 182 lbs. state tournament. Mathiowetz comes into the match with a record of 36-6. The winner of the match will take on either Isaac Schmidt of STAG or fourth ranked Caleb Vacura of BGMR. 

At heavyweight, Wedde will take on 10th ranked Jackson Esping of Minneota. Esping is 10-0 on the season. The winner of the match will take on either second ranked Makota Misgen of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva or eighth ranked Cameron Scholten of Jackson County Central. 

106- 6th place- Quarterfinal – Creed Mursu (New York Mills) 15-22 won by fall over Danny Salazar (Pelican Rapids) 18-18 (Fall 1:12); Semifinal – Reggie George (Osakis) 37-8 won by fall over Creed Mursu (New York Mills) 15-22 (Fall 5:06); Cons. Semi – Gunner Hennessy (Border West Buccaneers) 12-25 won by decision over Creed Mursu (New York Mills) 15-22 (Dec 7-6); 5th Place Match – Danny Salazar (Pelican Rapids) 18-18 won by fall over Creed Mursu (New York Mills) 15-22 (Fall 2:23)

113- 6th place- Quarterfinal – Preston Captain (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie) 17-25 won by fall over Austin Geiser (New York Mills) 13-24 (Fall 1:19); Cons. Round 1 – Austin Geiser (New York Mills) 13-24 won by fall over Simon Jacobson (Osakis) 8-28 (Fall 1:14); Cons. Semi – Mason Brauch (Wadena-Deek Creek) 19-15 won by decision over Austin Geiser (New York Mills) 13-24 (Dec 6-3); 5th Place Match – Carter Lohse (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 26-16 won by decision over Austin Geiser (New York Mills) 13-24 (Dec 7-4)

120- 6th place- Quarterfinal – Bennet Arceneau (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie) 25-13 won by fall over Slade Doll (New York Mills) 8-15 (Fall 1:20); Cons. Round 1 – Slade Doll (New York Mills) 8-15 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Semi – Adam Lohse (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 35-12 won by fall over Slade Doll (New York Mills) 8-15 (Fall 3:59); 5th Place Match – Mason Christianson (Ottertail Central Bulldogs) 9-23 won by major decision over Slade Doll (New York Mills) 8-15 (MD 15-2)

126- 6th place- Quarterfinal – Jed Carlson (Pelican Rapids) 23-23 won by fall over Elijah Geiser (New York Mills) 9-15 (Fall 5:36); Cons. Round 1 – Elijah Geiser (New York Mills) 9-15 won by fall over Anthony Rousu (Ottertail Central Bulldogs) 1-12 (Fall 1:10); Cons. Semi – Christian Nathe (Osakis) 16-24 won by fall over Elijah Geiser (New York Mills) 9-15 (Fall 2:19); 5th Place Match – Mason Richter (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 11-19 won by fall over Elijah Geiser (New York Mills) 9-15 (Fall 0:46)

132- 3rd place- Quarterfinal – Jay Mindermann (New York Mills) 15-14 won by fall over Conner Nelson (Ottertail Central Bulldogs) 6-18 (Fall 3:14); Semifinal – Hunter Gruchow (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 40-10 won by fall over Jay Mindermann (New York Mills) 15-14 (Fall 2:55); Cons. Semi – Jay Mindermann (New York Mills) 15-14 won by fall over Philip Dykhoff (Pelican Rapids) 5-9 (Fall 1:00); 3rd Place Match – Jay Mindermann (New York Mills) 15-14 won by decision over Peyton Forcier (Border West Buccaneers) 33-13 (Dec 3-0); 2nd Place Match – Deagen Captain (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie) 34-14 won by fall over Jay Mindermann (New York Mills) 15-14 (Fall 3:30)

138- 5th place- Quarterfinal – Patrick Forcier (Border West Buccaneers) 30-13 won by fall over Brandt Malone (New York Mills) 3-8 (Fall 1:20); Cons. Round 1 – Brandt Malone (New York Mills) 3-8 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Semi – Reese Thompson (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie) 39-12 won by fall over Brandt Malone (New York Mills) 3-8 (Fall 1:02); 5th Place Match – Brandt Malone (New York Mills) 3-8 won by fall over Anthony Checco de Souza (Pelican Rapids) 4-15 (Fall 3:35)

145- 1st place- Quarterfinal – Simon Snyder (New York Mills) 38-6 won by fall over Reece Henkes (Pelican Rapids) 1-19 (Fall 3:08); Semifinal – Simon Snyder (New York Mills) 38-6 won by fall over Brody Nachbor (Border West Buccaneers) 26-17 (Fall 3:28); 1st Place Match – Simon Snyder (New York Mills) 38-6 won by decision over Reubens Swanson (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 40-6 (Dec 5-0)

152- 1st place- Quarterfinal – Dane Niemi (New York Mills) 36-9 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal – Dane Niemi (New York Mills) 36-9 won by decision over Carter Johnson (Pelican Rapids) 22-11 (Dec 6-4); 1st Place Match – Dane Niemi (New York Mills) 36-9 won by decision over Logan Schleske (Ottertail Central Bulldogs) 28-16 (Dec 9-2)

160- 5th place- Quarterfinal – Tyson Hagedon (Osakis) 23-16 won by decision over Hunter Rust (New York Mills) 22-20 (Dec 3-2); Cons. Round 1 – Hunter Rust (New York Mills) 22-20 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Semi – Jack Kapenga (Pelican Rapids) 36-13 won by decision over Hunter Rust (New York Mills) 22-20 (Dec 7-4); 5th Place Match – Hunter Rust (New York Mills) 22-20 won in sudden victory – 1 over Tyson Hagedon (Osakis) 23-16 (SV-1 8-6)

170- 3rd place- Quarterfinal – Kaleb Helberg (Osakis) 12-19 won by fall over Blake Unger (New York Mills) 18-19 (Fall 2:41); Cons. Round 1 – Blake Unger (New York Mills) 18-19 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Semi – Blake Unger (New York Mills) 18-19 won by fall over Justin Koehn (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie) 16-30 (Fall 4:36); 3rd Place Match – Blake Unger (New York Mills) 18-19 won by fall over Kaleb Helberg (Osakis) 12-19 (Fall 3:03); 2nd Place Match – Koby Endres (Wadena-Deek Creek) 25-7 won by fall over Blake Unger (New York Mills) 18-19 (Fall 1:42)

182- 1st place- Quarterfinal – Bren Salo (New York Mills) 31-4 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal – Bren Salo (New York Mills) 31-4 won by fall over Seth Stroeing (Wadena-Deek Creek) 8-9 (Fall 0:36); 1st Place Match – Bren Salo (New York Mills) 31-4 won by decision over Beau Robinson (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 29-12 (Dec 2-1)

195- 3rd place- Quarterfinal – Braeden Peterson (New York Mills) 18-17 won by decision over Braden Shamp (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie) 11-30 (Dec 6-2); Semifinal – Tristan Evavold (Ottertail Central Bulldogs) 7-0 won by fall over Braeden Peterson (New York Mills) 18-17 (Fall 0:30); Cons. Semi – Braeden Peterson (New York Mills) 18-17 won by fall over Preston Kunkel (Osakis) 6-8 (Fall 0:40); 3rd Place Match – Braeden Peterson (New York Mills) 18-17 won by major decision over Andrew Hennessy (Border West Buccaneers) 25-20 (MD 14-5); 2nd Place Match – Will Rustan (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 30-15 won by fall over Braeden Peterson (New York Mills) 18-17 (Fall 4:22)

285- 2nd place- Quarterfinal – Sawyer Wedde (New York Mills) 14-17 won by fall over Matthew Wegscheid (Wadena-Deek Creek) 10-17 (Fall 0:12); Semifinal – Sawyer Wedde (New York Mills) 14-17 won by fall over Justin Blascyk (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 27-16 (Fall 1:47); 1st Place Match – Kale Rich (Ottertail Central Bulldogs) 26-16 won by fall over Sawyer Wedde (New York Mills) 14-17 (Fall 4:18); 2nd Place Match – Sawyer Wedde (New York Mills) 14-17 won by no contest over Justin Blascyk (West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansille) 27-16 (NC)