Three walked away having had successful experiences. They made the medal stand. One walked away disappointed. He couldn’t replicate a previous podium ascension. A fifth walks away wishing he had another chance. Five county-program wrestlers took on the State Individual Tournament. Chatfield’s Cael Bartels, LARP cousins Ross and Noah Herber, highlighted the action. Each made the medal stand. Ross Herber (ranked #5 at 113) battled his way to the best county-finish. Wrestling at 120, the junior started with a win (9-0 major decision), before falling (7-0 decision) to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa’s #5 Blaine Fischer (39-10). Herber then won two straight convincingly (first period pin, 13-0 MD). He then topped New York Mills’ Dane Niemi (32-11) by 3-2 decision. Niemi scored a first period takedown, but Herber won points via penalty and late reversal (0:14) in the second. Herber rode out the third period on top to ensure a win. The three consolation wins put Herber in the third place match, where he again faced B-B-E’s Fischer. Leading 4-2 in the second, Fischer picked up the win by fall (3:47). Herber, in his first state tourney, took fourth place. He finishes the season 31-7. Noah Herber (#5 at 182) took on the 195-pound weight class. He opened with a win (9-0 major), then fell West Central Area’s #5 Wyatt Olson (42-6) by first period fall. Noah then won back-to-back decisions (7-0, 10-5 over Frazee’s #9 at 220 Coleton Borah) to get himself a top six placing. He fell to Wabasso/Red Rock Central’s #6 Derek Werner (33-7) by 4-2 decision. Herber led 2-1 heading to the third, but gave up a tying escape, and then match-winning takedown (1:04). Herber’s final match, against Breckinridge’s #8 Daniel Erlandson (33-10), was a high-scoring affair that saw four total takedowns (three for Herber), three reversals (Erlandson), three escapes (Herber), and a pair of near-fall situations (Herber). The final was 14-8 Herber. After missing out each of the last two years at sections (finished third), the senior makes his one state appearance count with a fifth place finish. He completes his senior year 29-8. Herber went 61-20 the past two years. Chatfield’s top guy was junior Cael Bartels. In his first state appearance, Bartels (#9 at 113) won his opener by 9-1 major (notched five third period points). He then fell to Tracy-Milroy et al’s #3 Ayden Horner (47-4) by 5-2 decision. The match was tied 2-2 heading to the third. Horner escaped from bottom, then got a late takedown (0:20). Bartels rallied by winning two straight, first via 15-2 major decision, second by 6-3 decision (Bartels led 4-1 after one). Crookston’s #2 Zach Brown (39-3) was then too much via 8-3 decision. The match was 5-3 entering the third. Bartels finished his state experience with an 11-2 major decision over ACGC’s #8 Brady Holien (33-15) to claim fifth place. Cael finishes the year 34-10. He added nine wins to last year’s win total (25-13). Teammate Seth Goetzinger’s 2019 state experience wasn’t as fruitful as 2018. Last year’s third place finisher at 106 got a couple wins (pin, 10-0 major), but also a couple losses (9-3 decision, 2-1 decision). He came in ranked #3 at 126, but fell to #7 Sam Kulseth (37-9) of St. James and unranked Wyatt Lahr (27-18) of Royalton/Upsala. Both points Lahr scored were via penalty. Goetzinger, just a sophomore, finishes the year 29-9. At the same weight, LARP’s Gable Speltz got just one match. Leading 7-3 in the third, Speltz was taken down and pinned by West Central Area et al’s Anthony Sykora. Sykora then fell to #2 Brett Willaby, leaving Speltz in the on-and-done position. The sophomore finishes at 29-14. Notable Section 1A state champions included GMLOS’ Jackson Hale (132, 41-3), St. Charles’ Mark Buringa (138, 22-1), Caledonia/Houston’s Kyle Canavaugh (145, 40-0), and D-E’s Michael Nelson (195, 45-3). Z-M’s Michael Majerus (106, 40-10) and Goodhue’s Kaleb O’Reilly (170, 46-5) took second. Of the 28 Section 1A entrants, 16 placed. Six weights (132, 138, 145, 182, 195, 220) saw both Section 1A entrants place. There were only two weights where a Section 1A entrant didn’t place (126, 285).
