Wrestling (12/15)

Wrestling: LARP Stuns #2 Chatfield, Goes 4-0 at Spamtown Duals

The scores of their last four matches were 57-15, 58-11, 58-9, and 68-3; Chatfield had its way with LARP wrestling. The 68-3 score came in last year’s team section semifinals, as it was one of the Gophers’ wins on the way to a state runner-up finish. But to start the 2025-2026 wrestling season, at a triangular in Chatfield, Darrin Hegland’s LARP group notched a massive eye-opening upset win that will knock the Gophers from their #2 ranking in state in a match that came down to the last period at heavyweight. After three weights, the Gophers were in control, up 18-0. Joey Cady (#1 at 107) and Gunner Polikowsky (114) had pins, Jameson Priebe (#3 at 121) won by forfeit. But of the Screamin’ Eagles big wins, the first came at 127. Tenth-ranked Christian Zibrowski outwrestled #3 Logan Pearson by 7-1 decision in a match of former state fifth placers (Zibrowski in 2024, Pearson last year). It started the Eagles on a tear. Screamin’ Eagle Michael Alexander (133) followed with a first period pin of Layne Root. At 139, in another big ranked-ranked match, LARP’s #7 Owen Lange, trailing 6-2 in the third period, pinned #8 Kaisen Johnson with a cradle, another huge coup. Carter Bronk then pinned Cody Ramaker in the second period at 145. Chatfield’s 18-0 lead was all gone. LARP went ahead 21-18. The S-Eagles then forfeited its second weight of the night (152) to Hunter Polikowsky (#9 at 145). Former LARP guy Nolan Happel got the Gophers a win at 160 by fall to put Chatfield ahead 30-21. But S-Eagle Colten Jenkins followed with a pin at 172, and teammate and sixth-ranked Zach Plank (189) did the same at 189. With two weights left, LARP led 33-30. Will Boelter (#5 at 215) then had probably Chatfield’s biggest win, pinning Chace Drazkowski (#3 at 285) by fall in the first period, a matchup of state qualifiers last year. It gave the Gophers a 36-33 heading to heavyweight, where LARP’s Jaden Perez matched up with Jackson Bernard. In the third period, the more varsity-experienced Perez got underhooks and threw Bernard to his back, securing a pin, sending LARP fans into a frenzy! Via 39-36 score, and scoring more points than their last four matches versus Chatfield combined, LARP pulled the massive early season upset (despite two forfeits)! The loss ended Chatfield’s 21-dual TRC win streak that dates to a loss to Caledonia/Houston in 2023. Chatfield also topped La Crescent/Hokah 72-6 at the triangular. The Gophers took forfeits at 114 (G-Polikowsky), 121 (Priebe), 127 (Pearson), 133 (Root), 139 (Hunter Bernard), 145 (Johnson), and 215 (Boelter). Cady (107), Happel (160), Brenden Kobs (172), Andrew Boelter (189), and J-Bernard (285) had pins. They are 1-1 in the TRC and overall. LARP beat La Crescent/Hokah 60-12. They then went 4-0 at the Austin “Spamtown” Duals, beating Lakeville-South 47-18, Pipestone 36-30, Austin 60-15, and FCLMC 48-23. In the close dual with Pipestone, LARP trailed 30-21 heading to 189. Plank (189) and Drazkowski (215) then authored pins, Perez (285) a 7-4 decision for the win. Michael Alexander, Easton Jackson, Jaxson Johnson, Chace Drazkowski, and Christian Zibrowski went undefeated in Austin. Owen Lange recorded his 100th career win. The Screamin’ Eagles are off to a 2-0 start to the TRC season, 6-0 overall.

Wrestling (12/4 & 12/6)

FCLMC Quadrangular > GMLOS 30, FCLMC 39 (FCLMC jumped out 10-0 and never trailed. For the Wolves, Ben Norby (127) had a fall, Quentin Daniels (107) and Charles Guma (139) won by forfeit, Quinci Kaase (160) and Kane Larson (215) won 20-3 and 18-3 tech falls, Jackson Fischer (114) and Grant Daniels (152) won 16-7 and 12-2 major decisions, Jeramiah Bushman a 7-4 decision. For GMLOS, Chase Van Hill (121), Parker Armagost (133), Cael Smith (145), Cody Hrykas (189), and Drake Payne (285) had pins. The girls  had nine matches with GMLOS’ Audi LeVan (118), Addysin Hubbard (136), Keyawin Stier (136) and Paisley Schlee (112) winning by fall, Chloe Hubbard (112) by 17-11 decision. FCLMC’s Teagann Stoen, Gwen Lieb twice (118), and Emmah Helms (118) won by fall); Wabasha-Kellogg 6, FCLMC 71 (Q. Daniels (107), J. Fischer (114), Brady Arnold (121), B. Norby (127), August Pfeffer (133), Q. Kaase (160), J. Bushman (172), Will Boettcher (189), K. Larson (215), and James Cullen (285) won by forfeit for FCLMC, G. Daniels (152) by 22-6 tech fall. FCLMC girls won four of five matches. Norah Eide (136) won by fall and tech fall, E. Helms (124) and Amelia Ringer (148) by fall); #4 in A Kenyon-Wanamingo 63, GMLOS 15 (The Bulldog got pins from C. Smith (145) and D. Payne (215), an 11-5 decision from Ayden Stier (189)); #4 in A K-W 48, FCLMC 25 (Ashton Newman (160), K. Larson (215), and J. Cullen (285) had pins for FCLMC, G. Daniels (152) won a 12-3 major, Q. Kaase (172) a 16-11 decision); W-K 0, GMLOS 57 (Lincoln Lunning (114), C. Van Hill (121), Logan Gregerson (127), Calum Sween (160), Cody Hyrkas (172), A. Steir (189), and D. Payne (215) won by forfeit for the Bulldogs, C. Smith (145) and Jaydence Ward (152) by fall, P. Armagost (139) by 10-8 decision) 

St. Charles Icebreaker Duals > Pine Island 49, Caledonia/Houston 19 (Walker Kohlmeyer (133) and Will Allen (172) had pins for the Warriors, Cooper Allen (215) won by 14-0 major decision, and Aiden Burns (121) by 3-0 decision); Cal/Hou 24, Rochester-Mayo 42 (Kiptyn Meiners (107), Jace Conway (114), and Burns (121) started the Warriors with three straight pins and an 18-0 lead, but Aaren Kulas (139) and W-Allen (172) were then the only other Cal/Hou wins thereafter, by 12-9 and 6-1 decisions respectively); Cal/Hou 47, Central (Norwood-Young America) 25 (Meiners (107), Hunter Frank (145), Karsen Klug (160), and Rae-Shaun Smith (285) won by fall, Conway (114) and C-Allen (215) by forfeit, Burns (121) by medical forfeit. W-Allen (172) won a 19-3 tech fall, as all Warriors wins were at least five points. Caledonia took fifth. Warriors > 0-0, 1-2) 

Austin Spamtown Duals (LARP went 4-0 (See “LARP Stuns #2 Chatfield…” for more). FCLMC went 3-2, beating Austin 49-11, Lakeville-South 39-29, and GMLOS 37-33 while losing to Pipestone 49-15 and LARP 53-23. Kane Larson (#1 at 189, wrestling 215) went 5-0 with four forfeits and a 17-1 tech fall of LARP’s #6 at 189 Zach Plank. The Wolves are 2-0 in the TRC, 5-3 overall. GMLOS went 2-2, beating Austin 51-22 and Lakeville South 49-17 while losing to the Wolves 33-37 and Pipestone 24-49. Cael Smith (145), Drake Payne (215/285), and Ayden Stier each went 4-0. The Bulldogs are 1-1 in the TRC, 3-4 overall) 

Lakeville North Tourney (Chatfield (211) took second to Simley (230) of 15 total teams. Joey Cady (107 > fall, 18-3 tech fall, fall) and Logan Pearson (127 > three falls, 2-1 decision over #3 in AA Damir Safronov of Simley) took first for the Gopher guys. Everrett Priebe (107), Gunner Polikowsky (114), Kaisen Johnson (139), Nolan Happel (160), and Will Boelter (215) took second. Jameson Priebe (121) and Layne Root (133) third. Melody Ward (100 > two falls), Maizee Priebe (112 > two falls), Bryn Goetzinger (118 > three falls, 15-0 tech fall), Brynn Horsman (124 > three falls), Makynli Ostby (130 > two falls, 18-0 tech fall), Elle Eickhoff (142 > four falls), and Eve Goetzinger (155 > four falls) took first for the Gopher girls. Kinley Manahan (118), Celie Eisenman (134), and Amelia Sladek (142) took second).