The team section tournament has not been a pleasurable experience for Chatfield wrestling lately. In 2020, the Gophers fell to GMLOS 36-35 in the 1A semis after beating the Bulldogs in the regular season. GMLOS won the section title. In 2021, the Gophers were the 1-seed (23-2) but were felled by 4-seed Z-M in the semis 37-30. The Gophers beat Z-M in the regular season. Two years ago, the Gophers led the 1A title match 30-24, but lost by fall at 220 and then an agonizing 11-7 decision at 285. Gopher heavyweight Caden Nolte led but ran out of gas. Chatfield lost the dual and shot at state by 33-30 final. A year ago in the finals, the Gophers led Caledonia/Houston 24-16 after 170, but dropped the final four weights all to decision. Included was Kail Schott falling in overtime 3-2 to Ayden Goetzinger at 220. It has been disappointment after disappointment. But not this year, and without any drama. The 1A title match was essentially decided at 160. Matt Mauseth’s Gophers romped through St. Charles, Goodhue, and Kenyon-Wanamingo to claim their first 1A crown since the state title team in 2014. The quarterfinal match with the Saints (8-seed, 11-14) was a definitive definition of mat domination. The Gophers (1-seed, 15-1) ripped off the perfect dual of 13 pins in a 78-0 win! Jameson Priebe (107), Javier Berg (114), Kaisen Johnson (121), Hunter Polikowsky (127), Gage Bartels (133), Alden Pearson (139), Jack Dornack (145), Carson Rowland (152), Ben Carrier (160), Ayden Miner (172), Kail Schott (189), Will Boelter (215), and Miles Mulhern (285) all won by fall. The Gophers (1-seed, 16-1) then took on Goodhue (5-seed, 18-7) in the semis. Chatfield ripped to a 47-3 lead. Their only loss in that span was 7-5 decision in overtime; #9 Jeremiah Bien (23-10) over Polikowsky (19-14). Three of Chatfield’s four losses were the last three matches. The dual was decided and Gopher regulars like Kail Schott did not wrestle. The final was 47-18. The two best wins were probably Priebe (29-12) beating Lucas Erickson (24-9) by fall at 107 and #4 (at 139) Bartels (27-7) topping Hayden Holm (25-7) by 10-0 major at 133. Top-ranked Berg (114), #8 Johnson (121), Pearson (139), and #8 Miner (160) also had falls while #9 Dornack (145) and #9 Rowland (152) each won 16-1 tech falls. Carrier (172) won a 7-0 decision. Grant Reed (189 > 11-3 major) and Caleb Kurtti (285 > fall), ranked #5 and #4 at 215, plus Jack Carlson (215 > 23-8 tech fall), had Goodhue’s other wins. It put #1 Chatfield (17-1) in their third straight 1A final versus #6 in A Kenyon-Wanamingo (2-seed, 25-8). The Knights boasted nine 25-win wrestlers, one more than Chatfield. The Gophers boasted eight ranked guys, K-W five (with one not wrestling). Three of the first four matches went to decision. K-W’s #2 Bryan Jacobson (26-11) topped Priebe (30-12) by 4-3 decision at 107 and Knight Reed Sommer (30-9) topped #8 Johnson (25-9) by 4-2 decision at 121. Sandwiched between, #1 Berg won a 13-4 major. Polikowsky (19-15) took 127 by 7-2 decision over Masyn Hansen (27-11). Chatfield led 7-6 after four weights. But the Gophers had two big-big wins. Pearson (20-11) got a takedown of Trent Foss (20-1) in the final seconds of the third period for a 3-2 decision win at 139. At 160, Carrier (26-11) pinned #4 at 152 Dillon Bartel (26-9). The victory put the Gophers up 27-9 with four weights left. The Knights had a hole in their line-up at 189. They more than likely were not going to win out. The Gophers had three ranked guys still to grapple. Carrier’s win essentially ended the match. All told, starting with Polikowsky’s win at 127, Chatfield won seven of eight bouts up to 189. And the lone loss was a probably a win, as #9 Dornack (30-10) fell by 1-0 decision to #1 Gavin Johnson (30-2) at 145. Fourth-ranked Bartels (133) and #1 Schott (189) joined Carrier in registering pins in the span. Ninth-ranked Rowland (152) racked up a 15-1 tech fall, eighth ranked (at 160) Miner (24-9) an 8-3 decision win over Kiefer Olson (28-9) at 172. Miner’s win anti-climatically clinched things, as the Gophers led 30-9 with three weights to go. Things did not come down to 285. There was no upset. Top-ranked Chatfield (18-1) just took care of business by 36-20 final and clinched their first state berth in a decade!
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