Esping sets Viking pin record
Minneota may have lost to the No. 1 team in the state and defending champ Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 45-15 on Saturday.
But they got the last laugh when defending state champ T.J. Esping pinned Luke Dahlen in 55 seconds to become the top pinner in Minneota history.
His 91st pin beat the previous record of 90 set by Adam Josephson.
“It was in the back of my mind. I knew it was close at the start of the year but I didn’t think it would come this quickly,” said Esping.
Minneota went on to beat Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (ACGC), 52-18 and Adrian Area, 60-13 to take home a 2-1 record from the Wabasso Invitational on Saturday.
During the recent holiday break, Esping and Josephson got a chance to “mix it up” a little in the wrestling room.
Esping said, “We talked about it a little, but we didn’t put much emphasis on it.”
Esping went on to pin Jonathan Behm of ACGC in 1:19 and edge Adrian Area’s Scot Edwards, 3-2 for a perfect day at Wabasso.
“I feel great and I’m sure not going to stop there. I want more by the end of February.”
He joked by saying his next goal was to beat the 99 pins Minneota assistant Coach Les Engler had while a high school wrestler at Fulda. “That’s the next pin record I want,” Esping said.
While Zumbrota-Mazeppa won all three matches by their three wrestlers ranked No. 1 — Caden Steffen (182), Jacob Bennett (195) and Jarrett Haglund (192), Minneota’s Josh Laleman and Layne Lozinski, while tech falled by Steffena nd Bennett, held on and didn’t get pinned.
“That was a rough match — but we they’re very good and we know we’re still state contenders,” Esping said.
“Wrestling them shows us what to work on,” Esping said.
Cole VanOverbeke at 160 and 152 pounds got two wins and a forfeit for a perfect afternoon. Blake Reiss had three wins, including a pin and a major decision.
Shawn Buysse would have had a perfect day at 170 pounds but he dropped a 3-2 decision to Hayden Voxland of Zumbrota-Mazeppa when he gave up a reversal with just seven seconds to go.
A special moment occured when Tate Walerius at 138 pounds, in a 2-2 tie with Skye Powers of ACGC, turned his opponent at 1:45 for a pin and his first varsity win and pin.
Minneota host a triangular with Wabasso/RRC and Canby at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Zumbrota-Mazeppa 45, Minneota 15
106-Eric Carrasco (M( dec. Nate Edstrom, 8-2.
113-Beau Jurrens (ZM) pin Jonah Gruenes, 3:28.
120-John Poulin (ZM) dec. Kade Lozinski, 7-3.
126-Mike Vath (ZM) dec. Brant Buyse, 4-2.
132-Blake Reiss (M) dec. Conner Heitman, 6-2.
138-Spencer DeFrang (ZM) pin Tate Walerius, 1:40.
145-Luke Tupper (ZM) maj. dec. Austin Kloos, 17-8.
152-Cole VanOverbeke (M) dec. Richard Gehrke, 8-4.
160-Sam Nordquist (ZM) maj. dec. Kyle Banks, 13-2.
170-HaydenVoxland (ZM) dec. Shawn Buysse, 3-2.
182-Caden Steffen (ZM) tech fall Josh Laleman, 20-5.
195-Jacob Bennett (ZM) tech fall Layne Lozinski, 21-6.
220-Jarrett Haglund (ZM) pin Jackson Esping, 1:22.
HWT-T.J. Esping (M) pin Luke Dahlen, :55.
Minneota 52, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 18
106-Eric Carrasco (M) dec. Kelvin Ponce, 10-8.
113-Jonah Gruenes (M) dec. Brady Holien, 6-0.
120-Brant Buysse (M) pin Jake Mortenson,m :29.
126-Ramzee Molinaro (ACGC) tech fall Kade Lozinski, 12-5.
132-Blake Reiss (M) maj. dec. Hayden Straumann, 12-4.
138-Tate Walerius (M) pin Skye Powers, 1:45.
145-Austin Kloos (M) dec. Taylor Fest, 5-0.
152-Cole VanOverbeke dec. Levi Lund, 4-1.
160-Kyle Banks (M) won on forfeit.
170-Shawn Buysse pin Cullen Lewis, 1:58.
182-C.J. Toedter (ACGC) dec. Josh Laleman, 8-3.
190-Layne Lozinski (M) pin Logan Sherwood, 1:17.
220-Tanner Berghis (ACGC) pin Jackson Esping, 1:19.
HWT-T.J. Esping (M) pin Jonathan Behm, 1:19.
Minneota 60 Adrian Area 13
106-Jesus Anaya (A) dec. Eric Carrasco, 6-3.
113-Logan Taylor (A) pin Jonah Gruenes, 4:43.
120-Kade Lozinski (M) pin Isaac Bullerman, 1:50.
126-Brant Buysse (M) pin Brent Hokeness, :42.
132-Blake Reiss (M) pin Logan Sherer.
138-Austin Kloos (M) dec. Preston Nelson, 5-2.
145-Chandler Combs (A) maj. dec. Tate Walerius, 17-4).
152-Kyle Banks (M) pin Jaime Castenada.
160-Cole VanOverbeke (M) won on forfeit.
170-Shawn Buysse (M) won on forfeit.
182-Josh Laleman (M) won on forfeit.
195-Layne Lozinski (M) won on forfeit.
220-Jackson Esping (M) won on forfeit.
285-T.J. (M) dec. Scot Edwards, 3-2.