Four Minneota wrestlers alive in wrestlebacks at state

Four Minneota wrestlers remained alive in wrestlebacks in the Class A State Individual Tournament after action on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Zack Fier at 126 pounds, Kade Lozinski at 138, Jonah Gruenes at 138 and Blake Reiss at 145 will also compete today in wrestlebacks with a chance to finish as high as third in their respective weight class.

Fier (29-13), a freshman, won a 4-2 decision over Tyler Jensen of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in his opening match. Fier then fell 10-2 to Trevor Janssen of Blackduck-Cass Lake-Bena in the quarterfinals. In his first wrestleback match, Fier topped Brien Poser of Ottertail Central 8-1.

Lozinski (31-11), a sophomore, defeated Seth Isola of Frazee 10-4 in his first match, then was pinned in :45 by Landon Gode of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville in the quarterfinals. And he then won a 10-0 major decision over Lucas Winfield of Grand Meadow/Leroy-Ostrander-Southland in his wrestleback match.

Gruenes (38-9), a sophomore, succumbed to Mason Gode of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville 9-0 in his opening match, then came back in wrestlebacks and downed Hunter Hitchen of Fertile-Beltrami 10-0.

And Reiss (37-9), a senior, won a 14-8 decision over Aidan Ruddy of Breckenridge, lost 11-2 to Trey Fairbanks of Deer River in his quarterfinals, and then came back in wrestlebacks and defeated Hunter Knutson of Crookston 14-5.

A fifth Minneota wrestler, Eric Carrasco (37-5), a junior, lost his opening match 10-7 to Ty Peterson of Blue Earth Area, but was eliminated from wrestlebacks when Peterson lost his quarterfinal match.