Vikings' state bid foiled by JCC
Minneota came within one individual victory of avenging a lopsided loss to Jackson County Central in the Section 3A semifinals on Saturday in St. James, falling 33-28.
Jackson County Central then went on to defeat Kenyon-Wanamingo 45-30 in the 3A Super Final to advance to the Class A Final Four state tournament.
The Vikings finished the season with an impressive 24-5 record with only one senior on the team.
Minneota fell to JCC 64-19 earlier this season. This time, the Vikings put forth a valiant effort and won six of the 14 matches, including late pins by Jackson Esping and Jayden Gamrak at 220 and 285, respectively.
Esping, a junior, pinned his opponent in 25 seconds to secure his 75th win of the season.
Jackson County Central entered the match ranked No. 11 in Class A and had eight of its wrestlers ranked in the top 10 by The Guillotine wrestling publication. Minneota was unranked and had only three wrestlers ranked in the top 10.
JCC jumped out to a 9-0 advantage after Nolan Ambrose and Kie Anderson, both ranked No. 2 in Class A, won by a pin at 106 and a decision at 113, respectively.
Minneota got a decision from Troy Van Keulen at 120 to cut the deficit to 9-3.
Minneota's Eric Carrasco, a senior who was a state individual participant last season who is ranked No. 7 at 120 pounds, then lost a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to Logan Butzon, a sophomore ranked No. 2 at 126.
Thomas Freking, a freshman ranked No. 7 at 132, notched a pin to give JCC an 18-3 advantage that it would not relinquish.
Minneota whittled the deficit to 18-16 with four straight wins. Kade Lozinski won 4-0 at 138 pounds, Zack Fier prevailed 10-6 at 145, Alex DePestel earned a 16-15 win at 152, and Jonah Gruenes won am 11-3 major decision at 160.
Gruenes is ranked No. 5 at 152 pounds. His win came over Matthew Haley, the No. 7 rated wrestler at 160.
JCC won the next three matches, including two by fall, to put the outcome out of reach.
In the sub-section on Thursday, Minneota routed Adrian Area 64-15 in the semifinals and then knocked off Canby 56-17 in the final.
Sub-section 3A Finals
Jackson CC 33, Minneota 28
106 - Nolan Ambrose, JCC, pin Destin Fier 1:32
113 - Kie Anderson, JCC, dec Peyton Gillund 4-0
120 - Troy Van Keulen, Min, dec Seth Stai 7-5
126 - Logan Butzon, JCC, dec Eric Carrasco 4-3
132 - Thomas Freking, JCC, pin Eli Gruenes 1:52
138 - Kade Lozinski, Min, dec Dylan Withers 4-0
145 - Zack Fier, MIn, dec Coltan Bents 10-6
152 - Alex DePestel, Min, dec Isaiah Rodriguez 16-15
160 - Jonah Gruenes, Min, majdec Matthew Haley 11-3
170 - Payton Handevidt, JCC, pin Branden Johnson 1:50
182 - William Freking, JCC, dec Hudson Scholten 8-2
195 - Caleb Vancura, JCC, pin Conner Sik 1:40
220 - Jackson Esping, Min, pin Tycin Bejarano :25
285 - Jayden Gamrak, Min, pin Trace Michelson 3:27
Sub-Section 3A semifinals
Minneota 56, Canby 17
106 - Eli Greenman, Can, dec Destin Fier 5-4
113 - Peyton Gillund, Min, pin Issac Guzman 1:11
120 - Eric Carrasco, Min, pin Blake Giese 2:50
126 - Lane Fink, Can, techfall Troy Van Keulen 20-5
132 - Lincoln Fink, Can, dec Eli Gruenes 6-3
138 - Kade Lozinski, Min, techfall Nick Wagner 21-6
145 - Zack Fier, Min, pin Sawyer Drietz :19
152 - Jonah Gruenes, Min, pin Tanner Drietz :59
160 - Alex DePestel, Min, pin Easton Antony 2:31
170- Branden Johnson, Min, pin Sawyer Verhelst 3:37
182 - Hudson Scholten, Min, dec Parker Verhelst 5-4
195 - Josh Steffen, Can, pin Conner Sik :55
220 - Jackson Esping, Min, pin Gavin Noyes 1:48
285 - Jayden Gamrak, Min, won by forfeit
Sub-section 3A quarterfinals
Minneota 64, Adrian Area 15
106 - Destin Fier, Min, pin Moe Erdman :42
113 - Peyton Gillund, Min, pin Jesse Bullerman :20
120 - Troy Van Keulen, Min, pin Bruce Farinella 1:31
126 - Eric Carrasco, Min, won by forfeit
132 - Eli Gruenes, Min, won by forfeit
138 - Kade Lozinski, Min, majdec Breyer Hieronimus 9-1
145 - Zack Fier, Min, pin Reese Morrison :57
152 - Jonah Gruenes, Min, pin Isaac Bullerman 5:32
160 - Alex DePestel, Min, pin Rilee Heidebrink 1:51
170 - Quentin Wolf, Adr, pin Branden Johnson 3:57
182 - Preston Nelson, Adr, dec Hudson Scholten 7-3
195 - Jaren Winselman, Adr, pin Conner Sik 3:07
220 - Jackson Esping, Min, pin Roberto Hernandez 2:30
285: Jayden Gamrak, Min, won by forfeit