Hornets take third place as a team 

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Thirty teams from across North and South Dakota, as well as Minnesota, converged on Casselton, N.D. over the weekend for the annual Central Cass Lettermen’s Tournament. 

After two full days of wrestling the Hornets finished in third place, just half a point out of second place as they finished with 198.5 points. Lisbon took second place with 199 points and South Border captured the championship with 250 points.

Bailey Peichel continued his strong start to the season at 145 lbs. as he picked up back-to-back pins in the opening two rounds of the tournament, before securing a 9-4 decision in the quarterfinals over Carson Glaesman of South Border. In the semi-finals Peichel left little doubt in the outcome as he secured a 14-2 major decision over Harrison Schwarts of Deslacs-Burlington. 

In the finals, Peichel capped off his championship with a late pin over Corbin Clifton of Carrington. Peichel was able to put Clifton on his back at the 5:42 mark of the match to come away with the individual championship at 145 lbs.

Tyler Moe wrapped up a busy two days of wrestling with seven matches and a third place finish at 152 lbs. Moe picked up a pair of first period wins in the opening two rounds of the tournament, before falling by a 3-2 decision to Blaze Reinke of Lisbon in the quarterfinals. That meant a long road back to the third place match for Moe who went on to secure back-to-back pins in his first two matches of the consolation bracket. He would then secure a 5-0 decision over Seth Cossantine of Roseau to advance to the third place match. That’s when he secured a win by medical forfeit to come away with third place.

Josh Mellema captured fourth place at 139 lbs. after winning a thrilling double over time decision over Sawyer Owens of Hillsboro-Central Valley in the quarterfinals. Mellema came just one point short of advancing to the finals as he fell to Ryker Vetter of South Border by a 6-5 decision in the semi-finals, before securing a 5-4 decision in the consolation semi-finals to advance to the third place match. In a rematch of their double overtime match in the quarterfinals, Mellema came up on the short end of a 5-0 decision to Owens to finish in fourth place. 

In addition to Peichel, Preston Mayfield advanced to the championship with a tech fall and 11-8 decision in the opening two rounds of the tournament. In the semi-finals, Mayfield secured a 3-2 decision over previously unbeaten Drew Zwak of Bishop Ryan to advance to the championship match. In the finals, Mayfield squared off against his second straight undefeated wrestler, but this time fell to Mike Nelson of Lisbon by a 3-0 decision to finish in second place.

Tanner Moe took third place with six straight wins in the consolation bracket after falling in the second round of the tournament by a pin. He went on to pick up three pins, a medical forfeit and a major decision to advance to the third place match against Jon Leonard of Northern Lights. Moe would go on to win a 5-3 decision in overtime to come away with third place. 

Also capturing third place for the Hornets was Xander Kohler, who overcame an early loss in the championship round to win six straight matches in a row by pin to capture third place. In fact, Kohler ended the tournament with seven pins all of which came in the first period,
including avenging his loss in the second round to Cole Nitschke of South Border by picking up a pin in just 1:54 over Nitschke in the consolation semi-finals.

His final match was a pin in just 19 seconds over Tucker Hardy of Britton-Hecla in the third place match.

Also placing for the Hornets was Liam Hamm who took sixth place at 121 lbs., as well as Blake Sonnenberg who also took sixth place at 127 lbs., Cade Nagel who took fifth place at 160 lbs. and Jack Graham who took sixth place at 189 lbs. 

Tyler Moe was also recently recognized for picking up his 125th career victory, while Nagel recently secured his 50th career win. 

Central Cass Lettermen’s Tournament

1 South Border 250.0

2 Lisbon 199.0

3 Frazee 198.5

4 Northern Lights 152.0

5 Oakes 136.0

6 Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm 129.5

7 Carrington 103.5

8 Central Cass 100.0

8 Fertile-Beltrami 100.0

10 Deslacs-Burlington 91.0

11 New York Mills 86.0

12 Webster Area 80.0

13 Britton-Hecla 79.0

14 LaMoure 78.5

15 Kindred 78.0

16 Harvey-Wells County 76.5

17 Bishop Ryan 72.0

18 Hillsboro-Central Valley 71.0

19 Napoleon 57.0

20 Roseau 55.0

21 Barnesville 53.0

22 Grafton 41.5

23 Pembina County North 35.0

24 Rugby 33.0

24 United Clay Becker Badgers 33.0

26 West Fargo Sheyenne 29.0

27 Northern Cass 26.0

28 May-Port-CG 18.0

29 Larimore 17.5

30 Northwood 14.0

107- Champ. Round 1 – Walker Miller (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm) 18-3 won by fall over Ashton Reller (Frazee) 7-5 (Fall 0:00), Cons. Round 1 – Ashton Reller (Frazee) 7-5 received a bye () (Bye), Cons. Round 2 – Thadd Hanson (West Fargo Sheyenne) 5-4 won by fall over Ashton Reller (Frazee) 7-5 (Fall 4:00)

114- Champ. Round 1 – Christian Peichel (Frazee) 6-10 won by decision over Ian McCloud (Northern Lights) 7-11 (Dec 6-0), Champ. Round 2 – Cruz Reinke (Lisbon) 18-6 won by fall over Christian Peichel (Frazee) 6-10 (Fall 0:35), Cons. Round 2 – JAREN NELSON (Oakes) 14-12 won by decision over Christian Peichel (Frazee) 6-10 (Dec 5-3)

121- 6th place- Champ. Round 1 – Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 won by fall over Adam Boyer (Northwood) 3-8 (Fall 0:00), Champ. Round 2 – Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 won by fall over Evan Flint (West Fargo Sheyenne) 1-4 (Fall 1:40), Quarterfinal – Dru Carr (Carrington) 22-7 won by decision over Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 (Dec 7-3), Cons. Round 4 – Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 won by decision over Gavin Giffey (Northern Cass) 17-8 (Dec 6-2), Cons. Round 5 – Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 won by decision over Greyson Lyons (Lisbon) 3-2 (Dec 1-0), Cons. Semi – MATHIAS DAHLSTROM (Oakes) 23-8 won by decision over Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 (Dec 6-2), 5th Place Match – Tacey Miller (Webster Area) 20-7 won by major decision over Liam Hamm (Frazee) 13-7 (MD 12-3)

127- 6th place- Champ. Round 1 – Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 won by fall over Brooks Grunefelder (Napoleon) 3-6 (Fall 0:00), Champ. Round 2 – Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 won by decision over Drew Rasch (Fertile-Beltrami) 13-4 (Dec 9-2), Quarterfinal – Brady Peterson (Central Cass) 21-8 won by decision over Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 (Dec 7-5), Cons. Round 4 – Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 won by fall over Shawn Barrette (Deslacs-Burlington) 13-9 (Fall 0:59), Cons. Round 5 – Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 won by decision over Asher O`Brien (Barnesville) 5-7 (Dec 7-5), Cons. Semi – Kale Hase (Harvey-Wells County) 14-6 won by decision over Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 (Dec 4-0), 5th Place Match – Drew Rasch (Fertile-Beltrami) 13-4 won by fall over Blake Sonnenberg (Frazee) 9-5 (Fall 0:30)

133- Champ. Round 1 – Ryan Enge (Lisbon) 15-9 won by fall over Brady Borah (Frazee) 13-5 (Fall 0:43), Cons. Round 1 – Brady Borah (Frazee) 13-5 won by fall over Keane Johnson (Roseau) 2-5 (Fall 1:48), Cons. Round 2 – Brady Borah (Frazee) 13-5 won by fall over Tristan Carrizales (Roseau) 2-4 (Fall 0:47), Cons. Round 3 – Brady Borah (Frazee) 13-5 won by decision over Ryker Lachowitzer (Kindred) 2-3 (Dec 4-0), Cons. Round 4 – Brady Borah (Frazee) 13-5 won by decision over Carson Kozojed (Hillsboro-Central Valley) 14-3 (Dec 4-3), Cons. Round 5 – Grady Link (Central Cass) 16-7 won by decision over Brady Borah (Frazee) 13-5 (Dec 4-1)

139- 4th place- Champ. Round 1 – Josh Mellema (Frazee) 11-5 won by fall over Zeke Symington (Pembina County North) 20-7 (Fall 0:00), Champ. Round 2 – Josh Mellema (Frazee) 11-5 won by fall over Jackson Mikkelsen (United Clay Becker Badgers) 6-6 (Fall 4:36), Quarterfinal – Josh Mellema (Frazee) 11-5 won in double overtime over Sawyer Owens (Hillsboro-Central Valley) 22-2 (2-OT 13-9), Semifinal – Ryker Vetter (South Border) 14-7 won by decision over Josh Mellema (Frazee) 11-5 (Dec 6-5), Cons. Semi – Josh Mellema (Frazee) 11-5 won by decision over CASE AWENDER (Oakes) 25-8 (Dec 5-4), 3rd Place Match – Sawyer Owens (Hillsboro-Central Valley) 22-2 won by decision over Josh Mellema (Frazee) 11-5 (Dec 5-0)

145- 1st place- Champ. Round 1 – Bailey Peichel (Frazee) 10-2 won by fall over Vinnie Ruppell (Carrington) 4-22 (Fall 0:00), Champ. Round 2 – Bailey Peichel (Frazee) 10-2 won by fall over Brady Olson (Roseau) 4-2 (Fall 0:18), Quarterfinal – Bailey Peichel (Frazee) 10-2 won by decision over Carson Glaesman (South Border) 11-10 (Dec 9-4), Semifinal – Bailey Peichel (Frazee) 10-2 won by major decision over Harrison Schwartz (Deslacs-Burlington) 15-8 (MD 14-2), 1st Place Match – Bailey Peichel (Frazee) 10-2 won by fall over Corbin Clifton (Carrington) 23-5 (Fall 5:42)

152- 3rd place- Champ. Round 1 – Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 won by fall over Pius Wangler (Rugby) 1-10 (Fall 1:31), Champ. Round 2 – Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 won by fall over Rylan Meuer (Webster Area) 5-12 (Fall 0:21), Quarterfinal – Blaze Reinke (Lisbon) 22-2 won by decision over Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 (Dec 3-2), Cons. Round 4 – Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 won by fall over Elijah Towe (Rugby) 18-18 (Fall 0:33), Cons. Round 5 – Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 won by fall over Jacob Harris (Larimore) 8-8 (Fall 1:35), Cons. Semi – Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 won by decision over Seth Cossentine (Roseau) 17-2 (Dec 5-0), 3rd Place Match – Tyler Moe (Frazee) 16-4 won by medical forfeit over Collin Beaner (Britton-Hecla) 11-6 (M. For.)

160- 5th place- Champ. Round 1 – Cade Nagel (Frazee) 9-8 won by decision over Bailey Zachmeier (Rugby) 25-10 (Dec 9-2), Champ. Round 2 – Cade Nagel (Frazee) 9-8 won by fall over Jack Martin (Barnesville) 4-9 (Fall 1:31), Quarterfinal – Cade Nagel (Frazee) 9-8 won by major decision over Gage Baumgarn (Webster Area) 16-8 (MD 13-2), Semifinal – JOSH MEEHL (Oakes) 11-2 won by fall over Cade Nagel (Frazee) 9-8 (Fall 1:31), Cons. Semi – Cole Stock (South Border) 15-7 won by decision over Cade Nagel (Frazee) 9-8 (Dec 1-0), 5th Place Match – Cade Nagel (Frazee) 9-8 won by major decision over Greg Fuher (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm) 14-6 (MD 12-0)

172- 2nd place- Champ. Round 1 – Preston Mayfield (Frazee) 15-2 received a bye () (Bye), Champ. Round 2 – Preston Mayfield (Frazee) 15-2 won by tech fall over Kenny Smith (Deslacs-Burlington) 19-9 (TF-1.5 0:00 (16-1)), Quarterfinal – Preston Mayfield (Frazee) 15-2 won by decision over Isaiah Carruth (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm) 25-6 (Dec 11-8), Semifinal – Preston Mayfield (Frazee) 15-2 won by decision over Drew Zwak (Bishop Ryan) 27-1 (Dec 3-2), 1st Place Match – Mike Nelson (Lisbon) 7-0 won by decision over Preston Mayfield (Frazee) 15-2 (Dec 3-0)

189- Champ. Round 1 – Christian Mertz (Harvey-Wells County) 16-6 won by fall over Raymond Sanchez (Frazee) 10-3 (Fall 2:24), Cons. Round 1 – Raymond Sanchez (Frazee) 10-3 won by decision over Tucker Jones (LaMoure) 3-8 (Dec 3-0), Cons. Round 2 – Raymond Sanchez (Frazee) 10-3 won by fall over Brock Lyons (Lisbon) 5-17 (Fall 4:57), Cons. Round 3 – Raymond Sanchez (Frazee) 10-3 won by decision over Landon McFarland (West Fargo Sheyenne) 2-7 (Dec 5-1), Cons. Round 4 – Raymond Sanchez (Frazee) 10-3 won by decision over Lincoln Swenson (Kindred) 8-9 (Dec 8-3), Cons. Round 5 – Christian Mertz (Harvey-Wells County) 16-6 won by fall over Raymond Sanchez (Frazee) 10-3 (Fall 1:31)

189- 6th place Champ. Round 1 – Jack Graham (Frazee) 10-8 won by fall over Will Triebwasser (Northern Cass) 10-14 (Fall 0:29), Champ. Round 2 – Jack Graham (Frazee) 10-8 won by decision over Stone Thornton (Central Cass) 3-5 (Dec 4-1), Quarterfinal – Jack Graham (Frazee) 10-8 won by fall over Ivan Carruth (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm) 23-5 (Fall 3:46), Semifinal – Johnathan Smith (Deslacs-Burlington) 17-4 won by decision over Jack Graham (Frazee) 10-8 (Dec 3-1), Cons. Semi – Christian Mertz (Harvey-Wells County) 16-6 won by fall over Jack Graham (Frazee) 10-8 (Fall 4:42), 5th Place Match – Ivan Carruth (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm) 23-5 won by major decision over Jack Graham (Frazee) 10-8 (MD 14-0)

215- Champ. Round 1 – Derek Zitzow (Frazee) 7-8 received a bye () (Bye), Champ. Round 2 – James Flynn (Fertile-Beltrami) 17-2 won by fall over Derek Zitzow (Frazee) 7-8 (Fall 5:33), Cons. Round 2 – Derek Zitzow (Frazee) 7-8 won by fall over Connor Kosmatka (United Clay Becker Badgers) 5-10 (Fall 0:10), Cons. Round 3 – Derek Zitzow (Frazee) 7-8 won by fall over Avery Eidsmoe (Roseau) 8-9 (Fall 0:29), Cons. Round 4 – Derek Zitzow (Frazee) 7-8 won by fall over Braden Jundt (Deslacs-Burlington) 13-7 (Fall 3:43), Cons. Round 5 – Jon Leonard (Northern Lights) 18-8 won by fall over Derek Zitzow (Frazee) 7-8 (Fall 1:40)

215- 3rd place- Champ. Round 1 – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 received a bye () (Bye), Champ. Round 2 – Shane Nitschke (South Border) 19-1 won by fall over Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 (Fall 0:34), Cons. Round 2 – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 won by fall over McCoy Ferguson (Central Cass) 0-2 (Fall 1:10), Cons. Round 3 – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 won by major decision over Brody Geston (Northern Cass) 19-7 (MD 8-0), Cons. Round 4 – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 won by fall over James Flynn (Fertile-Beltrami) 17-2 (Fall 1:57), Cons. Round 5 – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 won by fall over Drew Anderson (Lisbon) 7-8 (Fall 4:05), Cons. Semi – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 won by medical forfeit over Mitchell Melander (Central Cass) 11-16 (M. For.), 3rd Place Match – Tanner Moe (Frazee) 14-1 won in overtime over Jon Leonard (Northern Lights) 18-8 (OT 5-3)

285- 3rd place- Champ. Round 1 – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Alex Simpson (New York Mills) 0-1 (Fall 1:23), Champ. Round 2 – Cole Nitschke (South Border) 6-4 won by fall over Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 (Fall 2:48), Cons. Round 2 – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Adam Foley (West Fargo Sheyenne) 4-13 (Fall 0:47), Cons. Round 3 – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Josh Haase (South Border) 5-13 (Fall 0:34), Cons. Round 4 – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Grady Roberts (New York Mills) 7-8 (Fall 0:45), Cons. Round 5 – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Aiden Hinkle (Lisbon) 4-2 (Fall 1:20), Cons. Semi – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Cole Nitschke (South Border) 6-4 (Fall 1:54), 3rd Place Match – Xander Kohler (Frazee) 13-6 won by fall over Tucker Hardy (Britton-Hecla) 13-9 (Fall 0:19)