Six Hornet wrestlers compete at state

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Blake Sonnenberg took third and Tanner Moe placed sixth at the state wrestling tournament at Grand Casino Arena last week. The pair of Frazee seniors were two of the six entrants for the Hornets at the state tournament. 

Sonnenberg, who entered the state tournament as the sixth ranked wrestler, secured a 17-3 major decision in the opening round against Simon Jacobson of Osakis.

In the quarterfinals, Sonnenberg made it two straight wins by defeating eighth ranked Jackson Jenniges, of Adrian Area by a 4-0 decision. After a scoreless first period, Sonnenberg started the second period in the down position and earned an escape in just 19 seconds, before securing a three point near fall in the third period to come away with the 4-0 win.

In the semi-finals, Sonnenberg fell to eventual state champion and top ranked Colbe Tappe of Staples-Motley by a 13-1 major decision to drop to the consolation bracket. 

Sonnenberg made quick work of fifth ranked Taylan Nielson of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in the consolation bracket by picking up a 7-0 decision to advance to the third place match against fourth ranked Mason Javers of Minneota. Sonnenberg wasted little time to get on the scoreboard as he secured a take down with 44 seconds remaining in the first period and hung on for a 3-0 lead. After a scoreless second period with both wrestlers in the up position, Sonnenberg was on top to start the third period when Javers earned a reversal just six seconds into the period. Sonnenberg earned an escape at the 1:43 mark of the period and held off numerous take down attempts by Javers to come away with the 4-2 decision to finish in third place and wrap up his senior season with a record of 41-8. 

Moe wrapped up his senior season for Frazee with a sixth place finish at state. Moe scored an upset win over fourth ranked Donner Koep of Osakis in the opening round of the tournament by an 8-1 decision. After a scoreless first period, Moe secured an escape and a take down in the second period to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Moe started the third period in the up position and turned Koep to his back about 45 seconds in to secure four near fall points to make the score 8-0. The Frazee senior surrendered an escape with 37 seconds left, but hung on for an 8-1 win.

In the quarterfinals, Moe was able to get the best of sixth ranked Drake Payne of GMLOS by a score of 9-4. Moe was able to secure a pair of first period take downs to take a 6-1 lead to go along with a reversal in the second period and an escape in the third period, while giving up just two escapes and a pair of stalling points to come away with the win.

In the semi-finals, Moe fell to fifth ranked Cooper Allen of Caledonia-Houston by an 11-1 major decision to fall to the consolation bracket. He would go on to fall to 10th ranked Zach Tabatt of Staples-Motley by a 4-1 decision after Tabatt earned an escape and take down in the final period to drop Moe to the fifth place match.

In the fifth place match, Moe would fall to second ranked Cael Fier of Minneota by a 4-0 decision to finish in sixth place. Fier secured an escape and stalling point in the second period, as well as a two point near fall in the third period to come away with the win and end Moe’s senior season with a record of 28-19 overall and a sixth place finish.

At 121 lbs., Ashton Reller secured a 3-1 decision over Isaiah Duberowski of Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie in the opening round of the state tournament. Reller secured a take down in the opening period at the 1:26 marl, before Duberowski earned an escape just nine seconds later. The rest of the match remained scoreless as Duberowski was able to ride Reller the entire second period, before Reller returned the favor in the third period to come away with the 3-1 win.

In the quarterfinals, Reller fell to eventual runner up Ryan Lacanne of Kenyon-Wanamingo by a fall at 4:27 and was forced to medically withdraw from the consolation tournament to end his freshman season with a record of 25-9.

Christian Peichel opened his state tournament against undefeated and eventual state champion Miklo Hernandez of Pipestone Area at 133 lbs. Peichel fell to Hernandez by a tech fall at 2:07 as the Pipestone wrestler would secure three tech falls and a pin on his way to the state title. In the consolation tournament, Peichel fell to Julio Alejandro of Sibley East, who would go on to place sixth, by a 7-1 decision to end his freshman season with a record of 26-12. 

At 139 lbs., junior Liam Hamm fell to eventual third place finisher Adam DeVlaeminck of Minneota by a fall at 1:48. In the consolation bracket, Hamm fell to Lane Patrick of Holdingford by a tech fall at 3:29 to end his junior season with a record of 20-25. 

Cash Osterman came just one match short of the medal round as the senior secured a 9-0 major decision win over Evan Dingwall of West Central Area in the opening round of the 145 lbs. tournament. In the quarterfinals, Osterman fell to the eventual state champion and undefeated Trey Gunderson of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg by a tech fall at 3:53 to drop to the consolation bracket. In the consolation bracket, Osterman defeated Carter Ahrendt of United North Central in a rematch of the Section 8A finals by an 8-0 major decision. 

In the third round of the consolation bracket, Osterman fell to Waylon Thieke of LeSueur-Henderson by an 11-4 decision to end his senior season with a record of 32-16.