STATE WRESTLING: Reinsma loses in first round

ST. PAUL — On Wednesday night, Elissa Reinsma became the first female to participate in the Minnesota state wrestling tournament.

A sophomore 103-pounder for Fulda/Murray County Central, Reinsma now must wait to see if she’ll get another opportunity to become the first female to win a match on Minnesota’s biggest stage.

Reinsma (32-10), who entered ranked No. 7 in Class AA, lost a 9-2 decision to Thief River Falls/Goodridge’s Jacoby Bergeron (41-2), a sophomore ranked No. 2 in Class AA.

Reinsma’s fate now is intertwined with Bergeron’s. If he defeats his next opponent tonight, Reinsma will have new life in the consolation bracket. If Bergeron loses, Reinsma’s run will come to an end.

“He better win, that’s all I know,” Reinsma said, laughing. “I hope he wins. He’s a good wrestler; he’ll do his thing. Coming up here, I don’t want to be one and out. I want to place.”

The location of Reinsma’s match was moved to a different mat before the Class AA individual tournament started. A large group of reporters and photographers scurried to claim a good seat, and there also was a buzz within the Xcel Energy Center among fans who were anxious to see history being made.

“I always have the nerves and everything (before matches); I’m always very nervous, and Coach (Dan Blankenship) is always trying to calm me down,” Reinsma said. “When I get out there, instinct takes over.”

As Reinsma was introduced, the fans packing the stands responded with the largest cheer of the day.

“It’s so awesome, so cool; I kind of wanted to let it soak in,” Reinsma said. “We had a pep fest at the school, too, and I got a standing ovation; it was awesome. Everyone is supporting me. And back at the section tournament, everyone did that. I was on top of the world.”

Like she’s done all year, Reinsma started the match as the aggressor, shooting for takedowns. She was in position to possibly earn the first two points of the match, but Bergeron wisely moved outside the circle to draw a stoppage.

“A good wrestler, if they’re close to the edge of the mat, they’re going to get off and get a fresh start,” Reinsma said.

Bergeron earned a takedown with 40 seconds remaining in the period to take a 2-0 lead, and he recorded an escape to open the second period.

Reinsma was trailing 5-1 early in the third period when the referees stopped the match because a gash had been opened on her forehead.

“I didn’t even know I was bleeding,” she said.

Reinsma recorded an escape, but Bergeron followed with another takedown to essentially seal the victory.

“I can’t blame myself; it’s the state tournament, so you’re going to have the best wrestlers up here,” Reinsma said. “But, back in my area, I’m not used to losing. I just hate losing; it’s the main reason I go out for this sport, because it’s so tough.”

After her match, and after she conducted interviews with a large group of media members, Reinsma took a seat in the stands and watched her older brother Justin earn a 7-3 victory over Saint Michael-Albertville’s Kyle Salonek (22-3). Justin, a senior who is making his fifth consecutive state tournament appearance, will face Foley’s Cory Foss (36-6) today in the quarterfinals.

Justin Reinsma joined teammate Andy Henning as the two Warriors who advanced to the quarterfinals. Henning, a senior 160-pounder, earned a 6-0 decision against Waseca’s Sam Milbrett and will face Foley’s Justin Bowland (33-10) today.

Fulda/MCC’s Scott Beech (145) suffered a 6-4 loss to New London-Spicer’s Luke Reiter, and Travis Radke (215) was pinned in the second period against New Ulm’s Pat Brinkman.

Elissa Reinsma’s opponent in the Section 3AA finals, Adrian’s Nate Lynn, won a 4-2 decision against Zimmerman’s Zach Stepan (30-10) and will face Hutchinson’s Nick Clobes (41-3) in the quarterfinals today.

Lynn was the only Adrian wrestler to decide his own fate. Brock Bullerman (145 pounds) lost a 5-2 decision against Plainview/Elgin-Millville’s Garret Miller; Neal Mulder (152) lost a 7-0 decision against Becker’s Kevin O’Brien; Stephen Loosbrock (171) lost a 9-7 decision against Milaca/Faith Christian’s Ammoren Dohm (29-5); and Shea Klooster (189) lost a 12-10 decision in overtime against Scott West’s Michael Kroells.

Worthington’s lone qualifiers, Tony Thier and Jordan Schroeder, also must wait to see if they will wrestle today. Thier lost a 2-0 decision against Perham’s Charlie Schmitz at 152 pounds, and Schroeder lost a 9-3 decision against Simley’s Charlie Gelhaye at heavyweight.

Two Windom/Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals by winning their first-round matches.

Sam Fischenich (135) pinned his opponent in 37 seconds and will face Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus’ Nic Harrison (35-1) today, and Spencer Johnson (171) won a 4-2 decision in overtime against Byron’s Heath Rud and will face Perham’s Nate Schmitz (38-4) today.

The Cobras’ Drake Borsgard (112) was pinned in the second period.

Luverne’s Sam Dooyema stormed back from a one-point deficit in the second period to earn a 5-3 victory over Saint Michael-Albertville’s Ryan Kessler. Dooyema, a senior 215-pounder, will face Waconia’s Brian Broll (38-4) today.

Both of Tracy-Milroy-Balton’s qualifiers lost in the first round. Zach Campbell lost a 12-4 decision at 125 pounds, and Colton Evans (189) suffered a 10-6 loss to Saint Michael-Albertville’s Kraig Schumm.

Three of five Jackson County Central wrestlers won their first-round matches in the Class A tournament.

Bronson Steuber (119) won a 16-5 decision against Holdingfield’s Mike Jarnot and will face Border West’s Will McCarthy (43-3); Taylor Menke (135) won a 16-6 decision against Parkers Prairie’s Ryan Silbernick and will face Paynesville Area’s Jon Kerzman (38-5); and Cooper Moore (140) won a 10-3 decision against Mahnomen/Waubun’s Caleb Lanoue and will face Yellow Medicine East’s Casey Field (41-1). Darick Vancura (112) was pinned in the second period by Mahnomen/Waubun’s Garret Hoffner, and Jessie Regalado was pinned by LeSueur/Henderson’s Jason Sunderman.

Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove’s Ryan Schroepfer (103) earned a 12-2 victory against Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson’s Jordan Theede and will face New York Mills’ Shane Novak (32-9). Schroepfer’s teammate, Taylor Mattison, lost a 6-4 decision against Minnewaska Area’s David Cowen at 215 pounds.

Pipestone Area’s Brandan Alfson suffered an 8-2 loss to Medford’s Jake Elzen at 160 pounds.

Tags: fulda-murray county central, windom-mountain lake-butterfield-odin, tracy-milroy-balaton, sports, wrestling, elissareinsma, elissa, reinsma, adrian, worthington, whs, trojans