TROJAN WRESTLING: Trojans split versus Windom, Luverne

LUVERNE — The Worthington Trojans wrestling team earned a split Thursday at a Southwest Conference triangular with the Luverne Cardinals and the Windom/Mountain Lake Cobras.

The Trojans fell to the Cobras, 40-33, in their first dual before winning the nightcap over the Cardinals, 37-29. The Cobras defeated the Cardinals, 46-26.

“It was nice to pick up our first win and a win in the conference,” Worthington coach Mark Prunty said. “We had some opportunities to take a couple of extra matches against the Cobras, but I thought our effort was good to start the night.”

Peter Abraham’s forfeit win in an open heavyweight class sealed the win in the dual against Luverne.

The Trojans opened with a 13-0 lead against the Cardinals as Hser Eh Pwae won a 9-1 major decision over Jayden Renken at 106, Hser Moo Pwae edged Will Natte 10-8 in overtime at 113 and Anthony Luft scored a fall in one minute and 19 seconds over Adam Fodness at 120.

Luverne’s Cody Hess won an open 126, while Solomon Nielsen beat Cody Michelson with a 12-8 decision at 132 to make it 13-9.

Vince Riley and Zach Bruns each recorded falls for the Trojans to extend the lead to 25-9 as Riley pinned Cyris Halverson in 1:33 at 132 and Bruns needed 52 seconds to pin Isaac Funes at 145.

Luverne took the next four matches to pull within 25-23 as Eli Dooyema won an 18-3 technical fall over King Saenz at 152, Zack Gillette beat Joey Mills with a 6-2 decision at 160, Spencer Oeltjenbruns edged Zach Kempema 13-12 at 170 and Wyatt Aubert scored a 3-2 decision over Blake Schroeder at 182.

Carson Hagen scored a forfeit for Worthington at 195 and Luverne’s D.J. Reker recorded a fall in 1:41 over Joe Pavelko prior to Abraham’s match-sealing win to end it.

In the dual with Windom/Mountain Lake, the Cobras earned falls by Wyatt Stevens (113), Jared Willaby (138), Ben Matter (152) and Andrew Larson (160). W/ML also added six points with a Hayden Fast forfeit win at 126.

The Trojans also had their share of pinfall victories in the opener as Luft pinned Marcus Boyd at 120, Bruns earned a fall of Jacob Suess at 145, Kempema won by fall over Jake Junker at 170, Schroeder pinned Demar Rodney at 182 and Abraham recorded a pin of Marco Sanchez at heavyweight.

Hagen recorded a 6-5 decision over Vince Johnson at 195 for Worthington’s other victory.

Other Cobra victories included Hunter Quiring’s major decision at 106 and decision wins at 132 and 220 for Joe Fischenich and Aaron Flatgard, respectively.

In the Windom/Mountain Lake’s dual with Luverne, Stevens (113), Fischenich (126), Suess (138) and Matter (152) each recorded victories by fall. Other Cobra wins were forfeits for Quiring (106), Austin Ewing (195) and Sanchez (Hwt.), while Willaby (132) earned a major decision and a decision by Larson (160).

Luverne claimed wins with falls at 145, 182 and 220 by Funes, Aubert and Reker, respectively. Fodness won a major decision at 120, Gillette scored a decision at 160 and Oeltjenbruns earned a major decision at 170.

All three teams wrestle Saturday in Jackson at the Pizza Ranch Invitational tournament.

Tags: mountain lake, sports, wrestling, trojans, windom, luverne