MW WRESTLING: Bluejay wrestlers Gainey, Goodwin headed to nationals

WILLMAR — Greg Gainey and Ben Goodwin finished first and second respectively at the NJCAA North Central District Tournament Saturday to claim spots at the national tournament.

“You have got to be proud of Greg and Ben,” MW coach Bob Purcell said. “I am proud of our team as a whole. Sending two guys to nationals is a big deal and I couldn’t be happier for them.”

Gainey went 4-0 on the weekend at the 165-pound weight class, beginning with a preliminary-round pin against Itasca Community College’s Matt Mason in 30 seconds. Three of Gainey’s four matches were decided by pins.

“I think Greg had the most pins in the least amount of time of anyone at the tournament,” Purcell said. “He wrestled really well this weekend.”

In his quarterfinal match, Gainey pinned Parker Sturges in 4 minutes, 9 seconds to advance to the semifinal round against Iowa Lakes Nate Lawrence. Gainey defeated Lawrence by a 7-0 decision to make it to the finals.

In the championship match, Gainey pinned Rochester’s Dominic Sipe in 1 minute, 51 seconds to take home the title.

Goodwin (174) started off the weekend with a 7-4 decision win over Eddie Mora of Ellsworth Community College to move on to the semifinal round.

In the semis, Goodwin took on Ridgewater’s Trevor Mahlum and once again won on a 7-3 decision. In the championship match, Goodwin took on Iowa Lakes’ Nick Lawrence, losing by pin in 1 minute, 33 seconds.

“There was some real tough competition at the tournament,” Purcell said. “I think this is one of the toughest districts in the nation competition-wise.”

John Bush, Mike Tanner, Jadon Evans, Jerrell Ferguson and Taylor Andrews also wrestled at the district tournament, but were unable to get wins in their two matches on the weekend.

“The rest of our team wrestled really well and tried very hard this weekend,” Purcell said. “It is too bad that some of our sophomores weren’t able to make it to nationals. But Mike and Jerrell will be back next year and get another crack at making it.”

Gainey and Goodwin will be back in action for the Bluejays at the national tournament on Feb. 22 and 23 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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