The Panthers thumped Orono, Northfield and St. Paul Harding in Northfield Friday between the two conference wins.
NRHEG will take a 10-7 overall record in the section tournament.
WEM/JWP
WATERVILLE – NRHEG rallied from 20-3 and 26-12 deficits to upend WEM/JWP 36-32 in Waterville last Thursday.
Cordell Peterson opened with a 12-10 victory at 106 pounds, but the Grizzlies rattled off five straight wins to jump into a 20-3 lead.
Trey Hoppe stopped the bleeding at 145 with a clutch 5-4 victory over WEM/JWP’s Nick Jewison.
Tyler Logan followed with a third-period fall at 152, but Brady Ayers got those points right back for the Grizzlies when he pinned Nick Bartness 20 seconds into the second period.
But, NRHEG clinched the victory with four consecutive falls after Bartness lost. Dillon Parpart started the Panther rally with a 17 second fall at 170 pounds. Cody Ripka got the job done in 3:01 at 182. Keith Maxon gave NRHEG its first lead since the opening match with a 29 second fall at 195. Todd Erickson clinched the win when he nailed Taylor Grams in 29 seconds at 220.
St. Paul Harding
NORTHFIELD – NRHEG lost just four matches in stomping St. Paul Harding 55-15.
After receiving two forfeits, Dillon Kubiatowicz captured a 3-0 victory for a 15-0 Panther lead after three weights.
After Jet Wayne lost a 2-1 decision, two forfeits and falls by Zimmerman (3:18) and Hunter Schwartz upped the NRHEG advantage to 39-3.
Burshem added a 16-6 major decision to increase the lead to 43-3.
The Knights won three weights in a row, but the Panthers ended with a pin by Todd Erickson (:41) and a forfeit.
Northfield
NORTHFIELD – The Panthers defeated host Northfield 49-35 in their toughest match of the evening.
No individual results were provided for this match.
Orono
NORTHFIELD – NRHEG won 11 of 14 matches in crushing Orono 66-14.
Cordell Peterson’s 3:17 pin and two forfeits gave the Panthers a quick 18-0 lead.
Orono’s first win was followed by three straight forfeits to make it 36-3 for NRHEG.
The Spartans picked up a fall at 152, but handed that right back with a forfeit at 160. Orono had a technical fall win at 170, but then forfeited the next three weights.
Todd Erickson ended things with a 3:26 pin.
USC
NEW RICHLAND – NRHEG earned the conference championship with a 40-27 win over United South Central in New Richland Saturday.
The Rebels, who dumped NRHEG 50-24 a year ago, ended up 3-1 in the Gopher and 16-10 for the regular season.
“We put together a great effort in winning today,” said Cyr. “It was the wrestlers who did not give up any bonus points, even though they lost, that really helped us.’
Cordell Peterson needed just 53 seconds to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead.
Two decisions and a fall lifted USC to a 12-6 advantage.
Dustin Burshem earned a second period fall, followed by a 6-0 triumph from Zimmerman, giving the Panthers a 15-12 margin.
Dylan and Derek Herman put the Rebels back in front 21-15 with a decision and pin.
Bartness put USC’s Seth Olson on his back in 3:21 to force a 21-21 deadlock.
Parpart received a forfeit, followed by Ripka’s 10-1 victory, giving the Panthers a 31-21 advantage.
Colton Carlson pinned Maxon in the first minute of their 195-pound match, cutting NRHEG’s lead to four points.
However, Todd Erickson carved out a 7-3 win and Fitterer followed with a 38 second fall to wrap up the title.
NRHEG will open Section 2A action at either Jackson or Blue Earth tonight. An opponent had yet to be determined at press time.
The semifinals and championship of the section team tournament will be held at New Richland Saturday.
The individual section tourney will be held at Blue Earth Feb. 22-23.
NRHEG 36, WEM/JWP 32
106-C. Peterson (NR) dec. Eustice (W/J) 12-10; 113-Petry (W/J) pinned P. Peterson (NR) :15; 120-Wolfe (W/J) maj. dec. Kubiatowicz (NR) 15-5; 126-C. Ayers (W/J) maj. dec. Wayne (NR) 17-3; 132-R. Ayers (W/J) dec. Burshem (NR) 11-9; 138-Ranslow (W/J) dec. Zimmerman (NR) 7-2; 145-Hoppe (NR) dec. Jewison (W/J) 5-4; 152-Logan (NR) pinned Dimmel (W/J) 5:09; 160-B. Ayers (W/J) pinned Bartness (NR) 2:30; 170-Parpart (NR) pinned Eastwood (W/J) :17; 182-Ripka (NR) pinned Marzahn (W/J) 3:01; 195-Maxon (NR) pinned Budach (W/J) :29; 220-T. Erickson (NR) pinned Grams (W/J) :39; 285-Schuch (W/J) pinned Fitterer (NR) 5:34.
NRHEG 40, USC 27
106-C. Peterson (NR) pinned Biddle (USC) :53; 113-Knutson (USC) dec. Kubiatowicz (NR) 8-4; 120-Byrne (USC) dec. P. Peterson (NR) 8-4; 126-Gonsaler (USC) pinned Wayne (NR) :36; 132-Burshem (NR) pinned Redman (USC) 3:38; 138-Zimmerman (NR) dec. Harpestag (USC) 6-0; 145-D. Herman (USC) dec. Logan (NR) 7-3; 152-Der. Herman (USC) pinned Schwartz (NR) 1:34; 160-Bartness (NR) pinned Olson (USC) 3:21; 170-Parpart (NR) won by forfeit; 182-Ripka (NR) maj. dec. Brown (USC) 10-1; 195-Carlson (USC) pinned Maxon (NR) :42; 220-T. Erickson (NR) dec. Sonnek (USC) 7-3; 285-Fitterer (NR) pinned Matthews (USC) :38.
