By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The endurance test lasted three days and included eight dual meets for the NRHEG wrestling team.
By all accounts, the Panthers passed.
NRHEG improved its dual meet record to 14-5 by winning six of eight — including five in a row to finish — as they traveled to Kenyon-Wanamingo on Thursday, Lakeville South Friday and Wabasha-Kellogg Saturday.
“I was extremely pleased with our efforts over the three days,” said NRHEG coach Paul Cyr. “We scheduled this with the intention of testing all of us — coaches included — and it certainly proved to be just that. We responded very well.”
At Kenyon, the Panthers defeated Pine Island 35-33 and lost to the host team 45-15.
“We bounced back from a tough night and were 5-1 the next two days,” said Cyr.
After falling 43-36 to Woodbury, the Panthers subdued Lakeville South 47-30, flattened Farmington 57-21, leveled Lake City 47-21, slammed Southland 69-12 and won 40-31 over Wabasha-Kellogg.The Panthers had several issues to deal with during the stretch, according to Cyr.
“We had to deal with making weight three days in a row, the physical demands of eight duals in such a short span and the individual battle along the way,” said Cyr. “Give our guys a lot of credit.”
Seth Petranek led the Panthers, going 8-0 over the three-day span. Dustin Esplan was 7-1, Tyler Logan 6-0 with six pins and Nate Krohn 5-0.
“Logan was superb,” said Cyr. “He did not wrestle Thursday and came back with six straight pins at Lakeville and Wabasha.”
Cyr lamented the fact the Panthers are not completely healthy and wonders what could have been.
“When you see us wrestle this well, it is really unfortunate that we can’t be completely healthy and have a full lineup,” said Cyr. “We really have a chance to be pretty good, but unfortunately it does not appear that we’ll get that chance.”
The Panthers close out the regular season Thursday, Feb. 9 with a home dual against the Grizzlies of WEM/JWP.