Panthers face two state champs
TOUGH BATTLE — NRHEG’s Dillon Kubiatowicz, bottom, battles Zach Scott of Holdingford in the wrestlebacks at 106 pounds last Saturday. Kubiatowicz’s opening-round opponent went on to finish third. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
ST. PAUL – Paul Cyr’s three young New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva wrestlers that qualified for the Class A State Tournament gained plenty of experience but not many wins.
Cordell Peterson, Dillon Kubiatowicz and Wyatt Fitterer combined for just one win in seven matches at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday. Peterson picked up the lone win among the three Panther wrestlers.
“It was a great experience for all three of our guys,” said Cyr. “In the case of Peterson and Fitterer, they both lost to the champions in their weight class. Kubiatowicz’s first opponent went on to finish third. So we could have done a little better in the draw.”
Peterson, a freshman, started his first state appearance with a 7-5 victory over Barnesville seventh-grader Brady Tweeton, who entered the tournament with a 24-10 record.Peterson then met LeSueur-Henderson sophomore Austin Anderly in the second round and suffered a 15-0 setback. Anderly, who entered state with a 37-4 mark, went on to capture the championship at 106.
Peterson’s season came to an end when he was defeated 22-9 by sophomore Andrew Nissen from Blackduck in his first wrestleback match. Nissen brought a 33-9 record to state.
Peterson ended his freshman season with a 28-21 mark.
Sophomore Kubiatowicz dropped both of his matches before heading home.
Kimball sophomore Blaine Tschida brought a 41-5 record into his match with Kubiatowicz. Tschida, who went on to place third in the 113-pound bracket, decisioned Kubiatowicz 5-0.
Zach Scott of Holdingford ended Kubiatowicz’s season with a 15-2 win in the consolation round.
Kubiatowicz finished the year with a 25-22 record.
Fitterer, a freshman at his first state tourney, had perhaps the toughest draw of the Panther trio.
Fitterer was matched up against River Valley senior Lance Baird in the opening round and was pinned in 1:47. Baird went on to complete an undefeated season by winning the state championship at 285. Senior Tyler Jenson was Fitterer’s opponent in the consolation round. Jenson pinned Fitterer in 3:46 to end Fitterer’s year at 26-23. Jenson went on to finish fourth.
“Our efforts were good in all of our matches and hopefully the real benefit of this state tournament will come down the road in the event they are able to return,” said Cyr. “They know the routine and all the other stuff that goes into wrestling in the state tournament.”
This was the final action for Cyr, wrapping up 27 years and 445 wins with the Panther wrestling program.
“It was somewhat bittersweet for me,” said Cyr. “It would have been great to have a placewinner in my last tournament as coach, but as I have said before, this team has been a real pleasure to work with and see develop, so by that measure it has been a great year.”