WEM/JWP tops Panthers, takes conference lead
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva wrestling team saw its chance for a repeat Gopher Conference championship take a severe hit on its home mat Friday.
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton edged the Panthers 36-34 to take over the top spot in the conference.
NRHEG journeyed to Kasson for the Swalla Duals Saturday, splitting four matches to capture fifth place.
Coach Shawn Larson’s Panthers are 2-1 in the Gopher Conference and 11-8 overall.
WEM/JWPNEW RICHLAND – NRHEG and WEM/JWP battled back and forth for the second straight year with the Grizzlies escaping with a 36-34 win.
WEM/JWP, which lost to the Panthers 36-32 last season, climbed to 3-0 in the conference and 8-11 for the season.
NRHEG started fast with pins in the first two weights. Cole Lenort started the match with a 5:13 pin for the Panthers at 106-pounds.
Bryce Oakland followed with a 3:56 fall at 113-pounds.
The Grizzlies answered with four straight wins to take a 21-12 advantage. At 120, undefeated Skyler Petry put NRHEG’s Dillon Kubiatowicz on his back in just 32 seconds.
Reid Ayers edged Cordell Peterson 5-4 at 126.
At 132, Collin Ayers, who is 26-1 this season, stuck Alex Merritt in 2:42. Chris Pettis followed with a 3:21 pin of Karter Sletten at 138.
The two squads traded pins at the next two weights, leaving the Grizzlies with a 27-18 advantage. The Panthers Jet Wayne recorded a fall in 4:54 at 145, but Will Storch countered with a first-period fall against Trey Hoppe at 152-pounds.
At 160, Tyler Logan squeezed out a 1-0 win over Tucker Roeker of the Grizzlies, pulling NRHEG within 27-21.
But, WEM/JWP’s Ben Boran earned a key win at 170, controlling Nick Bartness 8-2.
Dillon Parpart pulled the Panthers within 30-26 with an 18-2 technical fall win at 182.
At 195, Mitch Wolter pinned NRHEG’s Matt Jensen to give the Grizzlies a nine-point advantage with two weights remaining.
Todd Erickson picked up a 9-3 win for NRHEG at 220-pounds, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cost the Panthers any shot at victory.
Wyatt Fitterer was awarded a forfeit in the final bout.
“This dual came down to bonus points. We are going to focus on that the last part of the season,” said Larson. “The Grizzlies are always ready to compete and tonight was no exception.”
Centennial
KASSON - NRHEG started its four-match day at Kasson with a thrilling 36-35 triumph over Centennial.
The Panthers fell behind 10-0 before Cordell Peterson got them on track with a third-period fall at 120.
Three more Centennial wins widened the deficit to 26-6.
Jet Wayne and Trey Hoppe rallied NRHEG with consecutive pins, pulling the Panthers within eight points.
Trailing 29-18, NRHEG made its move starting at 170-pounds. Consecutive wins by Dillon Parpart (7-2), Nick Bartness (4-1) and Matt Jensen (2:26 fall) gave the Panthers a 30-29 lead with two matches remaining.
Zeke Erickson was pinned at 220 to give Centennial a 35-30 lead. But, Wyatt Fitterer made the Panthers a winner with a 3:38 fall in the final match.
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
KASSON – The Panthers won just one match as Ellsworth romped to a 57-6 victory in the second round Saturday.
Dillon Kubiatowicz was the lone NRHEG winner in the match. He pinned his opponent in five minutes at 113-pounds.
Only two other Panther wrestlers had a shot at winning.
Parpart dropped a 4-3 decision and Hoppe suffered a 9-6 setback.
“We did not match up well with Ellsworth,” said Larson. “We wrestled hard, but were just outmatched.
Lewiston-Altura
NRHEG romped to a 55-21 victory over Lewiston-Altura in its first bracket match.
Lenort and Kubiatowicz got the Panthers off to a good start with a 9-0 major and a 2:49 fall.
Two LA wins cut the lead to 10-9. Alex Merritt picked up a first-period pin, but Sletten was put on his back, leaving the Panthers holding a one-point lead.
Four consecutive NRHEG wins put 21 points on the board and a 37-15 Panther advantage. Wayne recorded a pin, Hoppe received a forfeit, Logan won 9-2 and Parpart picked up a first-period fall.
After a forfeit, NRHEG won the final three matches by pins. Jensen (2:41), Zeke Erickson (1:23) and Todd Erickson (3:41) had falls to conclude the rout.
Caledonia
A couple of minor injuries hindered NRHEG in its final match, a 35-30 loss to Caledonia.
“We had a chance to win against Caledonia,” said Larson. “It was good to see us compete at a higher level today.”
Lenort started the match with a 7-2 triumph. After a forfeit at 113, Kubiatowicz romped to a 14-0 victory at 120.
Caledonia won four matches in a row, including two pins. Cordell Peterson lost 4-3 and Merritt suffered a 4-2 loss.
Hoppe picked up a tech fall win with a 16-0 triumph at 145.
But, another tough 4-2 loss by Logan, and two forfeits, clinched the Caledonia win.
The Panthers closed strong with a 6-3 win by Todd Erickson and a forfeit to Fitterer.
NRHEG travels to Lakeville North for a dual meet invitational Friday.
The Panthers are at Wabasha-Kellogg for a quadrangular Saturday.
Blooming Prairie comes to town for the regular season finale next Thursday.