Panthers finish second in conference
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva wrestling team closed its regular season with a dominating performance.
Coach Shawn Larson’s Panthers won 12 of 14 matches in crushing Blooming Prairie 61-6 at New Richland last Thursday.
The Blossoms ended up in the Gopher Conference basement, losing all four conference matches. Blooming Prairie is 1-14 overall.
NRHEG, which won last year 61-15, finished second in the conference with a 3-1 mark. The Panthers won their final four duals, and six of their last seven, to finish with a 17-9 overall mark. NRHEG was 11-8 last season.
“I thought our wrestlers came prepared to wrestle tonight,” said Larson. “I have respect for what coach Gimbel is doing over in Blooming Prairie.
“It has to be difficult when your team numbers are down,” said Larson. “I’m glad they have athletes that continue to battle against the odds.”
Things were easy for the Panthers, as the result of six BP forfeits during the evening.
Matthew Butler gave NRHEG a good start in the opening match, earning four points with a 9-0 major decision.
At 113-pounds, Cole Lenort was pushed to the limit, but an overtime reversal gave him a 4-2 victory.
Dillon Kubiatowicz made it a 13-0 Panther advantage when he recorded a pin with just two seconds remaining in the opening period at 120-pounds.
Cole Staloch followed suit at 126, sticking his opponent in 4:46.
Three consecutive forfeits by BP at 132, 138 and 145 pushed the NRHEG lead to 37-0.
Blooming Prairie got its first win of the night at 152-pounds. Kyle Williamson reversed Jet Wayne in overtime to capture a 6-4 triumph, cutting the Panther lead to 37-3.
Trey Hoppe pushed NRHEG to the 40-point mark with a 4-2 victory at 160-pounds.
BP forfeits at 170, 182 and 195 raised the margin Panther advantage to 58-3.
NRHEG’s Zeke Erickson scored five points in the opening period and then had to hang on for a 5-4 victory in the 220-pound bout.
The Blossoms earned their second win of the night in the final match of the evening.
Trent Strunk outlasted NRHEG’s Wyatt Fitterer 4-1 in the 285-pound finale.
The Section 2A Team Tournament will be held Thursday and Saturday. The Panthers defeated Hayfield 43-21 in the quarterfinals Thursday and will wrestle Saturday at home at 2 p.m.
Jackson County (19-4, Blue Earth (22-5), Maple River (12-3) and NRHEG were the top four seeds at the time of this writing.