By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
The NRHEG wrestling team stepped into the arena with the big boys Thursday, Jan. 24.
It was not a good night for the Panthers to be missing individuals.
A shorthanded NRHEG squad dropped three dual meets at Rochester, falling 55-22 to St. Charles, 48-25 to Faribault and 41-27 to Rochester John Marshall.
According to coach Shawn Larson, the Panthers put themselves behind the eight-ball by showing up shorthanded.
“When that happens, you are giving the opposing team a lead to begin with and it is very hard to come back through that,” he said. “I do not know of any sport where it is a good idea to spot your opponent 24 points. At this point in our room, we don't have the bodies to fill all of the weights.”
Nikolas Petsinger, Thor Routh, Tyler Jacobson and Quinten Arndt got wins for the Panthers against St. Charles.
Winning against Faribault were Nikolas Petsinger, George Roesler, Ralph Roesler, Makota Misgen and Arndt.
Annabelle Petsinger, Nikolas Petsinger, Andrew Reich, Jacobson and Arndt posted victories against JM.
“I thought there were good things throughout each of these duals,” said Larson. “I felt our wrestlers were in better condition late in the matches, and I saw good efforts from a couple of wrestlers who may have been in a little slump. Nikolas Petsinger and Quinten Arndt were able to make it through the day without a loss.”
The Panthers returned to Rochester Saturday for the Century Invitational, finishing eighth among 12 squads with six placewinners.
Arndt was champion at 285 pounds. Jacobson took third at 170, Reich fourth at 132. Taking sixth were Agro Gushwa, Roesler and Makota Misgen.
“This tournament was a mix of very tough competition,” said Larson. “We were hoping for a better showing, but it was not a terrible experience. We had a good showing from Andrew Reich. Tyler Jacobson is back on the mat after an injury, and he had a good day. Quinten Arndt looked really good gaining an individual championship. Quinten was very dominant. All in all this was a decent day, though we have to step it up coming into the end of the season, if we want to get the outcomes we were hoping for.”