By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG Panthers brought in two section opponents for a wrestling triangular last Thursday.
It was a good night for the home team.
The Panthers nearly swept it, defeating St. Clair/Mankato Loyola 45-24 while getting edged by WEM/JWP 37-33.
"Things are really starting to come together on our team, after we have been having some difficulties," said NRHEG coach Shawn Larson. "Although we did not win the match with WEM/JWP, we were in control through most of it, and we had a chance to win. If we can continue to get people healthy, and in the right place in the lineup, we will hopefully be ready to make a run in a couple of weeks at the section tournament."
As usual, the Panthers started in a hole against St. Clair/Loyola, which claimed forfeits at 107 and 114 pounds before decisioning Dakota Schlaak 6-0 at 121.
It was almost all Panthers after that.
Seth Staloch and Parker Bunn won by forfeit at 133 and 139, and Reese Routh won by fall at 145 to put NRHEG up 24-15. Harbor Cromwell was nipped 3-2 at 152, Ryan Schlaak scored a 12-5 decision at 160.
George Roesler and Wyatt Larson scored second-period falls at 172 and 189, respectively. Cole Hutchens was pinned at 215. Jace Ihrke won by forfeit at 285.
Against WEM/JWP, Charlie Tufte won a 6-4 decision at 107 and Dakota Schlaak got a first-period pin at 114.
After a forfeit to the Grizzlies at 121 and a loss by fall for Staloch at 127, Bunn and Deven Parpart won by fall at 133 and 139, respectively. The other Panther wins were by Ryan Schlaak and Roesler.
It came down to the 285 match, and it didn't take defending state champion Keegan Kuball long to pin Ihrke.
"We had a great showing from Parker Bunn, Deven Parpart, Ryan Schlaak and George Roesler," said Coach Larson. "All four of these wrestlers were unbeaten on the night, with Deven and George earning falls in both matches. Ryan wrestled a very disciplined match at 160 vs. St. Clair, in which he won a highly-touted match over Chase Bade 12-5. Even though things are better for us than they have been in recent weeks, we know that we can not stop working now, and we need to continue to improve."
The Panthers wrestle Saturday in the Takedown on 22 Tournament in Mapleton. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m.