By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Head coach Shawn Larson did not offer up any excuses why the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva wrestling team made a first-round exit from this year's Section 2A team tournament.
But he did make one observation.
Said Larson, "Medford had a better team than we did tonight."
The result was a 43-28 setback at Medford last Thursday, but the Panthers did not fall for lack of effort.
"It was nice to see our seniors all finish their team careers with falls," said Larson. "Parker Bunn, Reese Routh, and George Roesler went all out for our team and did all they could do for us in their last dual as Panthers."
The Tigers pinned Charlie Tufte at 107 pounds and Dakota Schlaak at 114, won by forfeit at 121 and pinned Eli Hendrickson at 127.
Bunn finally put the Panthers on the scoreboard with a second-period fall at 133. Deven Parpart scored a third-period fall at 139, and Routh followed with a pin in 2:57 at 145.
Harbor Cromwell dropped a 9-1 major decision at 152, and Devlin Hudson lost a first-period pin at 160.
Ryan Schlaak and Roesler kept the Panthers in it with wins by fall at 171 and 189, respectively, but Cole Hutchens was outpointed 5-1 at 215 and Jace Ihrke was pinned at 285.
"We will not be giving up on the season just yet," said Coach Larson. "We will try our best to be ready for individual sections next week. In the offseason, our push has to be on getting stronger, and getting as many athletes as possible to join us."
The Panthers travel to Blue Earth for the Section 2A individual tournament Saturday, Feb. 24.
NRHEG senior Annabelle Petsinger has already qualified for the girls' state tournament and is seeking her second straight state title.