By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The Minnesota high school wrestling season wraps up this week with the state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The NRHEG Panthers are again represented.
Senior George Roesler and freshman Ryan Schlaak advanced out of the Section 2A individual tournament Saturday at Blue Earth, earning a trip to state. They'll be joined by senior Annabelle Petsinger, who earlier qualified for state.
The Panthers had a fine day in the section meet, with a total of 11 placewinners.
The biggest highlights, though, belonged to Roesler and Schlaak.
"We are so happy for Ryan Schlaak and George Roesler," said NRHEG coach Shawn Larson.
Roesler, the Panthers' most considtent wrestler this season, captured the section championship at 172 pounds.
"George has been solid all season, and his dominant performance today was impressive," said Larson. "George looks like he is ready to try to make a run at the state tournament. It is nice to see George get the reward for all of the work he has put in."
Schlaak was the runner-up at 160.
"Ryan had a great day, earning his way to the finals with two pins," said Larson. "In the finals, he lost by major decision to Tommy Elwood of Medford. Losing to Tommy in the way that Ryan did was actually respectable, and Ryan definitely deserved his berth into the state tournament, the way he was aggressive and attacking today."
Deven Parpart missed the state tournameny by one place, finishing third at 139. Placing fourth were Parker Bunn, 133; Reese Routh, 145; Harbor Cromwell, 152; and Cole Hutchens, 215.
Dakota Schlaak was fifth at 114, Wyatt Larson fifth at 189. Charlie Tufte, 107, finished sixth, as did Jace Ihrke at 285.
Roesler will take a 25-7 record to state. His opening round opponent is freshman Lucas Fuhr of Redwood Valley, the Section 3A runner-up who owns a season record of 14-1.
Ryan Schlaak, 22-14, meets Section 5A champion Jett Olson of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg in the first round at state. Olson, a junior, has a record of 38-6.
Petsinger, a returning state champion, finished second in section competition at 142 and will take a 16-1 record to state, where her opening-round opponent will be Brianna Berg, a senior from Thief River Falls who sports a record of 31-11.
Roesler and Schlaak will wrestle in the opening round Friday, with Petsinger competing Saturday.
"It makes for an exciting week ahead for us," said Larson. "We are hoping that we can represent the area well."