Wrestlers place 3rd at Northfield; will compete in big Rochester tourney

New Prague took third place in the 8-team Northfield Invitational Wrestling Tournament Friday, Dec. 9.

The Trojans opened with an impressive 55-12 win over the host Raiders, lost to eventual champion and perennial power Apple Valley 46-21, then defeated Goodhue team 38-33, with a pin in the final match securing the win.

New Prague will compete in the biggest tournament of the regular season this weekend. The Minnesota Christmas Wrestling Tournament will be Friday and Saturday at the Regional Recreation and Sports Center in Rochester. Thirty-two teams, including some of the top teams in the state, will be there, as well as teams from North Dakota, Arizona and Iowa. The meet includes the top-ranked teams in all three Minnesota classes (Owatonna, St. Michael-Albertville and Pierz), and 10 of the top 12 Class AAA teams.

The Trojans have two other meets in the next week. They will travel to Waseca on Tuesday, Dec. 20, for a three-team meet, with Montgomery-Lonsdale/Le Center, and to Dassel-Cokato Thursday, Dec. 22, for a quadrangular. Other teams there are Becker and Rocori.

Trojans 58, Raiders 18

New Prague had little trouble with Northfield in their opening round match, handing the host Raiders a 55-18 defeat.

Northfield got a pin at 103 pounds, but the Trojans reeled off six straight wins from there. Jesse Cole won at 112 with a pin, Erick Pendergast followed with a come-from-behind 5-3 win at 119 and Alex Minette won at 125 pounds with a 13-8 decision.

Nelson got a quick pin at 130 and Casey Pendergast got an impressive 16-4 win at 135. Travis Rutt finished the run with a 43-second pin at 140 pounds.

After the Raiders scored a pin at 145, New Prague won the next four matches. Eric Doran was in trouble early, trailing 5-0, but then took control and scored a pin at 5:01 at 152. Joe Graham trailed 6-5 going into the third, then scored a reversal for a 7-6 win. Olson pinned his man in 1:02 at 171 pounds, and Caleb Lines made quick work of his opponent at 189, winning in 1:41. After a New Prague forfeit at 215, Jake Schoenecker won at 275 with a pin in 1:49.

New Prague 55, Northfield 12

103: Tr. Faust (N) pinned Redding :54

112: Cole (NP) pinned Turnacliff 3:02;

119: E. Penderast (NP) dec. Hargis 5-3;

125: Minette (NP) dec. Turner 13-8;

130: Nelson (NP) pinned Cowdin 1:49;

135: C. Pendergast (NP) m. dec. Henwood 16-4;

140: Rutt (NP) pinned Gillis :43;

145: Ty. Faust (N) pinned Berg 3:30;

152: Doran (NP) pinned Maniglia 5:01;

160: Graham (NP) dec. Dols 7-6;

171: Olson (NP) pinned Noding 1:02;

189: Lines (NP) pinned Young 1:41;

215: New Prague forfeit

275: Schoenecker (NP) pinned Johnson 1:49

Eagles 46, Trojans 21

Next for New Prague was the 800-pound gorilla of Minnesota wrestling, Apple Valley. The Eagles have won six of the last seven state AAA titles, and are rated No. 3 in Class AAA. But the Trojans had a respectable showing against them, one that could have been closer if not for a couple of bad breaks.

Aaron Redding got a forfeit win at 103, then the Eagles won the next four matches. Nelson lost a heart-breaker at 130 pounds. He went into the third period trailing11-9, but then got an escape and a takedown. His opponent got an escape to tie the match, then Nelson went for a takedown, but lost his advantage and was taken down and pinned with five seconds remaining.

Casey Pendergast followed with a decision at 135 and Rutt got a first period pin at 140, making it 20-15 Apple Valley. The Eagles won the next four matches to take a commanding 40-15 lead. Lines won a 4-3 decision at 189. Apple Valley won by forfeit at 215 and Schoenecker closed with a 13-10 decision at 275.

Apple Valley 46, New Prague 21

103: Redding (NP) won by forfeit:

112: Kelling (AV) pinned Cole (2nd pd)

119: Hoeppner (AV) dec. E. Pendergast 5-2;

125: Mincey (AV) tech fall Minette 20-4;

130: Kelliher (AV) pinned Nelson 5:55;

135: C. Pendergast (NP) dec. Weaver 14-10;

140: Rutt (NP) pinned Beedy 1:02;

145: Crone (AV) tech fall Berg 15-0;

152: Zann (AV) pinned Doran 1:42;

160: McNamara (AV) dec. Olson 7-3;

171: McLaughlin (AV) pinned Graham (2nd pd)

189: Lines (NP) dec. Bowling 4-3;

215: New Prague forfeit

275: Schoenecker (NP) dec. Dralle 13-10

Trojans 38, Wildcats 33

The third place match was decided on the final match, when Schoenecker pinned his opponent in 3:29 to give the Trojans a 38-33 win over Goodhue.

Goodhue had control early, winning two of the first three matches for a 9-6 lead. Cole pinned his man at 112 pounds for the Trojans

New Prague won the next two matches, with Minette winning by forfeit and Nelson with a pin in 53 seconds.

After a Goodhue pin, New Prague got an 18-2 technical fall from Rutt at 140.

A Goodhue pin was followed by a 4-2 decision by Doran at 152 and a 6-2 decision by Olson at 160.

The Wildcats got a pin at 171, to close to within two at 29-27. Lines got a decision, giving the Trojans a five-point lead. But then the Trojans had to forfeit at 215, giving the Wildcats a one-point advantage going into the final match.

New Prague 38, Goodhue 33

103: Lexvold (G) pinned Redding 1:41;

112: Cole (NP) pinned C. Diercks 3:26

119: Schmitz (G) dec. E. Penderast 4-1;

125: Minette (NP) won by forfeit

130: Nelson (NP) pinned Tutewohl :53;

135: Z. Diercks (G) pinned C. Pendergast 1:53;

140: Rutt (NP) tech fall Albers 18-2;

145: M. Huneke (G) pinned Berg (third pd);

152: Doran (NP) dec. McKeown 4-2;

160: E. Olson (NP) dec. T. Ryan 6-2;

171: E. Ryan (G) pinned K. Olson (1st pd)

189: Lines (NP) dec. C. Ryan 7-2;

215: New Prague forfeit

275: Schoenecker (NP) pinned T. Huneke 3:29