Willmar, Minn., loses to Apple Valley, White Bear Lake in state wrestling
ST. PAUL -- White Bear Lake knocked the Willmar Cardinals from the Class AAA state wrestling meet early this afternoon 31-30 in the consolation semifinals at the Xcel Energy Center here.
The Cardinals (20-7) won 8 of the 14 matches, including the first five weight classes and the last two, but the Bears (21-8) picked up enough bonus points in their six victories from 138- to 196-pounds for the one-point win.
The Bears will face Little Falls in the consolation final at 5 p.m. today.
Willmar won three matches against 6-time defending champion and top seed Apple Valley (27-1) which came away with a 58-12 win in the quarterfinals.
Colten Carlson at 138 pounds, Martin Cabrera at 220 and Cass Herzog at 285 picked up the Willmar points.
Cabrera and Herzog both were 2-0.
Willmar also made state in 1998 and 2005.
Willmar has 7 wrestlers competing in the individual tournament that begins at 9 a.m. Friday with the Round of 16.
