WILLMAR -- The Litchfield Dragons won 11 matches to drub Willmar 52-14 in a non-conference wrestling dual Thursday.
The match completed Willmar's regular season with an 11-8 record (8-1 Central Lakes Conference). The Cardinals will host the one-day, 10-team Section 2AAA team wrestling tournament on Feb. 18. Willmar is defending champion. The 2AAA individuals are at Prior Lake Feb. 24-25.
Before one of the largest home crowds of the season, Mike Knisley started the Dragons out with a second-period pin over eighth-grader Adam Fagerstrom. Nick Braun put Willmar on the board winning the 112-pound match on a 7-3 decision over John Binsfeld.
Litchfield's Reed Wimmer improved to 22-2 by pinning Berto Cruz. Brandt Haglund scored a pin at 125 pounds for Willmar to reduce the Litchfield lead to 12-9 but Brandon Skalberg majored Nick Dahlke for a 16-9 advantage. Drew Larson got a technical fall for Willmar at 130 but that would be Willmar's last win.
Willmar didn't send out a wrestler to meet Beau Penk (29-1), who has over 200 career wins. David Malespsy tipped Josh Dahlke 7-1 for a 25-14 lead and Steve Osborne outpointed Willmar's Martin Munoz 6-2 at 152. Jake Tews' 8-4 decision at 160 over Brandon Reickman boosted the Litchfield lead to 31-14.
ADVERTISEMENT
Blayne Johnson worked hard to beat Willmar's Trent Molacek 5-1 at 171. The Dragons tidied up with a forfeit and pins by Tony Gutormson and Mike Kaping.
Litchfield 52, Willmar 14
103: Mike Knisley, Lit, pin Adam Fagerstrom 2:31
112: Nick Braun, Wil, dec John Binsfeld 7-3
119: Reed Wimmer, Lit, pin Berto Cruz 1:28
125: Brandt Haglund, Wil, pin Damian Heairet 3:15
130: Brandon Skalberg, Lit, maj Nick Dahlke 11-3
135: Drew Larson, Wil, tcfal Alex Bergland 21-5
ADVERTISEMENT
140: Beau Penk, Lit, won by forfeit
145: David Malepsy, Lit, dec Josh Dahlke 7-1
152: Steve Osbourne, Lit, dec Martin Munoz 6-2
160: Jake Tews, Lit, dec Brandon Reickman 8-4
171: Blayne Johnson, Lit, dec Trent Molacek 5-1
189: Dustin Celander, Lit, pin Nick DeVries :32
215: Tony Gutormson, Lit, won by forfeit
275: Mike Kaping, Lit, pin Jake Lefever 2:56.
