GROVE CITY -- GROVE CITY -- The Paynesville Bulldogs couldn't hold a late lead and fell in the Section 5A semifinal round at the ACGC gymnasium Friday evening to Howard Lake/Waverly-Winsted 33-30.
It was close all the way. The Bulldogs caught up and went ahead 27-24 when Brad Torborg pinned Matt Schmieg at 171 pounds. Corey Spanier then delivered a 7-2 decision by outwrestling John Long (27-3) at 180 pounds.
Though the Bulldogs led their backs were to the wall. Without a heavyweight, they needed a win from freshman Eric Wolbeck. But that was a lot to expect with the ninth-grader up against junior Jason Koch who came in 24-10. Wolbeck wrestled hard but lost 6-0 and HLWW pulled to within three points of the lead 30-27.
The forfeit made it 33-30.
The Bulldogs were last at state in 2001, one year after winning the Class A state championship.
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Dustin Sieben, Jordan Christian and Hayden Spaeth supplied Paynesville with an early 15-5 lead. Ryan Gale added a pin at 145 pounds. The Bulldogs finished 9-12.
HLWW 33, Paynesville 30
103: Dustin Sieben, P, dec McKenzie Rehmann 10-4
112: Cameron Lehner, H, tcfl Brent Schlangen 16-1
119: Jordan Christian, P, pin Jake Grangroth 3:12
125: Hayden Spaeth, Pay, pin Carl Heuer 4:46
130: Tony Horstmann, H dec Justin Wendlant 5-4
135: Clark Ostvig, H, maj Tyler Hemmesch 11-3
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140: Derek Youngren, H, pin Cody Fuchs 3:50
145: Ryan Gale, Pay, pin Terry Yerke 2:15
152: Andy Schlueter, H, dec Jon Person 10-4
160: Shane Khan, H, dec Andrew Moser 5-1
171: Brad Torborg, Pay, pin Matt Schmieg 2:30
189: Corey Spanier, Pay, dec John Long 7-2
215: Jason Koch, HLWW, dec Eric Wolbeck 6-0
285: Emmet Lynch, HLWW, won by forfeit
