WILLMAR -- The Willmar Cardinals opened their dual meet and Central Lakes Conference season with a win and a loss, both in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals tipped two-time defending CLC champion 39-36 in the early evening before falling in the curtain closer three hours later to Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 39-37.
In between, the Fighting Saints crushed the Flyers 57-18.
Little Falls finished 9-0 in the CLC last year and Willmar 8-1. The Flyers lost a half-dozen starters and are not at full strength. Willmar also is trying to fill a couple of big holes, forfeiting at two weights.
Willmar trailed by 18 points at 145 before Drew Larson started the comeback with the first of four straight pins. Larson, a senior, started another four-match win streak in the KMS match, too. That vaulted Willmar from a nine-point deficit into a 37-27 lead.
ADVERTISEMENT
But KMS got pins at the last two weights from Brad Kneisl and Cory Kinney to pull out a two-point victory.
Willmar next holds its invitational on Friday and it will include KMS.
Willmar 39, Little Falls 36
Willmar's second forfeit at 145 put the Flyers up 30-12. After Larson's stick, Cody Stegeman, Brandon Reickman and Trent Molacek followed with pins for a 36-30 lead. Sophomore Marshal Swoyer decisioned Nils Johnson for the deciding points at 215 pounds.
"It was fun to see the guys step forward and know what it means to be a team," said Willmar coach Tom Beyer. "Honestly, I wasn't that optimistic coming in. We've had some adversity this week that dismayed me. But its good to see these kids rise to the occasion."
Swoyer, whose family moved here from Kansas this year, outmuscled his foe for the 8-2 win over Johnson.
"He's a hard worker," said Beyer of the newcomer. "That's what impresses me."
103: Charlie Wilzek, LF, won by forfeit
ADVERTISEMENT
112: Adam Fagerstrom, Wil, maj Byrant Bue 13-1
119: Josh Grohong, LF, dec Erik Borgos 5-2
125: Jason Brill, LF, maj Berto Cruz 15-4
130: Nick Braun, Wil, def Sam Marcus 12-6
135: Brandt Haglund, Wil, tecfl Derek Jendro 16-1
140: Cody Bue, LF, pin Nick Dahlke 3:19
145: Randy Przybilla, LF, won forfeit
152: Drew Larson, Wil, pin Aaron Gastecki 3:06
ADVERTISEMENT
160: Cody Stegeman, Wil, pin Brandon Hiemenz 4:53
171: Brandon Reickman, Wil, pin Peter Grams 1:48
189: Trent Molacek, Wil, pin Jordan Olson 3:23
215: Marshal Swoyer, Wil, dec Nils Johnson 8-2
275: Dylan Bue, LF, pin Steve Fajardo :38
KMS 57, Little Falls 18
The Flyers pulled ahead early 18-15 but Spencer Almen's major decision at 140 started a KMS sweep of the next seven weights. Kurt Timmons at 103 got the first of eight KMS falls.
Matt Stassen and Alex Baker, the only senior in the KMS lineup, also got pins for the Fighting Saints.
ADVERTISEMENT
103: Kurt Timmons, KMS, pin Charlie Wilzek 3:01
112: Klint Van Heuveln, K, pin Byrant Bue 5:31
119: Jacob Engler, KMS, dec Josh Grohong 7-1
125: Jason Brill, LF, pin Aaron Doraska 1:32
130: Sam Marcus, LF, pin Trevor Mahlum 5;03
135: Derik Jendrow, LF, pin Aaron Zimmer 5:42
140: Spencer Almen, KMS, maj Cody Bue 13-5
145: Kevin Steinhaus, KMS, tcfl Randy Pryzbella 23-8
ADVERTISEMENT
152: Matt Stassen, KMS, pin Aaron Gastecki 2:43
160: Mitch Hagen, KMS, pin Brandon Hiemenz 1:04
171: Alex Baker, KMS, pin Peter Grams 1:32
189: Adam Wentzel, KMS, dec Jordon Olson 6-4
215: Brad Kneisl, KMS, pin Nils Johnson 1:16
275: Cody Kinney, KMS, pin Dylan Bue 4:34
KMS 39, Willmar 37
KMS took a 9-0 lead but four consecutive falls put Willmar on top 23-9. Erik Borgos, Berto Cruz, Nick Braun and Brandt Haglund scored the big points for the Cardinals before Almen and Kevin Steinhaus fought back with pins that cut the Willmar lead to 23-21.
ADVERTISEMENT
Larson pinned Matt Stassen to bump the lead to 29-21, but Mitch Hagen canceled that out by pinning Reickman at 3:08.
Molacek and Swoyer countered with wins for a 37-27 lead, but Willmar had little left to counter the Fighting Saints' strong 1-2 finish of Kneisl and Kinney.
103: Kurt Timmons, KMS, won by forfeit
112: Klint Van Heuveln, KMS, dec. Adam Fagerstrom 4-3
119: Erik Borgos, Wil, pin Jacob Engler 2:41
125: Berto Cruz, Wil, pin Aaron Doraska :52
130: Nick Braun, Wil, pin Trevor Mahlum 1:32
135: Brandt Haglund, Wil, tcfl, Aaron Zimmer 18-3
140: Spencer Almen, KMS, pin Alex Benson 4:25
145: Kevin Steinhaus, KMS, pin Nick Dahlke :18
152: Drew Larson, Wil, pin Matt Stassen 1:15
160: Mitch Hagen, KMS, pin Brandon Reickman 3:08
171: Trent Molacek, Wil, tcfl Alex Baker 24-9
189: Marshal Swoyer, Wil, dec. Adam Wentzel 3-2
215: Brad Kneisl, KMS, pin Nick DeVies :55
275: Cody Kinney, KMS, pin Sergio Flores :48
