11 matmen from area in semifinals

ST. PAUL -- Eleven area wrestlers will be competing in semifinal matches today in the state individual tournament after each won their quarterfinal matches on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.

There are seven area wrestlers in Class A who have started out 2-0 and four more in Class AA.

Defending state champions Ryan Thompson of Benson and Joel Bauman of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg advanced to the semifinals at 152 and 189 pounds, respectively, in Class A.

Also in the semifinals in Class A are Larry Bomstad of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City at 130, Travis Winter of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa at 160, Brady Wersinger of Benson at 160, Brandon Manderschied of Minnewaska at 215 and Dusty Caspers of BOLD at heavyweight.

Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley's John Weeding at 103 pounds and Jake Bothun 145, plus New London-Spicer's Shawn Hatlestad at 140 and John Nething at 160 are also in the AA semifinals today.

1/2: Brandon Manderschied of Minnewaska struggles to lift Alex Dreyer of United South Central during their 215-pound Class A quarterfinal match Thursday in St. Paul. Manderschied won the match 7-2. Photo by Michael Vosburg, Fargo Forum

2/2: Willmar's Adam Fagerstrom, right, tries to gain control against Zach Quam of Maple Grove in his 135-pound Class AAA consolation match on Thursday in St. Paul. Quam won, 10-2. Photo by Michael Vosburg, Fargo Forum