Wrestling roundup: Benson closes out on a high note

Benson sophomore Teegan Hogrefe, top, goes for the fall on Staples-Motley's Kevin Miller during their 195-pound match on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at Olivia.

By Joe Brown

January 13, 2023 11:12 PM

OLIVIA — The Benson wrestling team closed Friday night on a high note at the BOLD triangular.

Facing the host Warriors, the Braves scored bonus points in 10 of their 11 wins on the way to a 63-18 victory at BOLD High School.

The third team in the tri was Staples-Motley, which went 2-0 with wins over BOLD (45-15) and Benson (39-30). The Cardinals are in their first year under renowned head coach Jim Jackson, who led Apple Valley to 14 state championships from 1995-2012. He also won a pair of state titles with Shakopee from 2016-20.

Benson eighth-grader Darin Hippe, left, hand-fights with Staples-Motley's Turner Beachy during their 126-pound match on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at Olivia.

Against the Warriors, Benson opened with three straight falls from Gavin Olson, Max Nygaard and Ed Wah at 106, 113 and 120 pounds. Tanner Nelson (138), Nick Bolduc (160) and Preston McGee also won by pin for the Braves.

The Warriors’ wins all came by fall from Brady Kiecker, Tanner Kautz and Austin Kiecker. Brady won at 132, Kautz at 145 and Austin at 152.

Benson hosts a quadrangular with Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and MAHACA at 5 p.m. Tuesday. BOLD goes to the Minnewaska quad at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

BOLD senior Stevie McMath goes for a fall on Staples-Motley's Jacob Becker during their 182-pound match Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at Olivia.

BOLD triangular

Benson 63, BOLD 18

106: Gavin Olson, Ben, pinned Ava Kiecker, 0:37
113: Max Nygaard, Ben, pinned Trevor Plass, 1:13
120: Ed Wah, Ben, pinned Tyler Larson, 0:34
126: Darin Hippe, Ben, won by forfeit
132: Brady Kiecker, BOLD, pinned Mu Tah Wah, 0:22
138: Tanner Nelson, Ben, pinned Trey Zamarron, 1:47
145: Tanner Kautz, BOLD, pinned Rafael Mejia, 3:15
152: Austin Kiecker, BOLD, pinned Alex Whitcup, 5:26
160: Nick Bolduc, Ben, pinned Max Benson, 0:57
170: Preston McGee, Ben, pinned Elijah Swenson, 2:33
182: AJ Klassen, Ben, dec Stevie McMath, 13-6
195: Thomas Dineen, Ben, won by forfeit
220: Teegan Hogrefe, Ben, won by forfeit
285: Johnny Kobberman, Ben, won by forfeit

Staples-Motley 39, Benson 30

With a Teegan Hogrefe pin at 195 pounds and a forfeit at 220, Benson trailed Staples-Motley 33-30 with hopes of snatching a win at 285 and a come-from-behind victory over the Cardinals. But S-M’s Steven Petrich was able to pin the Braves’ Johnny Kobberman to prevent the comeback and give the Cardinals the win.

BOLD junior Austin Kiecker gets his hand raised after beating Staples-Motley's Ramiro Gallardo in a 152-pound match on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at Olivia.

Staples-Motley 45, BOLD 15

Austin Kiecker and Stevie McMath each nabbed falls for BOLD in the opening match of its home triangular against Staples-Motley.

Kiecker won his 152-pound match at 1 minute, 23 seconds. Then at 182, McMath won by fall at 2:57.

Brady Kiecker also got a win for the Warriors with a decision at 132.

106: Caden Kramer, SM, pinned Ava Kiecker, 4:10
113: Gage Bjerga, SM, pinned Trevor Plass, 0:41
120: Eli Greenwaldt, SM, pinned Tyler Larson, 0:59
126: Caden Dobson, SM, won by forfeit
132: Brady Kiecker, BOLD, dec Riley Reese, 6-2
138: Jason Trantina, SM, pinned Trey Zamarron, 1:54
145: Owen Winter, SM, pinned Tanner Kautz, 0:36
152: Austin Kiecker, BOLD, pinned Ramiro Gallardo, 1:23
160: Blake Neelan, SM, dec Elijah Swenson, 6-0
170: Dustin Converse, SM, pinned Max Benson, 5:06
182: Stevie McMath, BOLD, pinned Jacob Becker, 2:57
195: Double forfeit
220: Double forfeit
285: Double forfeit

Paynesville Invite

With four first-place finishes, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa won the 11-team Paynesville Invitational with 213 points. Behind the Jaguars was Paynesville, which was second with 152.5.

Ryan Jensen (132 pounds), Wyatt Engen (138), Maximus Hanson (170) and Ethan Spanier (220) each won titles for BBE.

Louie Tensen (126) and Carson Gilbert (182) were runners-up.

Peyton Hemmesch (182) and Seth Vearrier (195) had first-place showings for the host Bulldogs.

Team scoring
(1) Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 213 … (2) Paynesville 152.5 … (3) Milaca/Faith Christian 148.5 … (4) Pierz 110.5 … (5) Wabasso 110 … (6) Melrose/Sauk Centre 98 … (7) Delano 94 … (8) Eden Valley-Watkins 78.5 … (9) Sartell 74.5 … (10) Ortonville 17 … (11) Nashwauk-Keewatin/Greenway 10
How BBE fared
Key: (Weight, name, won-loss, place)
106: Noah Welte 1-3, sixth … 113: Aiden Mueller, 1-2, fourth … 126: Louie Tensen, 1-1, second … 132: Ryan Jensen, 2-0, first … 138: Wyatt Engen, 3-0, first … 145: Brett DeRoo, 3-1, third … 152: Tanner Viessman, 3-1, third … 160: Hunter Laage, 1-3, sixth … 170: Maximus Hanson, 3-0, first … 182: Carson Gilbert, 1-1, second … 195: Talen Kampsen, 2-2, fourth … 220: Ethan Spanier, 3-0, first … 285: Harley Weber, 2-2, fourth
How Paynesville fared
Key: (Weight, name, won-loss, place)
106: Roman Roberg, 2-2, fourth … 113: Devon Schmidt, 1-3, sixth … 120: Mason McNab, 2-2, fourth … 126: Preston Welling, 2-2, fifth … 132: Mason Hansen, 2-1, third … 138: Brandon Hess, 2-2, fifth … 145: Mitchel Blonigen, 1-2 … 152: Jose Anaya, 2-2, fifth … 160: Grant Wendlandt, 2-2, fourth … 170: Aaron Mages, 2-2, fourth … 182: Peyton Hemmesch, 2-0, first … 195: Seth Vearrier, 3-0, first … 220: Sam Brick, 0-2 … 285: Spencer Eisenbraun, 3-1, third; Grant Miller, 0-3, sixth

Minnewaska Laker Invite

Scott West won the eight-team Minnewaska Laker invite in Glenwood.

Scott West — a co-op between Belle Plaine and Jordan — had 196 points, beating Canby’s 176.5 and Minnewaska’s 170.

The Lakes had first-place finishes from Miles Wildman (106 pounds), Chase Smith (120), and Xander Johnson (170). Mason Schiffler (132) and Chase Boelke (182) were runners-up.

Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City placed sixth with 86 points. Edwyn Gonzalez (138) and Jevon Williams (160) were the top Falcons with both finishing second.

Team scoring
(1) Scott West 196 … (2) Canby 176.5 … (3) Minnewaska 170 … (4) MAHACA 127.5 … (5) Crookston 104 … (6) Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 86 … (7) Albany 63 … (8) Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 57
How ACGC fared
Key: (Weight, name, won-loss, place)
120: Braxton Kragenbring, 0-2, fifth … 138: Edwyn Gonzalez, 2-1, second … 152: Ethan Whitcomb, 0-2, fifth … 160: Jevon Williams, 1-1, second … 182: Isaiah Renne, 2-1, third … 220: Terrell Renne, 2-1, third … 285: Juan Cardenas, 1-2, fourth
How Minnewaska fared
Key: (Weight, name, won-loss, place)
106: Miles Wildman, 2-0, first … 120: Chase Smith, 2-0, first … 132: Mason Schiffler, 2-1, second … 138: Nick Ankeny, 2-2, fourth … 145: Jayce Kovarik, 2-2, fifth … 152: Nathan Dell, 1-2, fourth … 160: Myles Reichmann, 3-1, third … 170: Xander Johnson, 2-1, first … 182: Chase Boelke, 1-1, second … 195: Noah Jensen, 1-2, third