MITCHELL, S.D. -- The Ridgewater wrestling team competed in the Dakota Wesleyan Open over the weekend and its wrestlers won 26 of 46 matches.
The 240-wrestler tournament featured 32-man brackets at most of the eight weight classes, giving the Warriors an opportunity to wrestle against college juniors and seniors.
Ridgewater had four sophomores and a freshman place in the open.
The Portillo brothers, Javior and Mariano, had solid performances.
Javior Portillo placed second at 133 pounds, battling back from a 5-0 deficit before losing 10-8 to Richard Rios, of Dakota Wesleyan, in the championship match. Javior Portillo finished the weekend with a 5-1 record.
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Mariano Portillo placed third, losing 4-3 to Jason Jeremiason, of Augustana, in the quarterfinals. Jeremiason placed second in the NCAA Division II nationals last year and won the open championship on Saturday. Mariano Portillo also had a 5-1 mark in the open.
Heavyweight Derek Carlson had a 4-2 record and placed fourth, and Lonny Boosho was 2-3 and placed sixth at 125 pounds.
Freshman Klinton Van Heuvelen had a 5-2 record and placed seventh at 141 pounds. He lost to teammate Mariano Portillo in the wrestlebacks.
Other Ridgewater wresters competing were: Yonis Debreah (1-2 at 133 pounds); Stephen Delwiche (1-2 at 141 pounds); Shane Fesenmaier (3-2 at 149 pounds); Aaron Doraska (0-2 at 149 pounds); Zach Peterson (1-2 at 157 pounds); Trevor Mahlum (1-2 at 174 pounds); and Kevin Hahn (1-2 at 184 pounds).
