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ST. PAUL-Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg's wrestling team started strong but ultimately found trouble in the heavier weight classes and fell to second-ranked Pierz 44-19 at the Class A State Tournament.
The Saints got things started with a bang thanks to Will Magaard who pinned Brandon Funk 3:08 into the match. Pierz battled back to earn decisions at 113 and 120 pounds to tie things up three bouts in.
"We really wish we could have grabbed those wins at 113 and 120 so we could have had a better chance down the stretch but those kids battled," said KMS head coach Wes Haglund. "They did a dynamite job."
Jacob Carlson powered Pierz's Lukas Popp to another six points with a two-minute 24-second pin.
Both teams traded points between 132 pounds and 160 pounds and it was once again tied after 160 pounds but that's where the Saints ran into trouble.
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The Pioneers, who are sending nine wrestlers to the individual state tournament on Friday and Saturday, specialize in the heavier weight classes and the Saints struggled to match up.
"I think we were in better shape than them but we just didn't have the horses," Haglund said. "We had to move guys to weight classes they aren't used to being in and once you do that you're fighting with a forest fire."
Three of Pierz's individual competitors belong to the final five weight classes while KMS was forced to wrestle out of class. Brandin Dahl was an example of that when he was asked to wrestle at 182 pounds instead of his usual 170 pounds, which is the weight he qualified for as an individual. Dahl, who entered the tournament with a 37-1 record, lost by a 9-1 major decision to Matt Kummet (28-0). Kummet typically wrestles at 195 pounds.
"Our guys went out there with guts," Haglund said. "We asked them to do things that were out of the normal for them but they stepped up and did it. They didn't quit and didn't give up. They could have told us no but that's not how KMS does it. I wish we could have had a better result but I'm proud of those guys."
Pierz 44, KMS 19
106: Will Magaard, K, pin Brandon Funk 3:08
113: Sebastian Warzecha, P, dec Kyle Meyer 4-2
120: Jake Andres, P, dec Jared Carlson 1-0
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126: Jacob Carlson, K, pin Lukas Popp 2:24
132: Brandon Ortman, P, maj dec Jonathan Tostenson 11-3
138: Dylan Rudningen, K, dec Reese Kapsner 9-7
145: Andrew Tomala, P, dec Caleb Collins 5-3
152: Jalen Jansen, P pin Jake Magaard 2:33
160: Derek Krieger, K, maj dec Luke Girtz 9-1
170: Brett Kapsner, P, pin Marc Collins 0:34
182: Matt Kummet, P, maj dec Brandin Dahl 9-1
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195: Carson Huls, P, dec Ryan Torkelson 7-2
220: Austin Dickmann, P, pin Michael Doubek 3:57
285: Troy Fischer, P, pin Brody Forsell 0:22
