ST. PAUL -- Paynesville didn't let a heartbreaking loss in the Class A state wrestling quarterfinals get the team down long. The Bulldogs pulled up their bootstraps and went to work the next morning, rolling over Mille Lacs 46-21 in the consolation semifinals. at Xcel Energy Center.
Paynesville (21-9) will square off against Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (21-4) at 10 a.m. today in the consolation championship.
The unseeded Bulldogs nearly upset No. 3 Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the quarterfinals, losing 30-27 when the match came down to a triple-overtime heavyweight bout.
But rather than brood about it, the Bulldogs responded with a dominating performance, winning nine of the 14 matches, including pins by Devin Meagher at 112 pounds, Clay Spanier at 125, Brent Schlangen at 140, Justin Wendlandt at 152, Matt Doom at 160 and Dominick Platow at heavyweight.
There was no drama this time, especially for Platow, a sophomore who held his own for three periods and three overtimes in Wednesday's quarterfinals before succumbing to Jason Arndt, a state individual qualifier. This time, Platow pinned Bradley Brown in 2:39 to cap a standout performance by the Bulldogs.
ADVERTISEMENT
After losing the opening match against Mille Lacs, the Bulldogs quickly got on the board with a pin from 112-pounder eagher. Mille Lacs regained the lead with a pin at 119 and Spanier responded with a pin for the Bulldogs at 125 for a 12-9 lead.
Mille Lacs took the next two weights by technical fall and a decision and led 17-12. But that would be the last time Paynesville trailed in the match after Brent Schlangen started a string of four unanswered wins with a second-period pin at 140. Aaron Gehrke followed with a major decision at 145 and Wendlandt and Matt Doom each got pins at 152 and 160, respectively, giving Paynesville a 34-17 advantage.
Mille Lacs took a major decision at 171 and the Bulldogs grabbed the next three wins with Michael Doom and Andrew Moser getting decisions at 189 and 215, respectively, and Platow finishing the match off.
Paynesville 46, Mille Lacs 21103: Nik Borchert, M, dec Trent Piepenburg 8-4
112: Devin Meagher, P, pin Matt Petty 1:16119: Cody Whitney, M, pin Cole Woehler 2:42125: Clay Spanier, P, pin Osmund Miller 3:52130: Mark Francour, M, tcfl John Dorf 4:19135: Chase Niesen, M, dec Josh Hiepler 12-9140: Brent Schlangen, P, pin Waylon Jensen 2:26145: Aaron Gehrke, P, maj Andy Sammis 10-2152: Justin Wendlandt, P, pin Dylan Young 1:29160: Matt Doom, P, pin Nate Bresnahan 1:26171: Robert Kulhanek, M, maj Hayden Spaeth 12-2189: Michael Doom, P, dec Ian Pratt 10-3215: Andrew Moser, P, dec Kenny Ellies 9-4285: Dominick Platow, P, pin Bradley Brown 2:39
