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MADELIA — Three Pipestone Area Schools eighth-graders keyed an opening-night Big South Conference victory on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Henry Mathews, Ayden Koprek and Oliver Sterud all won matches as the Arrows defeated St. James Area/Madelia 38-32 on the road.
Of the three bouts, Koprek’s was the most dramatic — an 8-3 decision over a more experienced varsity-level wrestler in Gabriel Gunderson at 133 pounds.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Henry Mathews controls St. James Area/Madelia’s Miguel Lopez during a 114-pound bout in Madelia on Thursday, Dec. 4. Mathews earned his first-ever varsity win with a pin at the 27-second mark, helping the Arrows to a 38-32 dual victory. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“It means a lot to win that first dual match,” PAS head wrestling coach Paul Young noted. “There were butterflies (coming into the match). We had to get our feet wet, and get out there competing. I’m very proud of the team.”
Koprek earned a first-period takedown to forge ahead, later adding a near fall. He scored a reversal from bottom position in the second period, and an escape point in the third.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Ayden Koprek is congratulated by teammates after earning a hard-fought 8-3 decision during the Arrows’ dual versus St. James Area/Madelia on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Young was proud of Mathews, who recorded his first-ever varsity win in convincing fashion — pinning Miguel Lopez immediately after a takedown just 27 seconds into the 114-pound bout.
Sterud earned plenty of mat time during varsity matches as a seventh-grader, so he’s practically a seasoned hand at this point. He built a 13-1 lead before defeating Lane Moser in the 172-pound bout.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Haden Mulvihill controls his opponents legs during a match at Madelia on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Speaking of experience, with Koprek wrestling at 133, multi-time state champion Miklo Hernandez bumped up to 139.
Hernandez scored seven takedowns before pinning Judson Brekke at the 2:24 mark.
State qualifiers Lane Fruechte, Mason Fruechte and Haden Mulvihill also produced dominating wins. Both Fruechtes came through with second-period pins at 121 and 127 pounds, respectively. Mulvihill recorded three takedowns and two four-point near falls en route to a 20-2 technical triumph over Carlos Lemus at 160.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Mason Fruechte uses a tilt during the 127-pound bout at Madelia on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Oscar Ramirez (107), Braxton Melcher (145), Carlos Saenlouangraj (152), Marcus Niz (189), Santino Teboe (215) and Jose Rivas (heavyweight) all gained mat experience. The Arrows will not be as strong in the heavier weights this season with Xavier Banjoko injured.
SPAM-tastic Arrows
AUSTIN — PAS traveled to Austin on Saturday, Dec. 6 for the SPAM Duals, winning four out of five dual matches on the day.
The Arrows lone blemish was a 36-30 loss to Lewiston/Altura/Rushford Peterson, a contest Young reported was highly entertaining. LARP had defeated Chatfield in a dual earlier last week.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Miklo Hernandez earned seven takedowns during his match at 139 pounds on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
PAS thrashed host Austin, 67-5, defeated Lakeville South 48-21, dispatched Fillmore Center/Mabel-Canton/Lanesboro, 49-15, and topped Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland, 49-24.
The Arrows defeated two schools from higher classifications: Lakeville South competes in AAA and Austin AA.
Young said going 4-1 at this event “gives us a lot of momentum for the future.”
The coach continues making yearly adjustments to the Arrows’ schedule, adding more dual-team formatted events.
This week
PAS will conduct its first home meet of the season on Thursday, Dec. 11, with Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Fulda/Murray County Central and Worthington visiting.
The Arrows will face RRC/WWG in the second round, followed by F/MCC. Young said PAS will not grapple with Worthington that evening despite the Trojans being a Big South opponent.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, the PAS girls will enjoy their first action of the season at the Pizza Ranch Tournament in Jackson. Luverne and Windom/Mountain Lake Area will join the Arrows and Huskies for matches.
The girls roster features Joannacrystal Perez-Garcia (100), Makaya Mulvihill (106), Alicia Hernandez (124), Brittany Macias (130) and Isabella Sanchez-Marroquin (136).
Pipestone Area Schools’ coaches Paul Young (left) and Sean Kallevig shout instructions during a match on Thursday, Dec. 4.(Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Marshall goes 2-1
NEW PRAGUE — Marshall traveled to New Prague for a dual-team formatted tournament, winning matches over Elk River and Wayzata.
However, the Tigers lost to host New Prague.
State qualifier Brayden Chandler pinned Elk River’s Joey McCauley in 0:40, Wayzata’s James Neuenfeldt in 1:34 and Mason Deutsch from New Prague in 2:43. Chandler wrestled in both the 172- and 189-pound classes.
Marshall’s Brayden Chandler, a student at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, tries to control his opponent during a Class AA 160-pound bout last Saturday in St. Paul. Chandler is now a two-time state placer. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Individual match scores may be found in this week’s scoreboard online at: www.pipestonestar.com.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Lane Fruechte uses a crossface during the 121-pound bout versus St. James/Madelia on Thursday, Dec. 4. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
INFORMATION
WRESTLING
Thursday, Dec. 4
Big South Conference Meet
Pipestone Area 38,
St. James/Madelia 32
Weight class results
107 — Bryce Siem, SJM, p. Oscar Ramirez, 0:43
114 — Henry Mathews, PAS, p. Miguel Lopez, 0:27
121 — Lane Fruechte, PAS, p. George Stevenson, 2:13
127 — Mason Fruechte, PAS, p. Keyan Roloff, 2:25
133 — Ayden Korpek, PAS, d. Gabriel Gunderson, 8-3
139 — Miklo Hernandez, PAS, p. Judson Brekke, 2:24
145 — Beck Johnson, SJM, p. Braxton Melcher, 1:34
152 — Noel Davila, SJM, tech. fall Carlos Saenlouangraj, 16-0 (5:59)
160 — Haden Mulvihill, PAS, tech. fall Carlos Lemus, 20-2 (2:37)
172 — Oliver Sterud, PAS, p. Lane Moser, 3:08
189 — Braxton Anderson, SJM, d. Marcus Niz, 10-4
215 — Kolten Tande, SJM, p. Santino Teboe, 0:33
HWT — Peyton Wolner, SJM, p. Jose Rivas, 0:24