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Red Bulls stampede Luverne to reach 3AA semifinals

FAIRMONT — The postseason is a time when all of the records are clean and everyone starts fresh.

With that in mind, the Class AA, No. 9-ranked and No. 1-seeded Fairmont/Martin County West Red Bulls being the postseason just as they ended the regular season: undefeated. The Red Bulls shut out the No. 4-seeded Luverne Cardinals, 76-0, Section 3AA quarterfinals on Thursday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont.

This marks the first time the Red Bulls have earned the No. 1 seed in the south and were able to host the first rounds of team postseason action.

“I told the guys it’s postseason time. Everybody’s got a 0-0 record,” Red Bulls head coach Adam Williamson said. “We’re considering this 0-0 on our way to hopefully a section title. That’s where our mindset is now and that’s what we’re shooting for.

“The kids came out, wrestled hard, had fun, wrestled aggressively and got it done.”

Luverne had beat No. 5-seeded Fulda/Murray County Central, 36-18, in a play-in match

The Red Bulls will face No. 3-seeded Redwood-River Valley in a north-south crossover semifinal at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Marshall. The Wildcats topped United, 40-28, to advance.

“We’ve had good luck with them (Wildcats). We’ll be ready for it,” Williamson said.

The Red Bulls beat defeated the Wildcats, 54-18, during a quadrangular on Dec. 12 in St. Clair.

No. 2-ranked, 106-pounder Lucas Jagodzkinske took the Red Bulls’ first forfeit of the night, which was followed by six more.

No. 9-ranked Connor Simmonds and Cale Steuber both took forfeits at 120 and 126, respectively, before the Cardinals gave forfeits to No. 4-ranked, 138-pounder Payton Anderson, who checked in at 145, No. 2-ranked 192-pounder Collin Steuber, Jacob Rahn at 195, Everardo Hernandez (220) and heavyweight Conner Tordsen.

Top-rated, 113-pounder Jaxson Rohman leaped out to a 12-1 lead against Braydon Ripka after the first two-minute period. Rohman started the second period in the down position, escaped and got a takedown before earning the 3:07 pin.

At 132, No. 10-ranked Jordan Wolter used a neutral second period to record four points before beating Tucker Oeltjenbruns, 10-0, to put the Red Bulls up, 28-0 after five weight classes.

Zac Ringnell went up, 4-0, on Dalton DeSollar before taking a 13-1 major decision at 138.

Likewise, Red Bulls No. 9-ranked 145-pounder Miles Fitzgerald wrestled Jed Dooyema at 152 and got the early 7-0 edge, earning two back points before the first-period whistle.

Fitzgerald later went up, 15-1, earning his last three points on a near fall at the second-period whistle. Thirty-nine seconds into the third period, Fitzgerald posted a last takedown for a 17-1 techinical fall.

Parker Anderson pulled off a second comeback in a week. After a left-second 13-11 win on Friday in Marshall, the Red Bulls’ 160-pounder used a third-period rally to beat Jayden Renken, 5-3. Parker Anderson was down, 3-0, entering the final period.

No. 8-ranked Tristan Lange used a 5-2 lead on Tom Brown to record a 3:50 fall at 170.

“Those were awesome,” Williamson said about Parker Anderson and Lange’s wins. “We need everybody on board, everybody doing their part, and that’s kind of what this team has been built on. Everybody doing what they can and have to, to help the team out as best they can.”

Section 3AA Quarterfinals

Fairmont/MCW 76, Luverne 0

106: Lucas Jagodzinske (F/MCW) won by forfeit.

113: Jaxson Rohman (F/MCW) pinned Braydon Ripka, 3:07.

120: Connor Simmonds (F/MCW) won by forfeit.

126: Cale Steuber (F/MCW) won by forfeit.

132: Jordan Wolter (F/MCW) major dec. Tucker Oeltjenbruns, 10-0.

138: Zac Ringnell (F/MCW) major dec. Dalton DeSollar, 13-1.

145: Payton Anderson (F/MCW) won by forfeit.

152: Miles Fitzgerald (F/MCW) tech. fall Jed Dooyema, 17-1.

160: Parker Anderson (F/MCW) dec. Jayden Renken, 5-3.

170: Tristan Lange (F/MCW) pinned Tom Brown, 3:50.

182: Collin Steuber (F/MCW) won by forfeit.

195: Jacob Rahn won by forfeit.

220: Everardo Hernandez won by forfeit.

285: Conner Tordsen won by forfeit.

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