ST. CLAIR — Blue Earth Area head wrestling coach Randy Wirtjes finally can get a good night’s rest.

Wirtjes’ Class A No. 6-ranked Bucs ended the elite prep program’s nearly two-decade long sectional team runner-up streak by flattening long-time nemesis and four-time defending Section 2 champion Kenyon-Wanamingo, 39-23, during Saturday’s championship bout in St. Clair.

Nick Frank produced a 7-0 victory during 182-pound action to mathematically eliminate the No. 12 state-ranked Knights and punch the Bucs’ ticket to the Class A state team quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

“It took us 18 years to get back to the state team tournament, but we’re finally there,” said a physically- and mentally-relieved Wirtjes. “Don’t get me wrong — I appreciated wrestling for the sectional (team) championship numerous times since we won it (state) in 2002, but you’d think we would have gotten back to the Xcel Energy Center at least once in the last couple of years.

“I didn’t sleep well last night, but I think that’s going to change,” added a grinning Wirtjes.

“I finally breathed a little easier once Nick (Frank) got his hand raised (in victory),” said long-time Bucs’ assistant coach Dave Pfaffinger. “It’s been a long time coming, and this group of kids really earned it today.”

After losing an 11-2 major decision to the Knights to open the Section 2 championship dual, Ty Peterson triggered the Bucs’ 23-point scoring avalanche by delivering a fall in 1:46 over Trent Foss during 113-pound action.

No. 4-ranked 126-pounder Davis Sunken then moved to the 120-pound spot in Blue Earth Area’s lineup and delivered a fall in 4:33 over Kiefer Olson to widen the gap to 12-4.

“Davis has been willing to move to where he’ll help us most from a team perspective, and you can’t say enough about that,” said Wirtjes.

Twin brothers Jacob Beeler and Caleb Beeler then left the Knights experiencing double vision as the Blue Earth Area seniors each generated major decisions in back-to-back style. Jacob Beeler netted a 12-0 triumph over Isaiah Thompson at 126, while Caleb Beeler chalked up a 10-1 victory over Dillon Bartel from the 132-pound spot.

“Ty has been reliable at 113 for us, the Beelers have been wrestling about as well as anyone right now, while Jaxen (Klinkner) got us a big win over a quality wrestler by moving down a weight,” said Wirtjes.

No. 6-ranked 145-pounder Jaxen Klinkner dropped to 138 pounds to deliver three key points via a 10-5 win over the Knights’ Alec Johnson to widen the Bucs’ lead to 23-4.

“Every guy in our lineup helped our cause today,” said Wirtjes. “From Caleb Langager only allowing four (team) points to a Kenyon wrestler (Gavin Johnson) with 23 wins on the season to Parker Meyers stepping in at 145 and only giving up a decision to a guy who’s been a state qualifier (Bray Olson).

“The same goes for Adam Schavey against a state-caliber wrestler in Tyler Craig, Nick Lawrence against (No. 7-ranked) Carter Quam and Ian Cornelio to their heavyweight (Amani Tucker). They all gave us great efforts.”

Koby Nagel delivered four key points for the Bucs with a 16-5 major decision over Jaedin Johnson during 152-pound action before No. 4-ranked 160-pounder Max Ehrich displayed his versatility by moving to 170 to inch Blue Earth Area to the brink of a sectional team crown. Ehrich needed only 19 seconds to earn the slap of the mat over Gage Thompson to extend the lead to 33-13 with four matches remaining.

“Give credit to Koby and Max, too, for moving up a weight each for the team. That’s when you know you have a ‘real’ team,” said Wirtjes.

Nick Frank then steadily built leads of 2-0, 5-0 and finally 7-0 after each respective period over Daniel Van Epps at 182 to seal the Bucs’ drought-ending triumph. Blue Earth Area’s Luke Mertens then added another dominating 7-0 shutout over Logan Meyers at 195 for good measure.

“Nick has taken a huge step and become a reliable wrestler every time he steps on the mat,” said Wirtjes. “Even after we had clinched the meet, Luke went out there, kept his focus and earned us three more points. It’s good to know that if we needed another win, he could get one for us.”

Kenyon-Wanamingo had upended No. 2-seeded Maple River, 42-33, in the sectional semifinals earlier Saturday to gain the championship clash.

Peterson (113), Sunken (126), Caleb Beeler (138), Schavey (160) and Nick Frank (182) each produced falls to help Blue Earth Area eliminate the No. 4-seeded Medford Tigers, 47-19, in the sectional team semifinals earlier Saturday.

Peterson just beat the first-period buzzer to record a fall over Evan Scweisthal, Sunken required just half that amount of time to pin Derek Bartosh, while Caleb Beeler built a 9-0 lead before sticking Kael Neumann in 3:22. Schavey amassed a 5-0 margin over George McCarthy before earning a fall in 3:28, while Nick Frank converted a tight headlock into a fall over Dylan Heiderscheidt in a mere 1:41.

Carson Sturtz received a forfeit at 120 for Blue Earth Area, Ehrich assembled a textbook takedown clinic to post a 21-6 technical fall over Josiah Hedensten after moving up to 170, Mertens posted a 5-2 win over Zach Wetmore at 195, while Lawrence outlasted Brennon Hoffman, 2-1, in a triple-overtime clash at 220.

Blue Earth Area plays host to the two-day Section 2A individual meet starting at 4:30 p.m. both Thursday and Friday afternoon in Blue Earth.

2020 Section 2A Team

Wrestling Tournament

Championship

B.E. Area 39,

Kenyon-Wanamingo 23

106: Gavin Johnson (KW) major dec. Caleb Langager, 11-2.

113: Ty Peterson (BEA) pinned Trent Foss, 1:46.

120: Davis Sunken (BEA) pinned Kiefer Olson, 4:33.

126: Jacob Beeler (BEA) major dec. Isaiah Thompson, 12-0.

132: Caleb Beeler (BEA) major dec. Dillon Bartel, 10-1.

138: Jaxen Klinkner (BEA) dec. Alec Johnson, 10-5.

145: Bray Olson (KW) dec. Parker Meyers, 9-5.

152: Koby Nagel (BEA) major dec. Jaedin Johnson, 16-5.

160: Tyler Craig (KW) pinned Adam Schavey, 3:37.

170: Max Ehrich (BEA) pinned Gage Thompson, 0:19.

182: Nick Frank (BEA) dec. Daniel Van Epps, 7-0.

195: Luke Mertens (BEA) dec. Logan Meyers, 7-0.

220: Carter Quam (KW) major dec. Nick Lawrence, 9-1.

285: Amani Tucker (KW) pinned Ian Cornelio, 2:33.

•

Semifinal

B.E. Area 47, Medford 19

106: Tommy Elwood (MED) dec. Caleb Langager, 6-0.

113: Ty Peterson (BEA) pinned Evan Scweisthal, 2:00.

120: Carson Sturtz (BEA) won by forfeit.

126: Davis Sunken (BEA) pinned Derek Bartosh, 1:00.

132: Charley Elwood (MED) dec. Jacob Beeler, 5-0.

138: Caleb Beeler (BEA) pinned Kael Neumann, 3:22.

145: Tate Hermes (MED) dec. Jaxen Klinkner, 9-3.

152: Willie VonRuden (MED) major dec. Koby Nagel, 18-6.

160: Adam Schavey (BEA) pinned George McCarthy, 3:28.

170: Max Ehrich (BEA) tech. fall Josiah Hedensten, 21-6.

182: Nick Frank (BEA) pinned Dylan Heiderscheidt, 1:41.

195: Luke Mertens (BEA) dec. Zach Wetmore, 5-2.

220: Nick Lawrence (BEA) dec. Brennon Hoffman, 2-1 in 3 OTs.

285: Gavin Hermes (MED) pinned Ian Cornelio, 0:48