LEVERAGE — Martin County Red Bulls wrestler Aden Welcome (top) uses his leverage to turn New Ulm Eagles opponent Wyatt Pollard during their 138-pound match in Section 3AA Team Meet semifinal action Thursday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont. Welcome went on to post a 13-0 major decision over Pollard. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The Red Bulls are headed back to the Section 3AA championship.

Class AA No. 3-ranked Martin County swept its two duals Thursday at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont, taking its Section 3AA Team Meet quarterfinal against Luverne 74-0, then beating New Ulm Area 53-18 in the semifinals.

The two wins advance the Red Bulls for a matchup with Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley/Montevideo United, which beat Marshall, 39-28, and New London-Spicer, 43-33, in New London on Thursday to reach the 3AA team finals.

New Ulm jumped ahead to start its dual with the Red Bulls in the semifinals when Parker Kamm pinned Torrey Paplow in 39 seconds at 106 pounds, then the Red Bulls went on a run.

Cooper Steuber reversed control out of the down starting position in the second period for the only points of his 113-pound matchup with Logan Lee, then No. 7-ranked 120-pounder Jesse Potts tied the dual when he worked his way to a 6-0 decision over Winsten Nienhaus with two takedowns and a two-point near-fall.

The Red Bulls’ Jaxson Rohman proved his No. 1 ranking at 126 pounds by earning a slap of the mat in 1:15 against Isaiah Rieser to give Martin County a lead it would not lose.

No. 9-ranked 132-pounder Kain Sanders added four more points to the Red Bull advantage with a 9-0 major decision over Marqavian Haefner. Sanders used a takedown, a reversal, a three-point near-fall and a two-point near-fall to build his advantage.

Aden Welcome extended the Red Bulls’ win streak with a 13-0 major decision over Wyatt Pollard at 138 pounds. Welcome took Pollard to the mat and immediately forced a three-point near-fall in the first period, then took Pollard to the mat again after the pair started the second period in the neutral position.

Welcome started the final period in the down position and earned a reversal 30 seconds in, then Pollard was penalized a stalling point before Welcome forced a three-point near-fall at the final buzzer.

The Red Bulls’ No. 3-ranked 138-pounder Lucas Jagodzinske moved up to 145 pounds to face Ryan Wiltscheck.

Jagodzinske started the second period in the down starting position, then forced a reversal and quickly turned Wiltscheck for a pin in just 2:36.

Carver Rohman continued the Red Bulls’ run with a pin of Ty Frederick in 48 seconds at 152 pounds, then Martin County’s No. 2-ranked 145-pounder Connor Simmonds jumped to 160 and followed Rohman’s lead by pinning AJ Kauffmann in 48 seconds.

The Red Bulls’ No. 4-ranked 170-pounder Blake Jagodzinske earned Martin County its fourth consecutive fall when he earned a slap of the mat against Dylen Carreon in 1:52.

No. 6-ranked 182-pounder Cole Ranweiler broke the Red Bulls’ streak when he earned six points for the Eagles with a pin of Gage Cyphers in 46 seconds.

Wyatt Williamson took a forfeit for the Red Bulls at 195 pounds, then Max Olson worked his way to an 11-3 major decision over Julian Hernandez at 220 pounds.

Olson took Hernandez to the mat in the first period, then escaped the down starting position and forced another takedown to bring a 5-0 lead into the third period.

Hernandez chose to start the final segment in the down starting position, but Olson gave him a point to go to the neutral position after a stalemate.

Hernandez then forced a takedown to bring Olson’s lead to 5-3 with 1:03 left, then let Olson up to try to build a comeback. Olson forced another takedown with 36 seconds remaining, then held Hernandez in a near fall position for the final 30 seconds to build his major decision.

Jaden Drill added six points to the Eagles’ score to end the dual, pinning Alec Thompson in 25 seconds in the heavyweight bout.

“They just came out focused and didn’t take anyone or any team lightly,” Martin County head coach Adam Williamson said of the Red Bulls’ performance. “That’s what we asked of them this week. Take it one match at a time, one dual at a time and keep moving forward.”

The Red Bulls wrestled six matches to build their win over the Luverne Cardinals in the quarterfinals.

Cooper Steuber took down Rayden Boyenga in the first period of the 113-pound matchup, then neared pinned Boyenga twice to build an 8-0 advantage before earning a slap of the mat just as the buzzer sounded to end the first period.

Potts then used two takedowns, a reversal, an escape and a two-point near-fall to build a 9-2 decision over Riley Cowell at 120 pounds.

Welcome earned his first win of the day with an 11-1 major decision over Brayden Ripka. Welcome used two takedowns, an escape and two three-point near-falls to build his 145-pound win.

Carver Rohman earned the first of his two wins when he took a 6-4 decision over Hunter Baker at 152 pounds. Rohman and Baker battled to a 4-4 tie to start the third period after Rohman decided to start the final segment neutral after Baker chose the down starting position. The pair traded shots throughout the final period, but Rohman’s was the first to land, earning a takedown with 15 seconds left to take the lead.

Joseph Forsberg joined the varsity lineup to face Mason Smith at 160 pounds and worked his way to a 15-4 major decision.

Forsberg used six takedowns and a three-point near fall to build his advantage.

“Some of our extras getting in there was great for them, great for their confidence,” Adam Williamson said. “Great experience for them to wrestle in the section tournament. Joseph Forsberg wrestled a really nice match, he looked really good. … Torrey got in there and just wrestled hard for us. Those guys have put in all the same time the varsity guys have, so them getting a chance is big for them and for us.”

Gage Cyphers earned the Red Bulls’ final non-forfeit of the quarterfinal dual when he earned a slap of the mat in 45 seconds against 170-pounder Jacob Madison.

Rylan Cutler (106), Jaxson Rohman (126), Kain Sanders (132), Lucas Jagodzinske (138), Blake Jagodzinske (182), Wyatt Williamson (195), Olson (220) and Thompson (285) all took forfeits for the Red Bulls.

Martin County 74, Luverne 0

106: Rylan Cutler (MC) won by forfeit. 113: Cooper Steuber (MC) pinned Rayden Boyenga, 2:00. 120: Jesse Potts (MC) dec. Riley Cowell, 9-2. 126: Jaxson Rohman (MC) won by forfeit. 132: Kain Sanders (MC) won by forfeit. 138: Lucas Jagodzinske (MC) won by forfeit. 145: Aden Welcome (MC) major dec. Braydon Ripka, 11-1. 152: Carver Rohman (MC) dec. Hunter Baker, 6-4. 160: Joseph Forsberg (MC) major dec. Mason Smith, 15-4. 170: Gage Cyphers (MC) pinned Jacob Madison, 0:45. 182: Blake Jagodzinske won by forfeit. 195: Wyatt Williamson (MC) won by forfeit. 220: Max Olson (MC) won by forfeit. 285: Alec Thompson (MC) won by forfeit.

Martin County 53, New Ulm Area 18

106: Parker Kamm (NUA) pinned Torrey Paplow, 0:39. 113: Cooper Steuber (MC) dec. Logan Lee, 2-0. 120: Jesse Potts (MC) dec. Winsten Nienhaus, 6-0. 126: Jaxson Rohman (MC) pinned Isaiah Rieser, 1:15. 132: Kain Sanders (MC) major dec. Marqavian Haefner, 9-0. 138: Aden Welcome (MC) major dec. Wyatt Pollard, 13-0. 145: Lucas Jagodzinske (MC) pinned Ryan wiltscheck, 2:36. 152: Carver Rohman (MC) pinned Ty Frederick, 0:48. 160: Connor Simmonds (MC) pinned AJ Kauffmann, 0:48. 170: Blake Jagodzinske (MC) pinned dylen Carreon, 1:52. 182: Cole Ranweiler (NUA) pinned Gage Cyphers, 0:46. 195: Wyatt Williamson (MC) won by forfeit. 220: Max Olson (MC) major dec. Julian Hernandez, 11-3. 285: Jaden Drill (NUA) pinned Alec Thompson, 0:25.