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Red Bulls reach state wrestling’s Final 4

GRINDING IT OUT — Martin County Red Bulls wrestler Max Olson (top) prevents Tri-City United opponent Tegan Determan from escaping during 195-pound action in Class AA state team quarterfinal action Saturday at St. Peter High School. (Photo by Kyle McAreavy)

ST. PETER — For the third time in four years, the Red Bulls have earned a spot in the Class AA team wrestling state semifinals.

“We have kids and parents and coaches who put so much into this program,” Martin County head coach Adam Williamson said about what has led to his team’s success the past few years. “It’s really turned into one big family. The kids feed off of each other, hold each other accountable and make each other better every day.”

No. 3-ranked Martin County grappled its way to wins during both the Section 3 championship and the Class AA state quarterfinal Saturday in St. Peter.

The Red Bulls started with a dominant 59-15 win over Dawson-Boyd-Lac qui Parle-Montevideo United to advance to face Tri-City United in the state preliminaries, winning 39-28.

The Titans beat Scott West, 40-25, in the Section 2 championship to advance.

The Red Bulls advanced to the Class AA team state semifinals on Friday, March 26, at St. Michael-Albertville High School.

Rylan Cutler got the dual against TCU started for the Red Bulls, earning his second pin of the day when he shoved No. 8-ranked 106-pounder Ayden Balma’s shoulders to the mat in 1:25.

Chris Johnson got the Titans on the board with a 6-2 decision over Cooper Steuber at 113, but No. 7-ranked 120-pounder Jesse Potts got a Martin County run started with a slap of the mat in 3:08 against Zach Balma.

Martin County’s No. 1-ranked 126-pounder Jaxson Rohman earned six points by taking a forfeit before No. 8-ranked 132-pounder Kain Sanders added six more for the Red Bulls with a pin of Grant Lemieux in 1:11.

Aden Welcome used two takedowns and a reversal to build a 6-4 decision over Cole Franek at 138 to put the Red Bulls ahead 27-3.

The Titans’ No. 8-ranked 145-pounder Caleb Whipps battled Martin County’s No. 3-ranked 138-pounder Lucas Jagodzinske in the 145-pound matchup. After a stalemate with 1:19 left in the second period, Whipps took Jagodzinske straight to his back, earning a slap of the mat in 3:07.

Caden O’Malley brought the Titans within 15 points when he used two takedowns, a three-point near-fall and three escapes to build a 10-4 decision over Carver Rohman at 152.

Six more points were put on the Red Bulls’ side of the scoreboard when No. 2-ranked 145-pounder Connor Simmonds took a forfeit at 160. Martin County’s No. 4-ranked 160-pounder Blake Jagodzinske then moved to 170, where he built an 11-5 decision over Marco Reyes.

Reyes kept it from becoming a major decision when he took Jagodzinske to the mat with 35 seconds remaining. Jagodzinske nearly earned the extra point when he wrapped his leg around Reyes’ back, going for a reversal, with seconds remaining, but time ran out.

With the Red Bulls’ lead at 36-12 with four matches remaining, Gage Cyphers mathematically sealed the dual when he lost a 17-4 major decision.

TCU’s No. 4-ranked 182-pounder Brody Rud took Cyphers to the mat seven times and escaped in both the second and third periods to build his total.

Max Olson added three points to the Red Bulls’ score for good measure, taking an 8-5 decision over Tegan Determan at 195. Olson used three takedowns and an escape to build his winning total.

TCU’s No. 5-ranked 220-pounder Riley O’Malley then shoved Wyatt Williamson’s shoulders to the mat in 1:36 at 220 before Robert Bastyr earned six more points for the Titans by pinning Alec Thompson in 1:08 at heavyweight.

The Red Bulls rattled off 10 consecutive wins, including six consecutive pins, to build their lead against United to start the day.

Cutler earned a slap of the mat against Kameron Sather in 5:09 to start the dual at 106, but United’s No. 10-ranked 106-pounder Daniel Gunlogson answered with a 2-1 decision over Steuber at 113.

Potts started the Red Bulls’ run of pins when he shoved Ethan Moravetz’s shoulders to the mat in 1:10 at 120, then Jaxson Rohman got the second with a fall over Holland Schacherer in 1:37.

Sanders kept the run going with a pin of Zander Clausen in 3:18 at 132 pounds, then Welcome got the fourth consecutive when he shoved Tyler Schickedanz’s shoulders down at the 4:29 mark of the 138-pound matchup.

Lucas Jagodzinske then pinned Isaac Moravetz in 1:33 during the 145-pound match before Carver Rohman earned the Red Bulls’ sixth consecutive pin against Kadin Huntley in 5:21at 152.

Simmonds kept the win streak going with an 8-0 major decision over Dain Mortenson, then Blake Jagodzinske used a takedown and a third-period reversal to earn a 4-0 decision against Avery Wittnebel at 170.

Cyphers used three takedowns, an escape and a three-point near-fall to build a 10-0 major decision over 182-pound opponent Holt Larson before Max Olson earned the Red Bulls’ eighth pin of the dual in 3:48 against Landon Olson.

Keaton Haas put up six points for United with a pin of Williamson in 4:24, then Trey Teichert earned six more in the heavyweight matchup with a fall over Thompson in 50 seconds.

Section 3AA Team Final

Martin County 59, United 15

106: Rylan Cutler (MC) pinned Kameron Sather, 5:09. 113: Daniel Gunlogson (U) dec. Cooper Steuber, 2-1. 120: Jesse Potts (MC) pinned Ethan Moravetz, 1:10. 126: Jaxson Rohman (MC) pinned Holland Schacherer, 1:37. 132: Kain Sanders (MC) pinned Zander Clausen, 3:18. 138: Aden Welcome (MC) pinned Tyler Schickedanz, 4:29. 145: Lucas Jagodzinske (MC) pinned Isaac Moravetz, 1:33. 152: Carver Rohman (MC) pinned Kadin Huntley, 5:21. 160: Connor Simmonds (MC) major dec. Dain Mortenson, 8-0. 170: Blake Jagodzinske (MC) dec. Avery Wittnebel, 4-0. 182: Gage Cyphers (MC) major dec. Holt Larson, 10-0. 195: Max Olson (MC) pinned Landon Olson, 3:48. 220: Keaton Haas (U) pinned Wyatt Williamson, 4:24. 285: Trey Teichert (U) pinned Alec Thompson, 0:50.

Class AA State Team Quarterfinal

Martin County 39, TCU 28

106: Rylan Cutler (MC) pinned Ayden Balma, 1:25. 113: Chris Johnson (TCU) dec. Cooper Steuber, 6-2. 120: Jesse Potts (MC) pinned Zach Balma, 5:08. 126: Jaxson Rohman (MC) won by forfeit. 132: Kain Sanders (MC) pinned Brant Lemieux, 1:11. 138: Aden Welcome (MC) dec. Cole Franek, 6-4. 145: Caleb Whipps (TCU) pinned Lucas Jagodzinske, 3:07. 152: Caden O’Malley (TCU) dec. Carver Rohman, 10-4. 160: Connor Simmonds won by forfeit. 170: Blake Jagodzinske (MC) dec. Marco Reyes, 11-5. 182: Brody Rud (TCU) major dec. Gage Cyphers, 17-4. 195: Max Olson (MC) dec. Tegan Determan, 8-5. 220: Riley O’Malley (TCU) pinned Wyatt Williamson, 1:36. 285: Robert Bastyr (TCU) pinned Alec Thompson, 1:08.

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