MEET-CLINCHING FALL — Martin County Red Bulls wrestler Alec Thompson (top) maneuvers his shoulder into place to pin Hutchinson opponent Evan Peirce during their 220-pound match in Saturday’s Section 3AA Team Meet championship dual at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont. Thompson’s fall sealed the sectional crown for the Red Bulls. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The quiet smile on Alec Thompson’s face and the echoing roar of the hometown wrestling fans’ cheers defined the pivotal moment of Saturday’s Section 3AA Team Meet wrestling championship clash.

Thompson, who tips the scales at only 207 pounds, pinned his 220-pound opponent with only 34 seconds remaining in their 6-minute duel to mathematically clinch the Martin County Red Bulls’ eventual 32-25 win over the Hutchinson Tigers at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont.

The No. 8-ranked Red Bulls advance to the Class AA state team meet for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Martin County (26-1) opens the team quarterfinals against an opponent — to be determined — at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 3, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

“To be honest, I was a little nervous at the beginning of my match against a guy who likes to headlock his opponents,” Thompson said in reference to the Tigers’ Evan Peirce. “I kept telling myself to avoid his throws and not give up anything big (from a points perspective).

“I just wanted to help the team win anyway I could today.”

Thompson’s fall in 5:26 in the Section 3 championship dual meet’s next-to-last match proved monumental as Hutchinson’s No. 4-ranked 195-pounder Hayden VanderVoort defeated No. 4-ranked 220-pounder Max Olson of the Red Bulls in the heavyweight clash, 9-2.

“Our wrestlers set this goal before the season started, and each and every one of them went for it all today,” said Red Bulls head coach Adam Williamson. “They’ve worked their tails off through our share of adversity this season, and they weren’t going to be denied qualifying for state.”

Trailing 10-0 after the initial two matches, Rylan Cutler and Jesse Potts drew the Red Bulls even on the team ledger by recording a major decision and a fall, respectively.

Cutler proved flawless in earning a 10-0 major decision at 120 pounds before Potts — the No. 3-ranked 126-pounder — needed a mere 38 seconds to earn the slap of the canvas.

Treyton Card scratched out a 5-2 decision at 132 to nudge the Tigers ahead 13-10 on the scoreboard before the Red Bulls stampeded to four consecutive wins to grab a 26-13 lead.

Taylor Austin built an 8-0 lead after two periods en route to an 11-0 major decision during 138-pound action for Martin County before No. 6-ranked 145-pounder Kain Sanders stepped to the canvas circle.

Sanders posted a 4-2 first-period lead over Luke Hoag, but the hard-working Hutchinson freshman battled back to knot the clash at 6-all heading into the final 2-minute frame. Sanders converted a third-period reversal and later, a key takedown, to seal a 10-7 victory for the Red Bulls.

Aden Welcome amassed a 9-5 first-period margin to fuel an eventual 12-6 victory at 152 for Martin County before Carver Rohman widened the team gap to 13 points by earning a fall in 2:48 at 160. Rohman traded allowed escapes in exchange for takedowns en route to an 8-3 lead after one frame before earning the slap of the canvas in the second period.

Cameron Kron, Brady Andersen and Riley Gill then generated three straight winning decisions from 170 to 195 to narrow the Tigers’ deficit to 26-22.

“It’s difficult for people to understand that we had three guys lose their matches, but more importantly, they did not give up any bonus points and that’s a huge positive from a team standpoint,” said Adam Williamson. “Gage (Cyphers), Wyatt (Williamson) and Riley (Allen) contributed to the team cause by limiting Hutchinson’s wins to only three points each.”

The Red Bulls compete next in the Section 3AA Individual Meet starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at Redwood Valley High School in Redwood Falls.

•

Section 3AA Team Meet

Championship

Martin County 32, Hutchinson 25

106: Logan Schwanz (HU) pinned Torrey Paplow, 1:18. 113: Raydon Bipes (HU) major dec. Berent Kosbab, 11-2. 120: Rylan Cutler (MC) major dec. Max Martin, 10-0. 126: Jesse Potts (MC) pinned Cody Tews, 0:38. 132: Treyton Card (HU) dec. Cooper Steuber, 5-2. 138: Taylor Austin (MC) major dec. Andrew Soderlund, 11-0. 145: Kain Sanders (MC) dec. Luke Hoag, 10-7. 152: Aden Welcome (MC) dec. Jay Rickertsen, 12-6. 160: Carver Rohman (MC) pinned Michael Hahn, 2:48. 170: Cameron Kron (HU) dec. Gage Cyphers, 9-5. 182: Brady Andersen (HU) dec. Wyatt Williamson, 4-2. 195: Riley Gill (HU) dec. Riley Allen, 11-4. 220: Alec Thompson (MC) pinned Evan Peirce, 5:26. 285: Hayden VanderVoort (HU) dec. Max Olson, 9-2.

•

Semifinals

Martin County 41, MAHACA 24

106: Tyce Anderson (MAHACA) major dec. Torrey Paplow, 17-5. 113: Grayson Gibson (MAHACA) major dec. Berent Kosbab, 19-7. 120: Rylan Cutler (MC) pinned Alex Sperr, 2:39. 126: Jesse Potts (MC) dec. Dallas Walton, 3-2. 132: Ethan Lebrija (MAHACA) major dec. Cooper Steuber, 12-4. 138: Taylor Austin (MC) pinned Andrew Marty, 5:38. 145: Davin Rose (MAHACA) dec. Kain Sanders, 5-3 in OT. 152: Aden Welcome (MC) pinned Caden Rose, 3:32. 160: Carver Rohman (MC) tech. fall Hunter Massner, 25-10. 170: Gage Cyphers (MC) tech. fall Dain Schroeder, 15-0. 182: Wyatt Williamson (MC) major dec. Noah Amundson, 17-6. 195: Hunter Gibson (MAHACA) pinned Riley Allen, 0:09. 220: Max Olson (MC) pinned Brock Marty, 0:45. 285: Levi Kellenberger (MAHACA) dec. Alec Thompson, 7-4.