NO WHERE TO GO — Martin County Red Bull wrestler Aden Welcome (top) bars the arm of United opponent Adrian Norman during their 145-pound match in Saturday’s Section 3AA semifinal team meet in Worthington. Welcome went on to post a 15-0 technical fall over Norman, but United edged the Red Bulls by a 34-32 decision to win the semifinal meet. (Photo by Greg Abel)

WORTHINGTON — Section 3AA has a new team wrestling champion, but not without a down-to-the-last-match challenge by the 2022 title holder.

Defending champion Martin County’s pair of state-ranked wrestlers — Carver Rohman and Max Olson — recorded key falls to give the Red Bulls a chance to upend Class AA No. 9-ranked United during Saturday’s sectional semifinal in Worthington.

Olson, the No. 5-ranked 220-pounder, delivered a clutch fall to transform the Red Bulls’ two-point deficit into a four-point lead, but heavyweight Brady Rhode countered with a pin to reverse United’s deficit into a 34-32 team triumph.

Rhode later capped his lineup’s run of three consecutive falls to defeat the Marshall Tigers by a 37-22 decision during the Section 3 team championship bout on Saturday afternoon to earn United its second-ever state bid.

Dawson-Boyd, Lac qui Parle and Montevideo — which comprise United’s program — also qualified for the state meet in 2014.

United will open the Class AA state team quarterfinals — against an opponent to be determined — at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 2, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

“Even after all of the adversity and injuries this team has fought through this season, we still almost earned another trip to state,” said Red Bulls head coach Adam Williamson, whose program won the Section 3 team crown four of the previous five seasons. “Our guys at the lower weights didn’t give up many bonus points to keep the score close and then we made a nice run at them (United) with the middle of our lineup, but just couldn’t quite close it out.

“I’m very proud of this group of wrestlers who gave everything they had and left it all on the mat today.”

Trailing 19-6, Aden Welcome triggered the Red Bulls’ run of four consecutive wins to build a 26-19 lead heading into the 182-pound match.

Welcome netted a 5-0 first-period lead over Adrian Norman during their 145-pound battle before doubling his margin to 10-0 after two completed frames. Welcome then used a takedown and three-point near-fall during the third segment to cap a 15-0 technical fall to close Martin County’s team gap to 19-11.

Taylor Austin built an 8-3 advantage over Gabe Lowry during their 152-pound bout before the Red Bull junior recorded a clutch fall on the edge of the canvas with only 2 seconds remaining in the opening 2-minute period.

After Austin’s fall inched Martin County within 19-17, Cooper Steuber staked the Red Bulls to a narrow one-point team lead by outdueling Ethan Moravetz in a defensive-themed 160-pound clash.

Steuber notched the initial period’s only takedown with 6 seconds remaining before recording a second-period escape. Neither grappler posted a point in the third segment.

No. 5-ranked 160-pounder Carver Rohman then moved to 170 and notched a fall in 3:18 to extend the Red Bulls’ lead to 26-19.

Rohman coasted to a 6-2 first-period lead over Mason Pederson before amassing a 14-6 second-period edge via a takedown-for-escape strategy. Rohman then pinned Pederson to extend the Red Bulls’ lead to seven points.

Holt Larson, however, countered for United by squeezing out a 6-4 overtime decision over Gage Cyphers at 182. Larson led 4-1 on the strength of two first-period takedowns before Cyphers rallied down the stretch. The Red Bull senior generated two near-fall points from the ‘up’ position during the second frame before tying the match via a stalling penalty on Larson in the third segment. Larson then recorded a takedown in the extra session to net the win.

Parker Bothun then regained the team lead for United by pinning Josiah Brakenhoff in 4:40 during their 195-pound bout. Bothun built a 7-1 lead through two periods before earning the slap of the mat for six pivotal team points.

Max Olson swung a 32-28 lead to the Red Bulls by pressing Landon Olson’s shoulders to the canvas in 3:23 at 220 before Rhode answered for United with a fall in 1:14 over Colby Schwichtenberg at heavyweight.

United’s No. 7-ranked 106-pounder Ben Gunlogson edged Pierce Rohman by a 6-2 decison at 106 before Maddex Faber countered for the Red Bulls by flattening Eli Olson in 3:48 for a fall at 113.

Holland Schacherer regained six team points for United by pinning Kaedin Lange in 1:26 at 120 before No. 6-ranked 126-pounder Daniel Gunlogson outlasted Martin County’s Rylan Cutler by a 5-0 decision.

Kameron Sather followed with an 8-0 major decision over the Red Bulls’ Berent Kosbab during 132-pound action before United’s No. 9-ranked 138-pounder Zander Clausen survived a back-and-forth 16-15 bout against the hard-working Riley Cole.

Cole, who trailed 7-6 and 10-6 after the first and second frames, respectively, eventually rallied for a 12-10 lead and a 14-all tie before Clausen’s reversal with 9 seconds remaining allowed him to escape with a one-point win.

The Red Bulls and United will compete in the Section 3AA Individual Meet starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Morris High School.

Section 3AA Team

Wrestling Semifinal

United 34,

Martin County 32

106 pounds: Ben Gunlogson (U) dec. Pierce Rohman, 6-2.

113: Maddex Faber (MC) pinned Eli Olson, 3:48.

120: Holland Schacherer (U) pinned Kaedin Lange, 1:26.

126: Daniel Gunlogson (U) dec. Rylan Cutler, 5-0.

132: Kameron Sather (U) major dec. Berent Kosbab, 8-0.

138: Zander Clausen (U) dec. Riley Cole, 16-15.

145: Aden Welcome (MC) tech. fall Adrian Norman, 15-0.

152: Taylor Austin (MC) pinned Gabe Lowry, 1:58.

160: Cooper Steuber (MC) dec. Ethan Moravetz, 3-0.

170: Carver Rohman (MC) pinned Mason Pederson, 3:18.

182: Holt Larson (U) dec. Gage Cyphers, 6-4 in OT.

195: Parker Bothun (U) pinned Josiah Brakenhoff, 4:40.

220: Max Olson (MC) pinned Landon Olson, 3:23.

285: Brady Rhode (U) pinned Colby Schwichtenberg, 1:14.