Four wrestlers from the Westfield Razorbacks won medals at the state tournament at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday. Sophomore Colton Krell finished as state runner-up at 160 pounds, improving on his fourth place finish in the same classification in 2017. He lost to Zach Schneider of Caledonia-Houston 9-2 in the finals. Krell won his first two matches by major decision to reach the semifinals, where he upset top-ranked Kelby O'Reilly of Goodhue 5-2 to reach the championship bout.

Senior Ethan Arett of the Blooming Prairie/Hayfield coop capped his prep career with a fourth place finish, his first medal in three state tournament trips. Arett, the fifth-ranked wrestler at 106 pounds, bounced back from a loss to the top-rated guy to compete in the third/fourth place match. Senior Mitch Oswald lost the third place match at heavyweight Saturday to Trevor Oppedal of Blue Earth Area 4-3, the same man who pinned him in the quarterfinals on Friday and in the Section 2A finals the previous weekend.

Morgen Moreno of the Razorbacks won the fifth place match with a first-period pin Saturday at 195 pounds after competing at state at 170 a year ago. Westfield sophomore Dylan Nirk only got the chance to wrestle one match during his tournament debut.

Unrated Medford wrestler Charley Elwood made a splash in his tournament debut. The seventh-grader raced through the 106-pound bracket with a technical fall, an upset decision over No. 2 ranked Michael Majerus of Zumbrota-Mazeppa and a pin to reach the championship match. Elwood lost the title bout 10-7 to top-ranked Will Magaard of KMS.

Tiger sophomore Willie VonRuden earned a third place medal at 138, his first placing in his third trip to state. VonRuden lost in the quarterfinals to No. 2 rated Gage Zieske of Osakis then won in overtime to stay alive in the wrestle-backs. VonRuden captured third place with a win by pin. Medford senior Nick Meixner qualified for state for the first time and went 2-2 over the two days but did not place.

Triton senior Hunter Jennings faced a tough draw of No. 2 Dalton Wagner of Jackson County Central in the opening round at 195 pounds. He followed up a loss with wins by decision, major decision, overtime sudden victory and a win by fall to get the third place medal. His teammate and fellow senior Cole Rasmussen won his first match then lost to eventual three-time champ Michael Suda of Pipestone Area and lost a close decision in wrestle-backs.

NRHEG junior Tyler Jacobson won his state tournament debut with a win by pin at 170 pounds. He lost his next two matches.

 

More From KRFO-FM