The opening round paired us with Barnesville and the Raiders got rolling after dropping the first match.  David Revering and Evan Jares accepted forfeits.  Aiden Larson knocked off the #8 ranked kid in the final seconds.  Holden Truax glued his opponent.  Reese Thompson picked up the decision.  Justin Koehn and Tyler Eggert earned falls sandwiching forfeits from Brock Peterson, Mason Schroeder, and Hunter Dean for the huge lead.  We dropped 195 in front of a pin by Gideon Ervasti over his ranked opponent and James Grant finished it off with a fall for the 66-12 victory over the Trojans.

The semifinal round opponent was Pelican Rapids and the guys kept doing their job.  Justin Olson opened with a hard-fought decision.  Revering, Deagen Captain, and Thompson secured falls and Larson a forfeit for the 27-0 lead.  The Raiders grabbed another forfeit at 145 for Abby Ervasti.  Brock Peterson put his opponents shoulders down.  Dean took a forfeit and the top put it away with a pin from Gideon Ervasti and forfeits for Grant and Hayden Captain moving BHVPP to their third consecutive Section 6A title match with a 63-13 rout on top of the Vikings.

Saturday saw some of the best wrestling you can pack into one gym.  Under the new Covid format for this year, mat 1 featured #6 West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville vs #5 Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie for the Section 6A Championship and mat 2 featured #2 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa vs #1 Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville for the Section 5A Championship.  The winners would battle it out for a spot in the State Semifinals.  Four of the top six teams in the state looking for one ticket.  Evenly match and no secrets as everyone had seen each other throughout the year.  Scalpers did not comment on the going rate but your name on each team’s 55-person guest list was well worth the price of admission. 

Last week we started by winning the bottom six weights for a 24-0 lead before the Knights stormed back only for us to close the door on the top 42-29.  Matchups were expected to be similar, so the plan was to hold our ground.  This time we jumped out to a commanding lead after the first five weights with pins from Bennet Arceneau, Revering, and Deagen Captain.  Larson and Thompson bonused with major decisions and it was 26-0.  However, a decision at 138 for the Knights had swung a point in their favor.  They gained another point on paper through 160 with three consecutive falls and looked to be swinging the 170-match until Dean put an end to it with a pin bringing the score to 32-21 with four weights to go.  We swapped pins at 182 and 195 as both #2 ranked wrestlers won with Gideon Ervasti posting the six for the Raiders.  Two weights to go, just don’t get pinned with an eleven-point lead.  However, the Knights got their six at 220 and the dual came down to heavyweight.  It was a crazy match of flurries from one back to another as both team’s dreams hung in the balance, but in the end Hayden Captain persevered with the fall and BHVPP captured our third straight Section 6A crown with a 44-33 win.       

BBE earned their first Section Championship on mat 2 by knocking out the two-time defending State Champs and the State Quarterfinal was set.  Two weeks to the date, the Raiders traveled to Belgrade and went home in defeat 37-30.  Something would have to change this time around if we were going to keep the season alive.  The first match went the same as the first time with the Jaguars picking up the decision over Arceneau.  Revering was close to a major decision the first time around and 113 was a place where we thought we could gain some ground.  However, this match turned into a dog fight with Revering prevailing 5-4.  Two matches in the books, the same score as before, with twelve matches to go 3-3. 

The Jaguars flipped the matchups in the next two weights by the way they weighed in.  Previously, Deagen Captain and Larson both gave up six.  This was definitely a position in the dual where we believed we could swing some points.  Deagen did just that, not only did he not get pinned.  His smooth moves on his feet picked up the decision and BHVPP had swung nine turning our -7 into a +2.  Larson battled hard at 126 giving up the technical fall to his ranked opponent which made it 8-6 Jaguars but +3 in my book.  BBE sent out their State Champ at 132 and Thompson gave him everything he could handle in the previous matchup.  Not today, the Champ found a way to come through for his team with the fall to extend the lead to 14-6 and even up the dual on paper with nine matches to go. 

Blake Sumstad battled at 138 to slow down the match against his ranked foe, but eventually was turned half-way through the third.  Somehow, some way Blake found a way back to his belly giving up the technical fall instead of the pin from two weeks ago.  He popped to his feet with a fist pump energizing the team and the crowd.  Blake had stolen another point in favor of the Raiders.  BBE’s second ranked 145-pounder did his job by holding par and putting Justin Koehn away late in the first period.  The 152-pound match was a position where we thought we could save a point, but in the end the Jaguars ranked wrestler finish off Peterson by technical fall. 

Six matches to go, down 30-6, the Raiders had the Jaguars in their sights right where we wanted them within striking distance.  The next six weights would be a roller coaster of emotions as one misstep for the Raiders would most likely mean defeat.  Schroeder earned a pin at 160 in the first go around and we were hoping to mount our comeback with a lightning strike.  However, Mason had to dig deep as he found himself behind and nearly glued to the mat.  He battled through and survived the period.  The hole had been dug but not deep enough as he fought back to get the decision.  Dean handled his business putting up six at 170 to hold par as BHVPP had cut the score in the half 30-15 with four weights to go. 

The rematch at 182 pounds went in favor of the Jaguars on a late takedown in in late February.  A loss here would mean the Raiders would have to pin out and that seemed to be highly unlikely so Tyler needed to swing the match in favor of his team.  An early takedown and he was out in front defending off his opponent in multiple positions.  With a 3-1 lead, his opponent once again got his late takedown in the final seconds.  Thankfully, this time it sent the match to sudden victory instead of defeat.  Tyler blasted into a double and looked to have the takedown, his opponent defended and looked to have it, but Tyler rolled with the punches to come out on top drawing the Raiders within twelve 30-18. 

Three weights to go, BBE juggled the next three matchups hoping to change the previous outcome.  Gideon held par with a first period fall and it was down to the final two matches.  The Jaguars slid their previous 195 up to 220 in hopes of taking out Grant to prevail.  After a scoreless first period, James earned a two-point nearfall in the second period for the lead.  After a scary mat return and five minutes of concussion protocol, his opponent came back energized to tie the match with thirty seconds to go.  Grant exploded to his feet for the one-point lead and controlled the ties.  A late flurry and what looked like a potential takedown for his opponent as time expired.  The refs quickly gathered and discussed it declaring “no takedown” and Grant the winner.  The Raiders had pulled within 30-27 and had won seven matches. 

A simple win at 285 would tie the dual and send BHVPP to the next round on criteria.  Hayden Captain went right after the opportunity to be the hero.  A takedown and a turn opened the first period.  His opponent somehow found a way to escape.  Another throw and three more nearfall points made it 10-1 after the first period.  The second period would see two more Hayden takedowns to open the gap to 14-3 with one period to go.  Hayden went down to start the third period and rose to his feet for an escape.  He went right back in for the takedown and on the cusp of a technical fall.  With the head lever in hand, Hayden got out and drove his opponent over.  Two swipes of the ref’s arm sent our crowd of 55 (which made noise for the hundreds at home) and the bench into a frenzy even before he secured the fall.  33-30, the Raiders had done it.  They battled every punch that came their way and persevered to punch their ticket to the State Semifinals.

It was an amazing day of wrestling with four great teams.  If we wrestled it again tomorrow, I would almost guarantee the results would be different as all four teams are quality programs and so evenly matched.  However, you only get one chance and Saturday was the day the Raiders never quit, made their breaks, and rose to the top.  Semifinal pairings will be out sometime this week.  As for now, we will move our focus to individuals with the Section 6A tournament in Barret on Tuesday advancing the top four at each weight to the State Preliminaries on Saturday in Long Prairie.  #BHVPP #allforoneoneforall #marchmatness  The individual matchups were as followed:

106-Asher O’Brien (BAR) Fall Justin Olson 5:25

113-David Revering received a Forfeit

120-Evan Jares received a Forfeit

126-Aiden Larson Dec. Ayden Hauck (BAR) 5-3

132-Holden Truax Fall Hunter Blilie (BAR) :52

138-Reese Thompson Dec. Dawson Gregg (BAR) 8-6

145-Justin Koehn Fall Cameron Halverson (BAR) 1:11

152-Brock Peterson received a Forfeit

160-Mason Schroeder received a Forfeit

170-Hunter Dean received a Forfeit

182-Tyler Eggert Fall Gavin Grommesh (BAR) 1:22

195-Jordan Kroll (BAR) Fall Koal Plautz :55

220-Gideon Ervasti Fall Brady Kroll (BAR) 3:49

285-James Grant Fall Tim Wells (BAR) 1:24

BHVPP 66, Barnesville 12

 

106-Justin Olson Dec. Danny Salazar (PR) 6-5

113-David Revering Fall Jed Carlson (PR) 1:21

120-Deagen Captain Fall Daniel Diaz (PR) 1:04

126-Aiden Larson received a Forfeit

132-Reese Thompson Fall Tommy Thach (PR) 3:57

138-Sebastian Centeno (PR) Maj. Dec. Blake Sumstad 9-1

145-Abby Ervasti received a Forfeit

152-Carter Johnson (PR) Fall Justin Koehn 5:14

160-Brock Peterson Fall Kayden Holt (PR) 1:06

170-Hunter Dean received a Forfeit

182-John Ziebell (PR) Dec. Tyler Eggert 4-2

195-Gideon Ervasti Fall Jacob Willits (PR) 1:25

220-Hayden Captain received a Forfeit

285-Melvin Blumer received a Foreit

BHVPP 63, Pelican Rapids 13

 

106-Bennet Arceneau Fall Carter Lohse (WCAABE) 5:35

113-David Revering Fall Mason Richter (WCAABE) 2:41

120-Deagen Captain Fall Sam Olson (WCAABE) :20

126-Aiden Larson Maj. Dec. Adam Lohse (WCAABE) 8-0

132-Reese Thompson Maj. Dec. Solomon Wales (WCAABE) 10-2

138-Ashton Danner (WCAABE) Dec. Blake Sumstad 9-5

145-Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) Fall Justin Koehn 1:39

152-Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) Fall Brock Peterson 3:37

160-Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) Fall Mason Schroeder 1:42

170-Hunter Dean Fall Kade Olson (WCAABE) 3:15

182-Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) Fall Tyler Eggert 1:55

195-Gideon Ervasti Fall Tyler Stone (WCAABE) 4:56

220-Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) Fall James Grant 5:03

285-Hayden Captain Fall Austin Mattson (WCAABE) 4:40

BHVPP 44, WCAABE 33

 

106-Brett DeRoo (BBE) Dec. Bennet Arceneau 10-6

113-David Revering Dec. Tanner Viessman (BBE) 5-4

120-Deagen Captain Dec. Wyatt Engen (BBE) 8-4

126-Ryan Jensen (BBE) Tech Fall Aiden Larson 22-7; 5:52

132-Walker Bents (BBE) Fall Reese Thompson 5:44

138-Tyler Jensen (BBE) Tech Fall Blake Sumstad 17-0; 5:02

145-Blaine Fischer (BBE) Fall Justin Koehn 1:51

152-Maximus Hanson (BBE) Tech Fall Brock Peterson 19-4; 5:10

160-Mason Schroeder Dec. Dylan Kampsen (BBE) 10-5

170-Hunter Dean Fall Talen Kampsen (BBE) 1:55

182-Tyler Eggert Dec. Cooper Wold (BBE) 5-3 SV

195-Gideon Ervasti Fall Carson Gilbert (BBE) 1:53

220-James Grant Dec. Mark Jenniges (BBE) 5-4

285-Hayden Captain Fall Ethan Spanier (BBE) 4:43

BHVPP 33, BBE 30