Wadena-Deer Creek's Carter Wright and Steven Erkenbrack qualified for the Class A state wrestling tournament Saturday at the Section 6A individual tournament in Pelican Rapids.
Wright, who qualified for a state berth two years ago, wrestled his way to the 160-pound finals where he ran into West Central Area's Tyler Onstad. Wright, who was making his final appearance in a section tournament, lost an 11-5 decision to the WCA standout, who was ranked fifth at his weight class in the final Class A state poll.
Erkenbrack was the the section's runner-up finisher at 182 losing his bid for the championship to Pelican Rapids' Carson Haugrud on a 5-4 decision. The WDC junior will be making his first appearance at state.
Wright will find himself matching a 15-8 season record at state against LeSueur-Henderson senior Luke Wilson, 31-6 when the Class A state individual tournament kicks off Friday at 9 a.m. at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center. Erkenbrack, 26-11 will tangle with Pierz senior Brett Kapsner 37-1 in the opening round.
Mason and Blaine Snyder and Tyler Wheeler were third place finishers at Pelican Rapids. Mason decisioned Breckenridge's Zach Haire 3-0 at 113. Blaine pinned Mills' Dylan Fischer at the 3:31 mark of their 145-pound match. Wheeler notched a 7-3 decision over Xavier Kadrmas of Barnesville.
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WDC's Colton Knudson claimed a fourth at 132. Knudson lost a 12-0 major decision to Barnesville's Caleb Stetz.
Fifth place finishers for the Wolverines were Jayson Young at 120, Chase Godel at 126 and Jericho Baker at 195. Young won his final match of the season by decisioning Pelican Rapids' James Furey 7-4 in the 120-pound bracket. Godel pinned Breck's Dusty DeFries at the 1:24 mark in their 126-pound match. Baker edged West Central Area-Ashby-Brandon-Evansville's John Barber 7-3 in a 195-pound match.
"It was a great tournament for our guys all in all," WDC co-head coach Norm Gallant said. "Six placing in the top three is outstanding. We had a lot of kids finish in odd numbered places, which means that a lot of kids leave the season with a win and a good taste in their mouth."
Section 6A team champion West Central Area-Ashby-Brandon-Evansville had nine wrestlers qualify for the Class A individual tournament. The New York Mills Eagles qualified five.
Section 6A State Qualifiers
106
1st: Jordan Lohse (WCA) 32-7, 8th. over Carter Haman (NYM) 23-16, So. (Fall 6:09)
113
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1st: Spencer Miller (SM) 39-2, So. over Kaleb Getz (WCA) 24-13, Fr. (Fall 1:43)
120
1st: Drake Swanson (WCA) 33-6, Sr. over Blayne Dumpprope (SM) 25-14, So. (Dec 7-3)
126
1st: Jake Nohre (WCA) 36-1, Sr. over Owen Bjerga (SM) 34-7, Fr. (Dec 7-2)
132
1st: Eric Lisson (SM) 32-6, Sr. over Matthew Frost (NYM) 32-9, So. (Dec 7-5)
138
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1st: Brady Tweeton (Barnesville) 36-1, Jr. over Jasiah Paskewitz (SM) 7-4, So. (TF 4:09, 15-0)
145
1st: Kaden Spindler (WCA) 35-4, Jr. over Casey Kulsrud (PR) 18-7, Sr. (Fall 4:52)
152
1st: Keaton Long (WCA) 39-2, Sr. over Jacob Hasbargen (BW) 24-11, Sr. (Dec 6-0)
160
1st: Tyler Onstad (WCA) 36-4, Sr. over Carter Wright (WDC) 15-8, Sr. (Dec 11-5)
170
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1st: Alex Erpelding (SM) 37-1, Sr. over Levi Larkin (WCA) 29-11, Jr. (MD 11-0)
182
1st: Carson Haugrud (PR) 30-9, Jr. over Steven Erkenbrack (WDC) 26-11, Jr. (Dec 5-4)
195
1st: Jake Erckenbrack (NYM) 30-4, Jr. over Kieran Johnson (Barnesville) 28-7, Sr. (Dec 5-4)
220
1st: Mason Nibbe (WCA) 31-10, Jr. over Josh Olson (NYM) 26-9, Sr. (Dec 6-3)
285
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1st: Bradey Berg (Barnesville) 28-3, Sr. over Jett Saewert (NYM) 26-6, Sr. (Dec 7-1)
