Shortcomings in the middle-to-upper weight brackets led to a first-round defeat of the Becker wrestling team in the section team tournament at Apollo last Friday.

 

Annandale-Maple Lake ran off a string of five straight victories from the 160 to 220 weight brackets to overcome an early Becker lead and propel them to a 36-30 dual meet victory. A-ML then went on to lose against Foley in the semi-finals of the sections.

 

“It was a close match,” said Coach Matt Aho. “We split 7-7 in matches, but A-ML scored a few more bonus points to come away with the win. 

 

“I felt we wrestled our best and our guys gave their best effort.”

 

The team will be in Albany this weekend for individual competition in the sections.

 

Ethan Anderson got things going with a 9-3 decision over Zach Pribyl at 106, then Adam Jurek and Lukas Paulson piled on more points with wins at 112 and 120.

 

Jurek decisioned Zach Schmidt, 5-1, then Paulson pinned Zayne Brown in :48.

 

Johnathon Lipinski got a forfeit win at 126 and the Bulldogs were sailing 17-0. Quinn Youngs got A-ML’s first points with an 18-1 win over Kylen Rish, but Kevin Andres got most of it back with a 5-2 decision over Jack Klug.

 

Blake Paulson was decisioned by Hunter Manka, 3-1 at 145, but Logan Jurek got that back with a 6-4 decision over Adam Neumann, and Becker led 23-8.

 

That’s where A-ML began its string of victories which ultimately resulted in a winning night.

 

Walker Weege A-ML started it withy a :57 pinfall of Connor Eickhoff at 160, then Mitch Bergstrom pinned Lincoln Carlson of the Bulldogs at 1:21.

 

Daniel Luna got a major decision, 18-6 over Reid Tripp at 182, then Reed Rasset of A-ML picked up six forfeit points at 195, to make it 30-24.

 

Cuyler Helwig, A-ML picked up a pinfall win over Nicholas Goth at 2:37 to put the match away.Nick Radunz made it closer with his pinfall win over Cole Patch at 5:37.

 

The Bulldogs were seeded fourth in the section meet; A-ML fifth.