The Becker Bulldogs varsity wrestling team came close to taking home the top spot in the Section 6AA Team Tournament at Monticello last weekend, coming in second after a back and forth fight with Foley.

 

Playing their first round against Albany, the Bulldogs won with a large lead 46-19. The Bulldogs again pulled ahead, this time 36-28, in their second round against Dassel-Cokato, who had beat out Litchfield in their first round.

 

The team was up against Foley for their third and final round, who had also beat out their previous opponents for the chance to play for the number one spot in the section. The team fought hard, but ended up conceding with a score of 35-22.

 

“We made it to the finals and dropped a hard fought match to Foley in the finals,” said coach Matt Aho. “Out of the 14 weight classes we won seven, but unfortunately gave up more bonus points. I’m proud of my guys, they gave everything they had at sections.”

 

The Bulldog wrestlers ended their dual season with a 22-3 record, which sets a new all-time win record in a season for Becker wrestling.

 

 

In the first two rounds of the tournament the Bulldogs wrestled against Albany and Dassel-Cokato. Both started out with a loss in the 106 lbs. weight class, with both Ethan Duncombe and Kaden Rish fighting hard but being overcome by their opponents in major decisions (4-0).

 

In the 113 lbs. class, Ethan Anderson defeated both his opponents in falls, the first at 2:44 and the second at :55.

 

Mason Doucette (120) lost to his Albany opponent in a decision (3-0), but came back to defeat his Dassel opponent also in a decision (3-0).

 

At 126 lbs., Jake Nelson took down his Albany opponent in a fall at 1:55, but in the second round Dylan Riedinger was overcome by his opponent in a fall at 3:05 after a long fight.

 

Becker won their next two matches in both rounds, with Lucas Paulson (132) defeating his opponent in a decision (3-0) and Jake Nelson (132) defeating his in a fall at 2:22. Adam Jurek (138) then overcame his opponent in a decision (3-0), as did Lucas Paulson (138) (3-0).

 

In the 145 lbs. class, Logan Jurek took down his opponent in a fall at 1:04, while Alexander Berglund fought well but was taken down in a fall at 2:42.

 

Becker came back to win the next three weight categories again in both rounds. Alexander Berglund (152) and Logan Jurek both won in decisions (3-0), Kylen Rish (160) took down both his opponents, the first in a fall at :43 and the second in a decision (3-0), and Caden Dewall (170) beat his Albany opponent in a major decision (4-0) and his Dassel opponent in a fall at 1:00.

 

Reid Kraus (182) fought well but was overcome by both his opponents, the first in a fall at 4:32 after a hard match, and the second in a decision (3-0). Lincoln Carlson (195) was taken down by both his opponents in falls, the first at 1:06 and the second at 1:15.

 

Nicholas Goth (220) defeated Albany in a forfeit (6-0), but lost his second round in a decision (3-0).

 

The team ended the first two rounds with wins, as Brayden Weber (285) defeated his Albany opponent is a decision (3-0) and took down his Dassel opponent in a hard-fought fall at 4:17.

 

 

Round three had the Bulldogs facing off Foley for the championship in a back and forth fight throughout the entire meet.

 

Kaden Rish (106) lost the first match in a technical fall (5-0), followed by Ethan Anderson (113) coming back to defeat his opponent in a decision (3-0).

 

Mason Doucette (120) and Jake Nelson (126) both took down their opponents, Doucette in a decision (3-0) and Nelson in a major decision (4-0).

 

Foley came back to win the next three matches. Adam Jurek (132) was defeated in a decision, Lukas Paulson (138) in a fall at 1:03, and Logan Jurek (145) in a decision (3-0).

 

At 152 lbs., Kylen Rish defeated his opponent in a decision (3-0), followed by Jacob Berning (160) losing in a fall at 1:13.

 

Becker won the 182 lbs. class, with Caden Dewall beating his opponent in a decision (3-0). Nicholas Goth (195) was defeated in a fall at 1:22.

 

Becker again came forward, with Brayden Weber (220) overcoming his opponent in a decision (3-0), but Foley finished out the meet, winning in a forfeit in the 285 lbs. weight class (6-0).

 

 

The Becker Bulldogs are hosting their Individual Section Tournament Feb. 23 (today), with wrestling starting at 10 a.m. The meet will be highlighted in next week’s edition of the Citizen-Tribune.