A Pin for the Win!

On Saturday, the KoMet wrestling team headed west bound on I-90 for another state ranked match-up. The day did not disappoint.  

The KM wrestling coaches, along with KM Activities Director, Broc Threinen, have always worked hard to build one of the toughest schedules in the state to prepare the team for post season. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, tough tournaments like the Christmas tournament and the Cheesehead, have been cancelled. Per the MSHSL, out-of-state travel is not allowed this year, therefore, the KoMets had to also forgo the Osage, IA tournament. 

This day trip to Fairmont was a dual the team was looking forward to.  

Fairmont (FMCW) hosted a triangular with Morris Area (MAHACA) and Kasson-Mantorville. FMCW is currently ranked #3 in Class AA. The KoMets are ranked #2, behind Simley.  

The KoMets would first wrestle MAHACA. MAHACA entered the match with two state ranked wrestlers at 126 and 132.  

Luke Swanson (106) got the KoMets on the board early with a pin fall at 2:54. Eighth grader, Sam Graunke, made his varsity debut this weekend wrestling at 113. Graunke (113) and Kody Fleck (120) both lost by pin fall. Joey Kennedy (126) met state ranked Lebrijia and lost by decision 12-8. Dominic Mann faced MAHACA's other state ranked wrestler, Rose, where he also lost by decision 9-2. Henry Paulson (138) made quick work of his match and grabbed a first period pin fall.

Logan Vaughan (145) received a forfeit. Freshman, Tyler Paulson, also made his varsity debut at 152. Paulson lost his match 17-8. Junior, Wesley Bennett, pulled on the varsity singlet and accepted a forfeit at 160. 

The KoMets would roll out five consecutive pin falls to finish out the dual. Cole Glazier (170), Kail Wynia (182), Bennett Berge (195), Jackson Kennedy (220) and Anthony Moe-Tucker (Hwt) all secured a pin. Final score 54-22.

The match the KoMets were looking forward to was against FMCW. Looking at the Guillotine state rankings, the two teams did not match up well. FMCW is loaded with ranked wrestlers in their lower to mid weights, while the KoMets are heavy on top with state ranked wrestlers. Anyone watching knew that FMCW would need to win as many matches as they could down low, securing bonus points where ever possible, to be able to withstand the strength of KM's upper weights.

The Red Bulls took the dual by the horns and did just that, winning six straight matches.

Swanson (106) lost by pin fall.  Graunke (113) battled hard and was right in it, before losing by decision, 1-0. Fleck (120) and Joey Kennedy (126) both lost by a pin fall. Kennedy losing to #1, Rohman. Mann (132) lost to state ranked Sanders by decision.  H. Paulson (138) lost a tough battle by decision.  

A much anticipated match of the day was to be at 145. A match up many wanted to see. Vaughan, undefeated and currently #1 in the state for Class AA, was looking forward to wrestling Simmonds, ranked #2 in Class AA.  FMCW slid in an alternate vs H. Paulson and bumped up their line-up, trying to steal as many matches as possible before they hit the gauntlet of KM's upper weights.  

Vaughan faced Lucas Jagodzinske, ranked #3 for 138. This match came right down to the final seconds of the third period, where Vaughan would secure a take down and near fall points on the edge of the mat, winning by decision, 11-5. Vaughan put the KoMets on the board, team score now 27-3.  

KoMet fans present in stands and watching from home, started to do the math, knowing the dual wasn't over yet, but also well aware of the bonus points KM needed to pull this off.  

T. Paulson (152) faced #2 Simmonds, where he lost by pin fall. KoMets trailing 33-3.  

The upper weights knew what they needed to do.  They knew they needed to drop the hammer if they wanted to win.  They couldn't afford to lose another match.

Glazier (160) won by decision over #5 B. Jagodzinske.  Wynia (170) won by pin fall.  Alternate, Eli Richardson (182), answered to his fullest potential, and won by pin fall!  The energy and momentum was building amongst the upper weights, eagerly waiting their turn to step out onto the mat. Berge (195) and Jackson Kennedy (220) made quick work of their pins.  

Still trailing the dual 30-33, Moe-Tucker just needed to win at heavyweight.  A decision would tie up the dual 33-33.  Match count would be tied 7-7. KM would win by criteria, having more pins. But Moe-Tucker wanted more. Moe-Tucker wanted to put an exclamation point on the dual! Moe-Tucker went out and grabbed a first period pin fall!  KoMets win, 36-33.  

"It's great to see our upper weights respond the way they did. With their backs against the wall, they feed off of each other, and found a way to get the job done. Moving forward, we have to focus on getting our lower weights wrestling with the same mentality and confidence. Our goals as a team is always to compete at every weight no matter the situation. It's really just a matter of working hard and believing." said head coach, Jamie Heidt.  

Kasson-Mantorville 54 MAHACA 22
106: Luke Swanson (KAMA) over Tyce Anderson (MAHA) (Fall 2:54)
113: Dallas Walton (MAHA) over Sam Graunke (KAMA) (Fall 3:59)
120: Andrew Marty (MAHA) over Kody Fleck (KAMA) (Fall 3:34)
126: Ethan Lebrija (MAHA) over Joseph Kennedy (KAMA) (Dec 14-8)
132: Davin Rose (MAHA) over Dominic Mann (KAMA) (Dec 9-2)
138: Henry Paulson (KAMA) over Breighton Logan (MAHA) (Fall 0:47)
145: Logan Vaughan (KAMA) over (MAHA) (For.)
152: Dain Schroeder (MAHA) over Tyler Paulson (KAMA) (MD 17-8)
160: Westley Bennett (KAMA) over (MAHA) (For.)
170: Cole Glazier (KAMA) over Hunter Massner (MAHA) (Fall 3:42)
182: Kail Wynia (KAMA) over Toby Messner (MAHA) (Fall 1:28)
195: Bennett Berge (KAMA) over Hunter Gibson (MAHA) (Fall 3:26)
220: Jackson Kennedy (KAMA) over Brock Marty (MAHA) (Fall 0:51)
285: Anthony Moe-Tucker (KAMA) over Carter Gibson (MAHA) (Fall 2:23)

Kasson-Mantorville 36 Fairmont/Martin County West 33

106: Ryan Cutler (FMCW) over Luke Swanson (KM) (Fall 5:40)

113: Cooper Steuber (FMCW) over Sam Graunke (KM) (Dec 1-0)

120: Jesse Potts (FMCW) over Kody Fleck (KM) (Fall 0:59)

126: Jaxson Rohman (FMCW) over Joseph Kennedy (KM) (Fall 2:41)

132: Kain Sanders (FMCW) over Dominic Mann (KM) (Dec 9-3)

138: Aden Welcom (FMCW) over Henry Paulson (KM) (Dec 7-1)

145: Logan Vaughan (KM) over Lucas Jagodzinske (FMCW) (Dec 11-5)

152: Connor Simmonds (FMCW) over Tyler Paulson (KM) (Fall 1:08)

160: Cole Glazier (KM) over Blake Jagodzinske (FMCW) (Dec 5-2)

170: Kail Wynia (KM) over Carver Roman (FMCW) (Fall 3:18)

182: Eli Richardson (KM) over Gage Cyphers (FMCW) (Fall 1:46)

195: Bennett Berge (KM) over Wyatt Williamson (FMCW) (Fall 0:34)

220:  Jackson Kennedy (KM) over Tristan Peterson (FMCW) (Fall 0:24)

Hwt: Anthony Moe-Tucker (KM) over Alec Thompson (FMCW) (Fall 1:23)