Tiger duo has medals secured

Published 5:17 pm Saturday, March 1, 2014

ST. PAUL — Garrett Aldrich and Triston Westerlund are guaranteed to take home medals from the Class AA state wrestling tournament today at the Xcel Center.

Aldrich has done nothing but win so far in the tournament at 106 pounds. He was 2-0 on Friday with a 12-4 decision over Michael Menth of Totino Grace in the first round and a 4-2 decision over Jake Gliva of Simley in the quarterfinals.

He followed that with a 9-4 decision over Hibbing’s A.J. Bethea today in the semifinals to earn a spot in the title match.

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In the championship, Aldrich, No. 5 in The Guillotine’s rankings, will face Cole Jones, No. 3 in the polls, from Grand Rapids at 7 p.m. tonight.

Westerlund fought his way through wrestlebacks at 195 pounds after losing Friday in the quarterfinals to Kory Brown of Fairmont/Martin County West.

Westerlund pinned Arturo Stefanoni in the first round of the consolation bracket, won a 6-1 decision over Logan Cooper of Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran in the consolation quarterfinals and won with a 6-2 decision over Abram Aho in the consolation semifinals to reach the match for third place.

He’ll get a chance to avenge his loss to Brown in the bronze match tonight.