ST.

Saturday, March 02, 2002

ST. PAUL – Through two days of the Minnesota state high school wrestling tournament, Josh Hansen defeated the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 3 ranked individuals at his weight.

It made him the favorite to finish No. 1.

Hansen, an Albert Lea High School junior, advanced to the Class AAA 103-pound state championship match with his third consecutive victory at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Friday night. Hansen, No. 2 in the final rankings, decisioned third-rated Vince Sellnow of Brainerd/Pillager 14-7 in Friday night’s semifinal. Hansen improved his record to 38-1 while Sellnow dropped to 25-2.

Hansen was scheduled to face Ryan Adams, a freshman from Coon Rapids, in Saturday evening’s title bout. Adams took a record of 35-5 into the match.

Albert Lea’s other state semifinalist, Adam Elseth, lost a semifinal heartbreaker at 135 pounds. He fell 2-1 to Donny DePatto of Monticello, a senior who improved to 25-2.

It was only the second loss of the season for Elseth, a sophomore. He took a record of 37-2 into Saturday’s consolation semifinal against Aaron Matheson, a senior from Centennial with a record of 39-7. Elseth can finish no lower than sixth and is ensured of a medal.

The other area wrestler still alive for a championship after Thursday, John Niebuhr of United South Central wrestler, muscled his way into the Class A 140-pound title match with an 8-1 semifinal triumph over Brent Reinhard of Medford, a senior with a record of 37-6.

Niebuhr, a junior rated No. 1 at his weight, was to meet fourth-ranked Shawn Plumley, a junior from BOLD, in the championship match Saturday night. Niebuhr improved his record to 38-2.

Alex Drescher of Alden-Conger and Bill Root of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, still alive in the wrestlebacks after Thursday, were eliminated Friday.

Drescher, a senior, lost his Class A heavyweight match 2-1 to junior Chris Adams of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, who improved to 34-3. Drescher finished 17-5.

Root, a junior 171-pounder, fell 3-1 to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton junior Jeremiah Enger, who ran his record to 30-2. Root ended his season 17-15.

The other area state entrants, Kenny Sandt of United South Central and David Schmidt of Alden-Conger, were eliminated Thursday.