4 Tigers still in contention to win state championship

Published 3:12 pm Friday, March 1, 2024

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Albert Lea Area's Michael Olson lifts his opponent during the quarterfinal match Friday at the state tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Michael Olson wins his quarterfinal match Friday. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Nick Korman wins his quarterfinal match Friday at the state tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Logan Davis wins in the quarterfinal match Friday at the state tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Brody Ignaszewski fell in the first round of the state tournament to No. 3-ranked Jayden Haueter. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Evan Schroeder at 215 pounds lost in a first-period fall when he was pinned by No. 3-ranked Antonio Menard. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Dylan Groess, 114 pounds, lost in the opening round of the state tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Nick Korman of Albert Lea Area won his opening match against Waconia’s Maverick Mueller. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Michael Olson advanced to the quarterfinals via a disqualification in the opening round over Brody Castonguay. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Logan Davis defeated No. 8-ranked Landan Brooks in the opening round of the state tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Albert Lea Area's Ryan Collins lost his opening match Friday against No. 1-ranked Blake Beissel of Hastings. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

Brecken Wacholz of Albert Lea Area was defeated in the opening round by No. 4-ranked Terae Dunn of Eden Prairie. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh

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Nine Tigers started their individual state wrestling tournament journeys Friday morning at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

After day one, just four remained in the championship bracket of their respective weights, one was still competing in the consolation bracket and the rest were unfortunately eliminated from the tournament.

Here’s a breakdown of all the Albert Lea wrestlers competing this weekend.

In championship bracket

Logan Davis, 127 pounds

Davis, ranked No. 3 at 127 pounds, defeated No. 8-ranked Landan Brooks of Park High School in a 15-4 major decision in the opening round. Davis then advanced into the quarterfinals where he met No. 6 ranked Grant Marr of Forest Lake. Marr put up a little bit more of a fight, but it was still Davis that came out on top of a 7-3 decision.

Davis now moves into the semifinals where he will wrestle against his toughest opponent yet, No. 2-ranked Tegen Sherk of St. Francis.

Michael Olson, 133 pounds

Michael Olson also advanced to the semifinal round as the No. 2 seed at 133 pounds. After an opening round win via disqualification over Brody Castonguay, Michael Olson won a 7-2 decision over Sebastian Castin of Apple Valley.

He moves into the semifinals where he will take on Cavin Carlson of Willmar who is ranked No. 4 in the weight class.

Nick Korman, 145 pounds

No. 4-ranked Korman came away with a narrow 2-1 decision win over Waconia’s Maverick Mueller in the opening round. In the quarterfinals he took on No. 5 ranked Connor Peterson of Maple Grove and came out on top 8-4.

Korman advances to the semifinals where he will take on No. 1 ranked Alex Braun of Woodbury.

Maggie Olson, 100 pounds girls

Maggie Olson has yet to begin her state tournament run. The girls quarterfinals kickoff Saturday morning.

In consolation bracket

Dylan Groess, 114 pounds

Groess was defeated in the opening round of the 144-pound bracket. He matched up with No. 5-ranked Noah Nicholson from Stillwater, losing in a 15-0 tech fall.

Groess then moved into the consolation bracket where he advanced via a medical forfeit. He is still trying to work his way through the consolation bracket and will take on Alex Gau in the consolation quarterfinals.

Eliminated

Ryan Collins, 121 pounds

Collins also faced a tough matchup in the opening round of his bracket. Facing off with the No. 1-ranked 121 pounder in the state, Blake Beissel of Hastings, Collins lost after falling victim to a pinfall in the second period.

In his first consolation match, Collins met a tough opponent in No. 5-ranked Gabe Moring of Bemidji and lost in a close 4-3 decision, ending his season.

Brody Ignaszewski, 139 pounds

Ignaszewski also fell victim to a pinfall. His coming in the first round to No. 3-ranked Jayden Haueter.

Unfortunately, Haueter lost in the quarterfinal round, putting an end to Ignaszewski’s season without the chance of a wrestleback and redemption in the consolation bracket.

Brecken Wacholz, 160 pounds

Wacholz was defeated in a 12-2 major decision to No. 4-ranked Terae Dunn of Eden Prairie and was then relegated to the consolation bracket.

In his first consolation bracket Wacholz wrestled No. 3-ranked Colton Laween and fell in a first period fall, ending his tournament run.

Evan Schroeder, 215 pounds

Schroeder lost in a first-period fall when he was pinned by No. 3-ranked Antonio Menard at the 58 second mark.

After moving into the quarterfinals, Schroeder took on No. 4-ranked Noah Torgerson and lost in a second-period pinfall. The loss ends Schroeder’s season