By Keith Harner and Colin Staab
Northfield traveled to the Faribault gymnasium Thursday night to take on the Albert Lea Tigers and Faribault Falcons.
In the first dual of the night, Northfield took on Albert Lea. Caley Graber set the tone at 107 pounds with a 5-0 decision over Devon Groess. The older Groess brother, Dylan defeated Drew Pribyl at 114 pounds with a fall in the first period. Caden Staab wrestled next at 121 pounds where he took on ninth ranked at 114 pounds, Ryan Collins. Staab came out with the 8-4 victory. Albert Lea’s third ranked Logan Davis pinned Taylor Blankenberger in 43 seconds. The second ranked wrestler at 133 pounds in class AAA, Michael Olson won by fall over Charlie Johnson. At 139 pounds, Sam Harner lost by fall in 1:20 to 10th ranked Brody Ignaszewski, and Austin Benjamin lost by fall in 1:27 to fourth ranked Nick Korman at 145 pounds.
Just over halfway through the dual Northfield faced a 30-6 deficit. However the Raiders were about to go on a run. Zane Engels bumped up to 152 pounds and won 7-2 over Mason Attig. Colin Staab followed with a 4-0 victory at 160 pounds. At 172 pounds, Owen Murphy kept things going with his 3-2 decision over Triton Cox. Braxton Wood won a back and forth battle with Teaghn Tolbers 6-5 at 189 pounds. Ryan Kuyper made the score even closer with his half nelson fall over Evan Schroeder in 2:24. The Raiders trailed 30-24 going into the last match between Noah Ackerman and William Velazquez. Six minutes was not enough to decide the winner. The Albert Lea wrestler took Ackerman down in overtime, sealing the victory for Albert Lea 33-24.
Northfield | Albert Lea | |||
107 | Caley Graber | Devon Groess | N 5-0 | 3-0 |
114 | Drew Pribyl | Dylan Groess | A Pin 2 min | 3-6 |
121 | Caden Staab | Ryan Collins | N 8-4 | 6-6 |
127 | Talyn Blankenberger | Logan Davis | A pin :43 | 6-12 |
133 | Charlie Johnson | Mike Olson | A Fall 1:21 | 6-18 |
139 | Sam Harner | Brody Ignaszewski | A Fall 1:20 | 6-24 |
145 | Austin Benjamin | Nick Korman | A pin 1:27 | 6-30 |
152 | Zane Engels | Mason Attig | N 7-2 | 9-30 |
160 | Colin Staab | Brecken Wachloz | N 4-0 | 12-30 |
172 | Owen Murphy | Triton Cox | N 3-2 | 15-30 |
189 | Braxton Wood | Teaghen Tolbers | N 6-5 | 18-30 |
215 | Ryan Kuyper | Evan Schroeder | N Fall 2:24 | 24-30 |
285 | Noah Ackerman | William Valazquez | A 4-2 OT | 24-33 |
In the last dual of the night, Northfield took on the home team Faribault. Yet again, Caley Graber started off things strong with a 12-1 major decision over Lain Kuhlman at 107 pounds. Drew Pribyl had a tough match losing by fall against Chase Vargo at 114 pounds. Caden Staab defeated senior Lucas Nelson at 121 pounds 10-3. Charlie Johnson followed that match up with another victory this time by fall. Talyn Blankenberger lost by fall to eighth ranked JT Hausen. Sam Harner was up next quickly taking care of business with a fall in the first period setting up a 19-12 lead in the dual. Isaac Yetzer got the better of Northfield’s Austin Benjamin with a fall in 37 seconds. Zane Engels matched Faribault’s fall at 145 pounds with his own at 152 pounds. Colin Staab followed with a fall of his own in the 170 pound weight class. Faribault responded though as Cooper Leichtnam got the fall over Iah Schwiech.
The team score read 31-24. Faribault’s Elliott Viland got a fall of his own in the first period over Braxton Wood. With two weight classes remaining, the Raiders led by one. Ryan Kuyper towed the line for Northfield against Justin Sanoja of Faribault. Kuyper won the match with a fall in 3:08 to secure the victory for Northfield. But the Raiders weren’t done yet. Noah Ackerman made quick work at heavyweight with a fall in 24 seconds as the Raiders went on to win 43-30.
Northfield | Faribault | |||
107 | Caley Graber | Lain Kuhlman | N 12-1 | 3-0 |
114 | Drew Pribyl | Chase Vargo | F fall 2:27? | 3-6 |
121 | Caden Staab | Lucas Nelson | N 10-3 | 7-6 |
127 | Charlie Johnson | Chase Flicek | N Fall 1:52 | 13-6 |
133 | Talyn Blankenberger | JT Hausen | F pin 1:46 | 13-12 |
139 | Sam Harner | Wyatt Adamek | N Fall 1:29 | 19-12 |
145 | Austin Benjamin | Isaac Yetzer | F fall :37 | 19-18 |
152 | Zane Engels | Jayden Hart | N fall 4:39 | 25-18 |
160 | Colin Staab | Sam Koivisto | N 2:25 | 31-18 |
172 | Iah Schwiech | Cooper Leichtnam | F 1:06 | 31-24 |
189 | Braxton Wood | Elliott Viland | F fall 1:21 | 31-30 |
215 | Ryan Kuyper | Justin Sanoja | N fall 3:08 | 37-30 |
285 | Noah Ackerman | Xavier Padilla | N fall :24 | 43-30 |
Northfield varsity will wrestle in Lake City on Saturday. Then they will travel to Mankato West next Thursday and Cannon Falls on Saturday.