Austin coach Bill Kinney and his wrestlers talked about getting the season off to a good start prior to Saturday’s Rochester Invite.

Monday, December 06, 1999

Austin coach Bill Kinney and his wrestlers talked about getting the season off to a good start prior to Saturday’s Rochester Invite.

Mission accomplished. The Packers won the dual meet-style invite by taking three straight matches from Stewartville, Chatfield and Eagan.

The tournament win was the first for the Packers since they won the Winona River Road Tournament in 1995-96.

"It’s a great way to start the season," Kinney said. "We talked a lot about setting the tone. If that’s the case we could be in for quite a season."

The Austin junior varsity also won the JV meet, held simultaneous to the varsity meet.

The tournament featured eight teams, including Chatfield, the eighth-ranked team in the state in Class A.

The tournament featured several highlights for Austin, among them:

– Mike Cunningham, 3-0 on the afternoon, won his 60th career match.

– Heavyweight Brian E. Heimer was leading in his first match, 14-5, when he was caught in a headlock and pinned. He came back to win a decision over Travis Bray, the second-ranked Class A heavyweight in the state.

– T.J. Parlin, Spencer Wolner, Joe Cunningham and Chad Mentel joined Mike Cunningham in going 3-0 on the day. Joe Cunningham won all of his matches by fall.

– Austin trailed in team points in a match just twice all day.

"We had great starts," said Kinney, who credited Parlin, at 103 pounds, and Wolner, at 112, for the team’s quick starts.

Austin wrestles its home opener on Thursday against Century, which finished seventh at Saturday’s invite.

Austin 32, Stewartville 27

103 pounds – T.J. Parlin (Austin) major decision Matt Lawson, 20-7.

112 – Spencer Wolner (A) dec. Clint Campbell, 12-7.

119 – Cole Roeder (S) dec. Scott Miller, 9-2.

125 – Corey Schmitz (S) pinned Matt Nemann, 2:34.

130 – Todd Russell (S) major dec. Matt Adwell, 9-1.

135 – Joe Cunningham (A) pinned Bryan Cook, 1:29.

140 – Drew Oesterle (A) pinned Mike Knutson, 4:58.

145 – Matt Stein (S) pinned Derek Hyland, 2:58.

152 – Mike Cunningham (A) won by forfeit.

160 – Mike Lawrence (S) dec. Willie Clennon, 6-4.

171 – Todd Krupicka (A) dec. Russ Cook, 5-1.

189 – Chad Mentel (A) major dec. Marcus Kuisle, 11-2.

Hwt. – Nate Kuisle (S) pinned Brian E. Heimer, 3:03.

Austin 38, Chatfield 25

103 – T.J. Parlin (A) pinned Tim Finley, 2:48.

112 – Spencer Wolner (A) won by forfeit.

119 – Jake Trogstad (C) major dec. Scott Miller, 18-5.

125 – Jerad Schmoll (C) won by technical fall over Matt Nemann, 15-0.

130 – Matt Adwell (A) major dec. Tim Kesler, 20-11.

135 – Joe Cunningham (A) pinned Ryan Priebe, 2:48.

140 – Drew Oesterle (A) pinned Joe McCabe, 0:23.

145 – Tony Gasner (C) pinned Derek Hyland, 2:58.

152 – Mike Cunningham (A) dec. Luke Proper.

160 – Mark Thompson (C) pinned Willie Clennon, 2:32.

171 – Ty Proper (C) major dec. Todd Krupicka, 13-2.

189 – Chad Mentel (A) major dec. Eric Knutson, 8-0.

Hwt. – Brian E. Heimer (A) dec. Travis Bray, 11-5.

Austin 40, Eagan 18

103 – T.J. Parlin (A) pinned Rob Kelley, 4:22.

112 – Spencer Wolner (A) pinned Nate Schraan, 1:26.

119 – Scott Miller (A) dec. Justin Eggen, 9-6.

125 – Matt Nemann (A) pinned Jeff Sandquist, 1:34.

130 – Josh Davis (E) dec. Matt Adwell, 7-1.

135 – Joe Cunningham (A) pinned Todd Douglas, 1:18.

140 – Bryant Reilly (E) dec. Drew Oesterle, 4-3.

145 – Paul Kelley (E) dec. Derek Hyland (A), 9-3.

152 – Mike Cunningham (A) dec. Jake Leonard, 11-5.

160 – Matt Blanch (E) pinned Willie Clennon, 2:18.

171 – Jake Girtz (E) dec. Todd Krupicka, 3-2.

189 – Chad Mentel (A) major dec. Andy Lamere, 13-2.

Hwt. – Brian E. Heimer (A) pinned Clinton Dawson, 0:17.