With the No. 3 ranked team in Class ‘AA’ coming to town, the Packer wrestling team knew it had it’s hands full. But it did accomplish it’s main goal in a 59-8 loss to the Tigers in Ove Berven Gym Thursday night.

“We wanted to get back to our physical style of wrestling, and I felt like we did that,” Austin head coach Bill Kinney said. “The rest of the duals on our schedule are winnable, so it was good for us to get back to our style.”

Austin (3-4 overall, 2-2 Big Nine) lost four matches to pins and one tech fall in the five lightest weights, but in the nine other matches they won two and lost four matches by five points or less.

“They’re toughest down below and we’re a little tougher up above,” Kinney said. “I thought our kids competed pretty well. They looked a lot better tonight than they did last weekend.”

For the second straight home dual, 189 pound junior Michael Hirsch got the biggest crowd response as he finished strong in a 17-4 major decision over Jordan Holland.

Hirsch started with a conservative approach as he held Holland down for most of the first two periods to take a 4-0 lead. But in the third period he just kept letting Holland escape and taking him back down.

“We had an opponent tonight that was cocky and willing to come after Mike,” Kinney said. “We were hoping to spend a little bit more of the match with him on his feet because we don’t get a lot of opportunities to wrestle someone who will come at him.”

Hirsch, who is 12-1 and rated No. 3 in Class ‘AA’ at 189, said he is working on wrestling on the ground as well as on his feet.

“I was a little scared to take him down in the first and second period. He almost got me in the first period,” Hirsch said. “I had to be pretty alert (when I had him down). I was ready for his move. I’ve come a little ways (at wrestling on the ground). I can at least keep them down, but I need to work on getting them on their back more.”

Hirsch said the crowd is a huge boost for him.

“I don’t think I would do as good if people weren’t up and cheering,” Hirsch said.

Kinney said Hirsch is making some strong strides after making it to the state meet as a sophomore last season.

“He’s a lot more introspective this year about his wrestling and I’m really proud of him for that,” Kinney said. “He’s taking an active role in looking at areas that he needs to improve. I think we’re seeing the emotional and mental maturing of that young man. He’s been physically mature for quite some time now.”

Ethan Eggum got the Packers other win with a 12-1 major decision over Caleb Gaudian at 160 pounds. Eggum is 12-1 and ranked No. 9 in Class ‘AA.’

“I was ready to go. When you work hard in practice, it pays off on the mat. I was hoping for a pin, but couldn’t get it,” Eggum said. “Everyone hustled pretty good tonight. We wanted to show everyone that we came to wrestle.”

Austin’s Brandon Holtorf jumped out to quick 2-0 lead with a takedown early in his match at 135 pounds, but he trailed 3-2 going into the third period, where he suffered a near fall.

At heavyweight, Austin’s Thomas Herrera’s match was scoreless going into the third, but he allowed an escape and a takedown to lose 3-0.

Hirsch

RESULTS

103: Trey Hable (AL) pinned Jacob Finnegan (1:04)

112: Cory Hansen (AL) pinned Colin Sheehan (:52)

119: Dalton Westerlund (AL) pinned Eric Power (3:18)

125: Adam Clark (AL) 16-0 tech. fall over Dylan Diekmann

130: Cody Hansen (AL) pinned Lucas Akkerman (4:26)

135: Trevor Rasmussen (AL) 6-2 dec. over Brandon Holtorf

140: Carter Kortan (AL) pinned Zach Sauer (3:46)

145: Adam Kermes (AL) 4-1 dec. over Howie Underwood

152: Conner Kortan (AL) pinned Bryce Zahradnik (5:58)

160: Ethum Eggum (A) 12-1 maj. dec. Caleb Gaudian

171: Matt Tiegs (AL) pinned Brett Newell (2:44)

189: Michael Hirsch (A) 17-4 maj. dec. over Jordan Holland

215: J.D. Seiler (AL) 8-3 dec. over Brett Kraemer

Hwt: Alex Nielsen (AL) 3-0 dec. over Thomas Herrera