The Packer wrestling team closed a dual against Rochester Mayo in dominating fashion as it beat the Spartans 46-34 in Ove Berven Gym Thursday.

It was the first time Austin (6-7 overall, 4-1 Big Nine) had beaten Mayo in five years.

“We had a great effort out of every kid out there tonight. I couldn’t be prouder,” Austin head coach William Kinney said.

Austin recorded pins in four of the five matches from 160-pounds to heavyweight and the Packers had five pins on the night.

At 160, Aaron Juenger bounced back from a 5-0 first period deficit to tie the match up at five before pinning Mayo’s Drew Burt with three seconds left in the second period.

Juenger was almost pinned in the last few seconds of the first period, but he stayed alive.

“I thought he had me in the first period,” Juenger said. “I just tried to hold him off as best I could and wait for him to make a mistake. The opening was there, I took it and things went good from there.”

Brett Kraemer also got a big pin at 215 when he trailed 3-2 at the end of the second period before taking over in the third.

“I wrestled pretty sloppy in the first period, I wasn’t hitting my shots or my moves,” Kraemer said. “I woke up and said ‘man this can’t be happening’ so I tried to be a little more aggressive and quicker in the second period.”

Mike Hirsch, who is ranked No. 2 in Class ‘AAA’ got a 36-second pin for Austin at 189, Thomas Herrera pinned his opponent in 58 seconds at heavyweight and Lucas Akkerman pinned his opponent in 39 seconds at 140.

“I was really hoping they’d bring Mike Minske up from 171 to wrestle Hirsch. He’s placed at state three times,” Kinney said. “Minske’s a really outstanding wrestler and that would’ve been a real nice match but it was probably better for them to try and get the fall at 171.”

The Packers had to shuffle some missing wrestlers in their lineup as they forfeited at 145 and some new wrestlers got a chance to take the mat.

“Our lineup tonight was held together with bubble gum and bailing wire,” Kinney said. “We’ve had some off-mat issues and we were missing a few tonight. Our kids rose up and did a super job against a nice, young Mayo team.”

Alex Amrich showed a lot of hustle for Austin in the 125-pound match. He fell behind 6-2 early but fought off a pin while being held down for the last 30 seconds of the second period. In the end, the lost 12-2.

“That was a great effort in his part,” Kinney said of Amrich’s effort.

Kraemer said staying in shape has been a strength for the Packers this season.

“We’re a very good conditioned team and that helped us a lot. We outlasted a lot of our opponents,” he said.

RESULTS

103: Devon Felton (A) 10-1 maj. dec. over Brady Nelson (M)

112: Brennen Russell (A) won by forfeit

119: Erick Power (A) won by forfeit

125: Jake Hanson (M) 12-2 dec. over Alex Amrich (M)

130: Blake Patton (M) pinned Dylan Diekmann (A) (1:34)

135: Marcus Wolf (M) pinned Jason Dulitz (A) (:39)

140: Lucas Akkerman (A) pinned Nate Petsch (M) (:39)

145: Aaron Martinson (M) won by forfeit

152: Sam Hinsch (M) pinned Michael Bednar (A) (4:51)

160: Aaron Juenger (A) pinned Drew Burt (M) (3:57)

171: Mike Minske (M) pinned Jerrad Ryks (A) (2:26)

189: Mike Hirsch (A) pinned Jason Callahan (M) (:36)

215: Brett Kraemer (A) pinned Justin Carr (M) (3:23)

Hwt: Thomas Herrera (A) pinned Lukky Chang (:58)