Hegge wins section title for Rebels
Published 11:56 pm Saturday, February 26, 2011
Southland's Grant Hegge pushes on Triton's Cody Schletty in the 145-pound championship of the Section 1A tournament Saturday at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. The win earned Hegge a trip to the state wrestling tournament. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — Getting to the state tournament is nothing new for Southland senior Grant Hegge, but winning the section title is a little rare.
Hegge won his second career Section 1A title and earned his fifth career trip to the state wrestling tournament in Mayo Civic Center Saturday.
Southland's Michael Churchill tries gain advantage over Kenyon-Wanamingo's Oakley McLain in the championship at 125 pounds in the Section 1A tournament Saturday at the Rochester Mayo Civic Center. Churchill fell in the title match but still earned a trip to the state tournament with a win in the "true" second match later in the evening. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hegge sealed the deal with a 10-2 win over Cody Shletty of Triton in the finals.
Hegge, who is ranked No. 2 at 145 pounds, led 6-1 early in the title match and did what he had to as he stayed patient and didn’t go for the pin against Shletty.
“I knew he was going to look for a roll or a throw or something and I was kind of careful and staying away from that,” Hegge said.
Hegge’s toughest match came in the semifinals when he edged out Hayfield’s Myles Moreno 7-6. Moreno scored the first five points in 30 seconds, but Hegge bounced back.
“I knew what he was going to try to do coming in and I still didn’t stop it,” Hegge said. “I had to turn it on. It was a little close for comfort, but a win is a win.”
Hegge isn’t too concerned about being a target with his high ranking at the state meet as he has been in this position before and he’s always been in the top 10. He’s been ranked in the top five two times before in his career.
“I’ve been ranked since eighth grade,” Hegge said. “I know there’s pressure to win but you can’t think about it, you’ve just got to wrestle and have a good time. Everybody up there is capable of beating everybody else at any time.”
Southland senior Michael Churchill earned his first career trip to state when he beat Cody Ball of Saint Charles in a ‘true’ second place match at 125 pounds.
Churchill lost to Oakley McClain of Kenyon/Wanamingo in the finals.
