Southland’s Hegge takes fourth at state
Published 10:01 pm Sunday, March 6, 2011
Southland 145-pounder Grant Hegge sits shocked after being pinned by Aitkin's Jordan Chouanard in the third-place match of the Class A state individual tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Hegge had a 2-0 lead and control of the match before being pinned. -- Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune
Just one area wrestler was able to earn a place at the Class ‘A’ state wrestling meet in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Saturday.
Southland senior Grant Hegge had to settle for fourth place at 145 pounds after he was pinned by Jordan Chouanard of Aitkin 11 seconds into the third period in the third-place match.
Hegge was leading 2-0 his last match when Chouanard caught him and pinned him.
“I don’t know what to say after getting caught in a move like that,” said Southland head coach Bill Feuchtenberger. “It caught everyone off guard. Things like that happen at the state tournament you never know. He had a great career I hate to see it end like that while being ahead and in control of the match as far as I’m concerned.”
Hayfield 171-pounder Tyler Nelson attempts to score a last-second escape Saturday in the Class A state individual consolation quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Nelson needed an escape to tie but lost 4-3 to Ryan Larson, of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City. -- Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune
In the wrestlebacks, Hegge beat Matt Meyer of Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City 3-2 in triple overtime, he beat Alex Lessman of Minneota 1-0 and he pinned Ryan Jones of Mille Lacs in the second period.
Hegge finished his season with a 44-3 record.
Hegge picked up a second period escape in the 1-0 win over Lessman.
“”I knew I had to wrestle defensively and that one takedown could win the match,” Hegge said. “I knew it would probably come down to the third period. In the last ten seconds I got into a little trouble but fought out of it.”
Hayfield senior Myles Moreno didn’t place at 145 as he beat Casey Nunn of Frazee 6-3 in the wrestlebacks, but he was beaten by Jadon Evans 3-2.
Hayfield senior Tyler Nelson didn’t place at 171 pounds as he pinned Nick Lochner of Pierz in the second period of a wrestleback match before losing to Ryan Larson of Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City 4-3.
Hayfield senior Blake Ardnt didn’t make it out of the first round of wrestlebacks as he was pinned by Dylan Nelson of Atwater/Cosmos Grove City in the third period.
Southland senior Michael Churchill didn’t place at 125 pounds as he lost to Chris Pfarr of LeSuer/Henderson 10-0 in the wrestlebacks.
Hayfield 130-pounder Mason Moreno wrestles Spencer Yackel, of Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial, Saturday in the Class A state individual consolation quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Yackel beat Moreno 4-1. -- Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune
Blooming Prairie senior Seth Johnson and Hayfield freshman Mason Moreno didn’t place at 130 pounds.
Johnson beat Tyler Pasvogel of Sibley East 5-1 in the wrestlebacks before losing to Jordan Theede of L/A/R/P 5-4.
Moreno beat Chad Johnson of Dilworth/Glyndon/Felton 4-1 but lost to Spencer Yackel of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 11-7 in the wrestlebacks.
