By Derek Simon
Hastings wrestling had another strong season this year, finishing with a 25-6 dual mark and a section title. Last week it was time for the team to take part in the individual 3AAA4AAA Super Section Tournament. The individual super section brackets consist of eight wrestlers at each weight class. The top two wrestlers in each weight class advance to the state tournament. The powerful Raiders class had a wrestler compete in all but one bracket. Four Hastings Wrestlers won their bracket and one wrestler would place second. Those five Raiders will compete at the state meet. Three other Raiders had strong showings, finished in third place in their bracket and narrowly missing a chance to compete at state.
Individual results: 106 Blake Beissel continued his dominance in this class, winning the bracket. Beissel went 3-0 with two wins by fall to improve his record to 33-2 on the season. Beissel qualifies for State with the win.
113 Creed Peterson finished with a 2-2 mark in his bracket, good for a 4th place finish. Peterson ends the season with a 18-13 record.
120 Jack Bainbridge placed 3rd in his bracket with a 3-2 mark. Bainbridge just missed making the state tournament, but the talented eight grader will have many more opportunities. He finishes the season with a 31-5 record.
126 Skylar Little Soldier lost both her matches, Little Soldier finishes with a 13-12 record.
132 This was the only class that the Raiders did not compete at.
138 Derrick Steinke went 2-2 in his bracket to finish in fourth place. Steinke finishes with a 10-8 record.
145 Josh Route may have had the toughest bracket of any Raiders wrestler. Route won his first match by a score of 5-2. His second match trailed early, but came back for a narrow 6-5 win. In the finals, again he fell behind and fought his way back winning 7-5. Route has an impressive 31-4 record on the season and will wrestle at State for the Raiders.
152 Aiden Erickson may have been turned in the most impressive performance of any wrestler at Sections. After two wins by fall, Erickson won the championship with a technical fall win. Erickson will head to State with a 31-3 record.
160 Nolan Myers was involved in one of the most exciting matches of Sections. After winning two of his first three matches, Myers wrestled in the second place match with a chance to advance to State. Myers would two late takedowns to take 7-6 lead and then held on in the final seconds to prevail. Myers has a 21-5 record. The Senior was also one of six wrestlers to earn a $1,000 scholarship from the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association.
170 Rico Cooper finished with a 3-2 record, good for 3rd place in the bracket. Cooper finishes his season with a 28-9 record.
182 Sam O’Connor also finished with a 3-2 mark and a 3rd place finish. The senior finishes with a record of 22-13.
195 Blake Clemons finished in 6th place with a 1-2 record. Clemons was 10-7 this season.
220 Austin Leflay won all three matches to win his bracket, two wins by fall. In the finals, Leflay avenged a loss earlier this year with a pin. Leflay heads to the State Tournament with a 26-4 record.
285 Tyler Miller lost both of his matches, and finishes with a 10-18 record on the season.
The State Meet is on Thursday afternoon from 2:007:00pm at St. Michael Albertville High School and will consist of three rounds. Each wrestler is able to invite two fans. Fans without a ticket can follow the action at trackwrestling. com with live brackets.
Hastings wrestler Josh Route controls Joseph Muhlstein of Mounds View during the Section 3AAA-4AAA individual state prelims Saturday at Stillwater. Route went on to win the title at 145 pounds and advance to the state meet. Photo by John Molene
Austin Leflay of Hastings controls Stillwater wrestler Zachariah Hunter in a match at 220 pounds. Leflay won this decision and went on to take the title at 220 and earn a trip to this week’s state wrestling tournament. Photo by John Molene
