THE GLOBE
NEW ULM -- Five Worthington Trojans wrestled their way into the semifinals of the Section 3AA individual tournament on Friday.
Lay K Paw (132 pounds), Jaden Hennings (145), Brayden Donkersloot (152), Jacob Neuberger (195) and Kyle Mullaney (285) all advanced to Saturday championship round competition. By placing first or second in their weight classes, they will qualify for the Minnesota state tourney March 1 and 2 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
All of the Trojans entered in the section individual event are still wrestling, in fact. And even the ones who don’t go to state, said WHS head coach Ben DeRynck, have something to shoot for.
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“If everybody wins their first match in the wrestlebacks, they’re going to be place-winners,” he said.
Paw advanced to the semis Friday with a fall in 1:45 over Jaxon Lang of Redwood-River Valley. He’ll compete against Cale Steuber of Fairmont/Martin County West in the semifinals.
Hennings beat Joseph Anderson of Redwood-River Valley 11-9 in his last match Friday. He’ll take on Sean Howk of New Ulm in the semifinals.
Donkersloot advanced to the semis with a 17-0 technical fall over Luverne’s Dalton DeSollar. Next will be Miles Fitzgerald of Fairmont/Martin County West.
Neuberger pinned Julian Hernandez of New Ulm in 1:36 in the semifinals and will next take on Jaiden Bahr of Marshall.
Mullaney edged Cole Felcyn of Marshall 3-2 to reach the semifinals, where he’ll face Tanner Johnson of Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley.
Other Trojans competing in wrestlebacks include Oscar Galvez (106), Zaydan Abdulrahman (113), Damon Schutz (126), Kent Lais (138), Tom Lais (170), and Cole Hennings (182).
