Class 1A State Wrestling: Pierz's season ends in consolation semifinals

Losing two dual meets in the Class 1A state tournament at the Xcel Energy in St. Paul should make the Pierz Pioneers a better team next season.

In Thursday's state quarterfinals, the 11th-ranked and unseeded Pioneers were defeated 32-23 by second-seeded and second-ranked Frazee. Pierz's season ended in the consolation semifinals as eighth-ranked West Central/Ashby/Evansville defeated the Pioneers 38-28.

"We didn't think we matched up well with Frazee and we ended up wrestling well," Pierz coach Mark Jensen said. "After that match, I think we had a little bit of a mental letdown going into the other match. We had a few matches where we were ahead and we ended up getting pinned. You just can't do that down here. Bonus points are such a big deal down here. It's hard to come back from that."

Against West Central the Pioneers got within 29-22 after Brett Kapsner's pin at 182 pounds. But the Knights' Hunter Fick won by fall at 195 for an insurmountable 13-point lead with two matches remaining.

Others winning by fall against West Central were Brandon Ortman (126) and Austin Gall (285). Kolton Eischens (152) registered a major decision.

The Pioneers trailed Frazee just 27-23 after Austin Gall's decision at 220. But Hornets' 285-pounder Garrett Malstrom sealed Frazee's win by pinning Pierz's Brad Dehler in 44 seconds. Eischens won by fall and Teddy Dehler by technical fall.

Pierz finishes its team season 25-6.

"It was a good experience for a very young team down here," Jensen said. "I think we graduate two seniors off our team. That should bode well for the future for us."

Consolation semifinals

West Central/A/E 38,

Pierz 28

106: Drake Swanson (WCAE) pinned Reese Kapsner 3:23

113: Jake Nohre (WCAE) tech. fall Jake Andres 5:00

120: Brandon Ortman (Pierz) pinned Chris Onstad 1:38

126: Levi Larkin (WCAE) dec. Luke Girtz 2-0

132: Keaton Long (WCAE) pinned Andrew Tomala 3:25

138: Tyler Onstad (WCAE) pinned Jalen Jansen 3:45

145: Lane Girtz (Pierz) dec. Jake Larkin 6-0

152: Kolton Eischens (Pierz) maj. dec. Kyle Mickelsen 18-6

160: Royal Crow (WCAE) dec. Matt Kummet 3-2

170: Cody Meyer (Pierz) dec. Koel Seifert 8-4

182: Brett Kapsner (Pierz) pinned Blake Amundson :56

195: Hunter Fick (WCAE) pinned Jacob Gotvald :19

220: Anthony Miller (WCAE) dec. Teddy Dehler 10-4

285: Austin Gall (Pierz) pinned Theodore Waskosky 1:57

Quarterfinals

Frazee 32, Pierz 23

106: Tanner Schermerhorn (Frazee) dec. Reese Kapsner 9-5

113: Jake Andres (Pierz) dec. Blaine Beaty 5-0

120: Tanner Teetz (Frazee) dec. Brandon Ortman 8-2

126: Ethan Byer (Frazee) tech. fall Luke Girtz 5:57

132: Byron Byer (Frazee) dec. Andrew Tomala 3-1

138: Grant Jepson (Frazee) maj. dec. Jalen Jansen 9-1

145: Austin Skillings (Frazee) dec. Lane Girtz 5-2

152: Kolton Eischens (Pierz) pinned Isaac Schermerhorn 2:55

160: Matt Kummet (Pierz) dec. Tanner Bachmann 5-2

170: Brett Kapsner (Pierz) dec. Calvin Streeper 3-0

182: Jonah Lange (Frazee) pinned Cody Meyer 1:24

195: Teddy Dehler (Pierz) tech. fall Alex Splonskowski 4:59

220: Austin Gall (Pierz) dec. Tanner Tapper 7-0

285: Garrett Malsrom (Frazee) pinned Brad Dehler :44

Overall: Pierz finishes 25-6. Next: Pierz in Class 1A individual tournament Friday-Saturday, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul.

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5861. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bertsballpark .