Class 2A Wrestling: Road Crew nets 6th-place finish at state

ST. PAUL — Brady Rhode’s tiebreaking win in the heavyweight match gave the Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle/Montevideo United Blackjacks a 35-32 win over the Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus Road Crew in the Class 2A state consolation final Thursday, March 2, at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Road Crew were attempting to complete their second big comeback of the day after rallying from an early 25-0 deficit to defeat Totino-Grace 38-31 in the consolation semifinals. But Rhode earned a narrow 4-2 decision in the final over Road Crew heavyweight Riley Peters to make the Road Crew sixth at state.

“We figured it would come down to the heavyweight match where Riley has been outstanding all year, but today they were the better team,” said Road Crew coach Travis Hoffarth, whose squad ends 31-3 overall. “We finished with our best record ever, and as one of the top six teams in the state.”

The Road Crew assumed an early 11-6 lead, but Dawson-Boyd rallied with four straight wins for a 20-11 lead. The Road Crew cut the deficit to 20-17 on Chance Abraham’s pin at 152, and then took a 23-20 lead on Earl Stockman’s pin at 160. Trey Tuchtenhagen, the only Road Crew wrestler to win all three matches Thursday, won by technical fall to push the lead to 28-20.

1/61: Riley Peters of the Road Crew wrestles Lance Lysdal of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul.

2/61: Riley Peters of the Road Crew wrestles Lance Lysdal of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

3/61: Riley Peters of the Road Crew wrestles Lance Lysdal of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

4/61: Payton Scott of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Kolby of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

5/61: Corbin Knapp of the Road Crew wrestles Tyson Ricker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

6/61: Corbin Knapp of the Road Crew wrestles Tyson Ricker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

7/61: Cheering on Trey Tuchenhagen during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

8/61: Cheering on Trey Tuchenhagen during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

9/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

10/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

11/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

12/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

13/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul.

14/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

15/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

16/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

17/61: Trey Tuchenhagen of the Road Crew wrestles Dylan Weber of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

18/61: Earl Stockman of the Road Crew wrestles Aowen Angell of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

19/61: James Cummings of the Road Crew wrestles Adam Jurek of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

20/61: James Cummings of the Road Crew wrestles Adam Jurek of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

21/61: James Cummings of the Road Crew wrestles Adam Jurek of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

22/61: James Cummings of the Road Crew wrestles Adam Jurek of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

23/61: James Cummings of the Road Crew wrestles Adam Jurek of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

24/61: Chance Abraham of the Road Crew wrestles Ethan Duncombe of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

25/61: Chance Abraham of the Road Crew wrestles Ethan Duncombe of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

26/61: Chance Abraham of the Road Crew wrestles Ethan Duncombe of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

27/61: Brady Ruhl of the Road Crew wrestles Drew May of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

28/61: Brady Ruhl of the Road Crew wrestles Drew May of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

29/61: Brady Ruhl of the Road Crew wrestles Drew May of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

30/61: Cheering on Grant Thompson during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

31/61: Road Crew coaches cheer on Grant Thompson during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

32/61: Grant Thompson of the Road Crew wrestles Ryan Boecker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

33/61: Grant Thompson of the Road Crew wrestles Ryan Boecker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

34/61: Grant Thompson of the Road Crew wrestles Ryan Boecker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

35/61: Grant Thompson of the Road Crew wrestles Ryan Boecker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

36/61: Grant Thompson of the Road Crew wrestles Ryan Boecker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

37/61: Grant Thompson of the Road Crew wrestles Ryan Boecker of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

38/61: Sean Kilpatrick of the Road Crew wrestles Landen Kujawa of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

39/61: Sean Kilpatrick of the Road Crew wrestles Landen Kujawa of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

40/61: Sean Kilpatrick of the Road Crew wrestles Landen Kujawa of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

41/61: Sean Kilpatrick of the Road Crew wrestles Landen Kujawa of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

42/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

43/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

44/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

45/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

46/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

47/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

48/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

49/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

50/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

51/61: Easton Miller of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Nolan Jurek during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

52/61: Parker Zutter of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Blayne Kuschel during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

53/61: Parker Zutter of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Blayne Kuschel during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

54/61: Parker Zutter of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Blayne Kuschel during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

55/61: Trevor Holmberg of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Bennett Kujawa during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

56/61: Trevor Holmberg of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Bennett Kujawa during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

57/61: Trevor Holmberg of the Road Crew wrestles Becker's Bennett Kujawa during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

58/61: Owen Dabill of the Road Crew wrestles Kaden Nicolas of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

59/61: Owen Dabill of the Road Crew wrestles Kaden Nicolas of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

60/61: Owen Dabill of the Road Crew wrestles Kaden Nicolas of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

61/61: Owen Dabill of the Road Crew wrestles Kaden Nicolas of Becker during the Class 2A Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Holt Larson’s pin at 182 cut the Blackjacks’ deficit to 28-26 before Corbin Knapp extended the Road Crew lead to 32-26 with a 12-1 decision at 195. Zach DeBeer’s pin at 220 tied the match for Dawson-Boyd and set up Rhode’s deciding heavyweight win.

“(Rhodes) did a good job slowing us down in the first two periods to take a 4-0,” Hoffarth said. “Riley did get a late takedown to make it 4-2. Riley did have two opportunities on top, but we couldn’t get the turn.”

The fifth-seeded Road Crew, who entered the tournament with a team record 30 wins, was defeated by the No. 4 seeded Becker Bulldogs 42-24 in the quarterfinals.

The Road Crew assumed an early 9-4 lead, and later tied the match 15-15 after Grant Thompson won by fall at 138 pounds. The Bulldogs reeled off four straight wins to assume an insurmountable 33-15 advantage.

The Road Crew had one of its biggest comebacks of the season in defeating Totino-Grace in the consolation semifinals. The Road Crew dropped the first six matches and trailed 25-0 before winning the next four matches for a 26-25 lead following Tuchtenhagen’s win at 182.

The Road Crew expanded their lead to 32-25 on Knapp’s pin at 195, but the Eagles rallied to cut the deficit to 32-31 on Cy Kruse’s quick pin at 220. The Road Crew clinched the victory as Peters won by fall.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever come back from a 25-0 deficit,” Hoffarth said. “That was a special win because we were on life support. Our rally started with Thompson’s comeback win when he was trailing in the third period before winning by fall. We knew we needed bonus points in the final matches, and we won seven of the last eight. Our kids have been rallying all year.”