KMS earns return trip to state with 5A title

The KMS wrestling team is headed back to the State Tourney!  The Saints won all three meets last week in the Section 5A Team Tourney, including a 34-33 win over LPGE-Browerville in the semifinals, to get back to the state team tournament for the fourth time in the last nine season.
KMS, which also beat Osakis in the quarterfinals, Tuesday, in Kerkhoven (47-21) and BBE in the finals, Friday at Holdingford (43-23), improved to 15-3 overall heading into the state meet, set for March 2-4 at the Xcel Center in St. Paul.
Ryan Torkelson’s 7-5 victory at 195 pounds gave KMS the winning margin during the victory over LPGE-Browerville and in the finals, the Saints took advantage, winning 10 of the 14 matches to win easily.
The Section 5A Individual Tourney is set for this Friday and Saturday, at NLS High School.  The top two wrestlers from each weight class will join the Saints at the State Wrestling Tournament.
KMS goes into the individual tourney with nine wrestlers having at least 20 wins, including three with at least 30 victories -- Brandin Dahl (34-1), Will Magaard (34-3) and Dylan Rudningen (30-3).
Last year, Dahl, Magaard, and Rudningen joined Israel Rodriguez, Colton Kinney, and Karter VanHeuveln at the state individual tourney.
KMS also qualified to state in 2009, winning the Class A title; in 2013, when the Saints went 1-2 to finish sixth; and in 2016 when the team went 0-2....
 
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Pictured: Kyle Meyer (right) wrestles for the Saints against Osakis.  KMS earned a return trip to the State Wrestling Tournament with three wins last week.