Two Braves and three Saints earn state wrestling berths

Three KMS wrestlers and two members of the Benson wrestling team are headed to the State Wrestling Tournament after placing first or second at the Section 5A Tournament at Long Prairie-GE High School, Saturday.

Benson ninth-grader Thomas Dineen won the 182-pound section title with a pin in the finals against the top-seeded wrestler, while junior Adam Zosel finished second at 152 pounds and will also be advancing to the state tourney.

Dineen goes into the state tourney with a 38-1 overall record, while Zosel, who recently went over 100 career wins, is 33-3 for the season.

Dineen is set to face LCWM senior Avery Northquest (24-7) in the first round.  Trevor Eisfeld, of Tracy Area is the top seed with a 44-0 record.

Zosel is set to face Badger-GM senior Andy Dostal (43-5) in the first round, and the top two wrestlers are Willie VonRuden of Medford (19-1) and Zack Holtz of Kimball Area (32-0).

Coy Gunderson, who placed fourth at the state meet last season for KMS, won the 113-pound title for the Saints, while Will Magaard (138 pounds) and Rick Jones (170) both placed second and will also compete at the state meet this Thursday through Saturday at the ExCel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Gunderson, 46-4 for the season, is set to face BCLB sophomore Eli Sharbono (22-7) in the opening round.  The top seed is Derek Stelle of Sibley East (44-2).

Magaard, who improved to 47-3, is set to face sophomore Jacob Leibold (37-7) in the opening round.  The champion from Section 5A, Mason Gode (47-1) is the top seed.

Jones meanwhile, who is 36-11 for the year, is set to face sophomroe Ralph Roesler (28-1) in the opening round.  The top seeds are Tyson Meyer of Minnewaska Area (46-1) and Jace Paplow of Tracy Area (40-2)...
 
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