Bemidji wrestlers advance, BCLB wrestlers drop openers
ST. PAUL – All three Bemidji High School wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Friday at the Xcel Energy Center by posting first-round victories.
In the 113-pound division Brian Maas battered Brandon Moen of Owatonna 17-2.
At 126 pounds Logan Crosby blanked Grant Boldan of White Bear Lake 5-0 and teammate Kade Johnson won Friday’s opener at 170 pounds as he blistered Jackson Graham of Apple Valley 14-4.
“In the first round Brian faced the No. 6 ranked kid in the state and we anticipated a close match,” said Lumberjacks coach Rance Bahr. “But Brian dominated from the beginning. This win was a good start for him.”
Maas (38-3) will face Austin Braun of Woodbury (32-11) in today’s 6 p.m. quarterfinals.
If Crosby was nervous in his state meet debut he didn’t show it as the senior wrestled a smart match and was rewarded with the 5-0 win over Bolduan.
“Logan controlled the match and earned the win,” Bahr said. “I think he probably had some nerves because this is the first time he ever wrestled in front of 8,000 people. But Logan did very well in his opening match.”
Crosby (35-3) meets Nick O’Brien of Wayzata (37-6) in the 6 p.m. quarterfinals.
Johnson had no trouble disposing of Graham as he coasted to a 14-4 win.
“Kade wrestled very well and now he has to keep it going,” Bahr said.
Johnson (38-4) meets T.J. Ohara of Tartan (28-1) in the quarterfinals.
The three state entrants representing Blackduck-Cass Lake-Bena all lost their opening matches Friday.
At 106 pounds Andrew Nissen dropped a 14-2 decision to Austin Anderly of LeSueur-Henderson. Daven Staples fell 12-1 to Mitch Lange of Royalton in the 160-pound class and Tanner Templin was edged 3-1 in overtime by Jacob Peterson of Atwater in the 195-pound division.
The three BCLB wrestlers are hoping to continue their state meet action tonight in the wrestlebacks.