WRESTLING: Bemidji tied for fifth after first day at Paul Bunyan Invitational

BRAINERD – The Bemidji High School wrestling team sits in a tie for fifth place after one day at the Paul Bunyan Invitational in Brainerd.

The Lumberjacks have 49 points after a day of wrestling, along with Mound Westonka, who also had 49 points.

Frazee currently leads the way with 87 points, while Foley, Little Falls and Chisago Lakes round out the top five.

The Lumberjacks had 12 wrestlers competing on Friday, and seven won their first-round matchups in the double-elimination tournament.

Two – Brian Maas (113) and Alex Johnson (Heavyweight) – had first-round byes.

Both Maas and Johnson won their second-round bouts to advance to the winners’ brackets. Maas pinned Joe Jensen of Royalton at 3:36, while Johnson pinned Jared Adkins of Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Bakus at 1:36.

Two other wrestlers swept their two matches.

At 138, Craig Maas beat Hyde Anderson of Burnsville 18-3 in the first round before topping Jace Loge of PL/PR-B 2-1 in the second round.

At 170, Kade Johnson beat Lucas Grovehome of Burnsville 3-2 in the first round then edged Jace Engelman of Brainerd 2-1 in his next match.

Dylan Sauceda (126), Logan Crosby (132), Robert Treuer (145), Drew Peterson (160) and Brody Wilander (195) each went 1-1 on the first day of competition.

Tyler Maas (106), Gannon Strain (152) and Josh Dreyer (182) were each pinned in their first-round bouts.

The Lumberjacks return to the mat at 9 a.m. today.