Bemidji's Joe Andersen and Brandon Bahr clinched a top four finish at the state wrestling tournament Friday, winning three times to advance to the third-place match.
Both will wrestle at noon today when the individual third and fifth place matches are contested.
Andersen handled Mike Zenz of John Marshall 9-2 in a late Friday night bout to gain the third-place match.
Bahr was an even bigger winner cruising to a 17-5 win over Brandon Boleen of White Bear Lake.
It will mark the third straight year Andersen has placed following fourth and fifth place finishes as a sophomore and junior.
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Bahr is making his first state trip.
Bahr faces either Brett Landrum of Wayzata or Mic Berg of Simley.
Andersen could get revenge from an earlier setback to Brendan Eichmann of Hastings. Eichmann and Logan McAlipin of Woodbury met in a late matchup in the consolation semifinals. Eichmann beat Andersen 9-8 in the second round.
Clinch medal round
Both Bemidji wrestlers clinched a medal in the afternoon round with their second wins of the day.
Andersen had few problems with Shane Hartwig of Champlin Park, scoring a major 14-6 decision.
Bahr followed his morning fall with another final-period pin of Zach Enrico of Hopkins, closing out the match at 4:11. It marked his third fall in four matches at the state.
Both rebound
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Both Bemidji wrestlers rebounded from their losses Thursday night to win big Friday morning.
Andersen put away Ben Sheeley of Armstrong on a TF 18-1 in the third period while Bahr decked Bryce Mikel of Hastings in 4:47.
The section produced only two finalists, John Hopkins of Grand Rapids at 145 and Tyler Hemmisch of Elk River at 215.
Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament
At the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul
CLASS 3A
Quarterfinals
Hastings def. Grand Rapids, 55-12
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Anoka def. Wayzata, 30-25
Apple Valley def. Albert Lea, 34-22
Mounds View def. Osseo, 34-25
Consolation semifinals
Wayzata def. Grand Rapids, 50-23
Albert Lea def. Osseo, 61-9
Semifinals
Apple Valley def. Mounds View, 56-3
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Hastings def. Anoka, 29-27
Consolation championship
Wayzata vs. Albert Lea, 10 a.m.
Third place
Anoka vs. Mounds View, 10 a.m.
Championship
Apple Valley vs. Hastings, 6 p.m.
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CLASS 2A
Quarterfinals
Adrian def. Thief River Falls, 31-24
Perham def. Jackson County Central, 34-33
Kasson-Mantorville def. Big Lake, 30-29
St. Michael-Albertville def. Annandale/Maple Lake, 33-24
Consolation semifinals
Jackson County Central def. Thief River Falls, 30-24
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Big Lake def. Annandale/Maple Lake, 39-18
Semifinals
St. Michael-Albertville def. Kasson-Mantorville, 30-24
Perham def. Adrian, 31-22
Consolation championship
Jackson County Central vs. Big Lake, 10 a.m.
Third place
Adrian vs. Kasson-Mantorville, 10 a.m.
Championship
St. Michael-Albertville vs. Perham, 6 p.m.
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CLASS 1A
Quarterfinals
Frazee def. Sibley East, 31-20
United South Central def. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, 39-20
Aitkin def. Dover-Eyota, 30-29
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City def. Canby, 31-21
Consolation semifinals
Sibley East def. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, 32-29
Canby def. Dover-Eyota, 37-17
Semifinals
Frazee def. United South Central, 41-16
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City def. Aitkin, 39-25
Consolation championship
Sibley East vs. Canby, 10 a.m.
Third place
Aitkin vs. United South Central, 10 a.m.
Championship
Frazee vs. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, 6 p.m.
