HHS places fourth at state wrestling meet

The Hastings Raiders wrestling team finished in fourth place in their return trip to the state wrestling tournament.

Things did not go as planned for the Raiders, who lost their final two dual meets of the season after a convincing win in the first round.

Following the team meet Thursday, Hastings’ seven individual qualifiers stayed busy in St. Paul.

The team tournament

The Raiders began their state tournament with a big 47-19 win over the Flyers of Little Falls. Earlier this year the two teams met at the Anoka Duals with Hastings winning 11 of the 14 matches, this time the Raiders took 10 of 14. Like the previous match, Little Falls won at 106, 120 and 138 pounds, with the Flyers taking 182 pounds this time.

No. 2 Hastings 47, No. 10 Little Falls 19

106 Justin Jenks (LF) fall Spencer Kopp (H):42, 0-6

113 Luke Rowh (H) fall Logan Kapphahn (LF) 1:11, 6-6

120 Frank Wilczek (LF) decision Isaac Bauer (H) 4-2, 6-9

126 Dan Gove (H) major Dan Mushel (LF) 11-1, 10-9

132 Eric Bauer (H) fall Austin Olsen (LF) 1:11, 16-9

138 Dillon Kifer (LF) major Dan Marquette (H) 12-0, 16-13

145 Jake Anderson (H) decision Luke Lodermeier (LF) 7-0, 19-13

152 Dylan Nelson (H) decision Jordan Petrone (LF) 9-6, 22-13

160 Bryan Rachuy (H) TF Derek McMahan (LF) 16-0, 27-13

170 Alex Nygaard (H) TF Keith Yorek (LF) 15-0, 32-13

182 Adam Grams (LF) fall Cody Wagner (H) 1:28, 32 -19

195 Tony Lodermeier (H) decision Joe Reis (LF) 6-2, 35-19

220 Isaac Eichmann (H) fall Brent Berger (LF) 1:34, 41-19

285 Jake Anderson (H) fall (LF) 3:25, 47-19

Vs. STMA

Hastings knew going into the match with the St. Michael-Albertville Knights (STMA) that they needed to keep the dual close in the lower weights in order to have a chance to win. However, the Raiders had limited success in few matches and they were diminished by key losses from some of their core wrestlers in other close matches.

STMA was energized and ready for the dual and they were quicker and more determined than the Raiders, as the results would later show. Hastings just could not find the fire or enthusiasm needed to change the momentum of the dual.

Hastings stumbled out of the gate losing the first three matches before Danny Gove scored an 8-7 decision to put Hastings on the board at 3-13. Looking to build on Gove’s win, the Raiders sent Eric Bauer out on the mat against third-ranked Mark Voss. With both wrestlers only earning escapes in regulation the match went into overtime where Voss claimed a crucial takedown for the Knights, giving them an important win at 132 pounds. Riding high off the win, STMA seized the momentum and control of the dual with a win at 138 pounds and a pin at 145 pounds giving the Knights a commanding lead at 25-3.

Needing a miracle, Hastings sent out Hunter Swenson in an attempt turn the tide. Swenson answered with a 9-1 major decision followed by Bryan Rachuy’s 4-3 decision and Andy Rachuy’s 6-2 decision to pull Hastings closer at 13-25.

Still struggling to finish the close matches, Hastings dropped another tightly contested match at 182 pounds to fall behind by 15 points in the dual. With the loss, Hastings’ back was up against the wall and the Raiders were in need of a miracle. The Raiders needed to not only win the last three matches but two had to be by pins.

Jake Swenson kept hope alive for Hastings with 4-3 decision, but when Nick Edling claimed a 3-1 decision over Isaac Eichmann at 220 pounds the Raiders luck ran out. Hastings’ Jake Anderson earned a 6-2 decision to close out the dual.

With the loss, Hastings dropped into the third-place match against Prior Lake.

No. 2 Hastings 19, No. 3 STMA 31

106 Aaron Dick (STMA) TF Spencer Kopp (H) 22-7, 0-5

113 Tommy Thorn (STMA) TF Luke Rowh (H) 15-0, 0-10

120 Cole Sladek (STMA) decision Isaac Bauer (H) 10-3, 0-13

126 Danny Gove (H) decision Colton Schoen (STMA) 8-7, 3-13

132 Mark Voss (STMA) decision Eric Bauer (H) 3-1 OT, 3-16

138 Lincoln Mallinger (STMA) decision Dan Marquette (H) 9-4, 3-19

145 Wayne Voss (STMA) fall Jake Anderson (H) 1:34, 3-25

152 Hunter Swenson (H) major decision Owen Gammell 9-1, 7-25

160 Bryan Rachuy (H) decision Jake Briggs (STMA) 4-3, 10-25

170 Andy Rachuy (H) decision Thor Holstad (STMA) 6-2, 13-25

182 Ricky Briggs (STMA) decision Cody Wagner (H) 7-5, 13-28

195 Jake Swenson (H) decision Mitchell Eull (STMA) 4-3, 16-28

220 Nick Edling (STMA) decision Isaac Eichmann (H) 3-1, 16-31

285 Jake Anderson (H) decision Bennie Wilson (STMA) 6-2, 19-31

Vs. Prior Lake

In the dual for third place, the Prior Lake Lakers found sweet revenge in stunning the Raiders with a 30-21 win. Prior Lake used some gritty wins at the lower weights, which put Hastings in a deep hole. The Raiders’ comeback fell short with a tough break at 195 pounds when Jake Swenson lost by disqualification.

The dual began with Prior Lake using an 8-4 decision at 106 pounds to score the first points of the dual. Next, second-ranked Tanner Johnshoy scored a late reversal to claim a 6-5 decision over Hastings’ Luke Rowh.

The Raiders’ Isaac Bauer scored a 4-3 decision at 120 pounds, giving Hastings its first points of the dual.

Prior Lake responded with an 11-9 decision at 126 pounds to swing the momentum back in favor of the Lakers. A 4-2 overtime upset by Ben Rock over Eric Bauer staggered the Hastings faithful. Dan Marquette steadied the wobbly-kneed Raiders with an 8-4 decision at 138 pounds, before Prior Lake’s Matt Kahnke secured a 6-3 decision to push the Lakers lead to 15-6 at the midway point.

In another stunner, Tucker Brietung of Prior Lake thwarted Hunter Swenson’s attempt for a win with an 8-4 decision of his own. Hastings Bryan Rachuy gave the Raiders some life with a second-period pin at 160 pounds.

Unable to maintain any momentum, Hastings dropped decisions at 170 and 182 pounds, 3-1 and 6-4 respectively, pushing the Lakers’ lead to 24-12 with three matches left.

In one of the strangest matches of the year, Hastings’ Jake Swenson was disqualified when he was leading by four points. Swenson was well aware that he needed to pin his opponent if the Raiders had a chance to win. Unable to do anything on top to turn his opponent and the officials’ unwillingness to call stalling on Prior Lake took its toll on Swenson. Frustrated with the stalling calls on him along with the unnecessary roughness calls, Swenson was hit one too many times and earned a disqualification (DQ). This ended up being a nine point swing and a decisive blow to Hastings chances.

The Raiders closed out the dual with wins from Isaac Eichmann and Jake Anderson to being the dual score to 30-21 Prior Lake.

No. 2 Hastings 21, No. 9 Prior Lake 30

106 Dylan Sogge (PL) decision Spencer Kopp (H) 8-4, 0-3

113 Tanner Johnshoy (PL) decision Luke Rowh (H) 6-5, 0-6

120 Isaac Bauer (H) decision Sean O’Neil (PL) 4-3, 3-6

126 Blake Carlisle (PL) decision Danny Gove (H) 11-9, 3-9

132 Ben Rock (PL) decision Eric Bauer (H) 4-2 OT, 3-12

138 Dan Marquette (H) decision Ryan Norton (PL) 6-2, 6-12

145 Matt Kahnke (PL) decision Jake Anderson (H) 6-3, 6-15

152 Tucker Brietung (PL) decision Hunter Swenson (H) 8-4, 6-18

160 Bryan Rachuy (H) fall Dahlton Felix (PL) 3:47, 12-18

170 Alex Hart (PL) decision Andy Rachuy (H) 3-1, 12-21

182 Robby Schultz (PL) decision Cody Wagner (H) 6-4, 12-24

195 Tim Swanbeck (PL) DQ Jake Swenson (H) DQ, 12-30

220 Isaac Eichmann (H) fall Luis Pinto (PL):40, 18-30

285 Jake Anderson (H) decision Ross Larson (PL) 2-1, 21-30

The individual tournament

The Hastings Raiders sent seven wrestlers to the Xcel Energy Center in hopes of bringing home an individual state title. As valiantly as they tried, the young men came up short their individual goals. Isaac Eichmann earned the highest finish by a Hastings wrestler with his second-place award. Eric Bauer and Jake Swenson each took home fourth-place honors with Luke Rowh taking fifth place.

Eichmann, a senior, ended his high school career with the runner-up finish. His run to the finals began with a 10-3 decision over seventh-ranked Dan Lovik of Champlin Park. Eichmann’s quarterfinal match against ninth-ranked Justin Cumberbatch of Alexandria needed overtime to get a winner, with Eichmann securing a 3-1 decision to move into the semifinals.

Fifth-ranked Mitch Johnson of Eagan gave Eichmann a run for his money before Eichmann claimed a 4-1 decision and a trip to the finals. In the finals, Eichmann lost a 5-2 decision to second-ranked Michael Burkhardt of Coon Rapids.

Senior Eric Bauer was wrestling in his fourth state tournament in search of an elusive state title, only to be denied. Bauer’s fourth-place finish was the same as his state ranking. Bauer made quick work of BJ Groskreutz of Eastview with 16-1 technical fall. In the quarters, Bauer’s opponent was third-ranked Mark Voss of St. Michael-Albertville. Once again, Voss was able to control the tempo and score more takedowns on his way to a 5-2 decision over Bauer.

In the wrestleback, Bauer responded with a third-period pin over Maple Grove’s seventh-ranked Jonny Dill and Connor Scherping of Little Falls. Finding himself in the consolation semifinals, Bauer used a 12-1 major decision over Phillip Horsager of Spring Lake Park to advance into the third-place match. In Bauer’s final match, he found himself against second-ranked Dakota Trom of Apple Valley. Trom took advantage of the only takedown in the match to earn a 3-1 decision.

Senior Jake Swenson’s second state tournament started off well before being derailed in the semifinals. He finished in fourth place. Swenson’s opening round opponent, Moses Sando of Champlin Park, had to injury default out of the tournament due to injuring himself in the team portion on Thursday. In the quarter-finals, Swenson earned a 10-8 decision over Will Van Sant of Mound-Westonka. Top-ranked Tommy Peterson of Lakeville South prevented Swenson from achieving his goal of a state title with a 10-3 decision. Swenson rebounded with a 3-1 overtime decision over Justin Carr from Rochester Mayo. Third-ranked Michael Eull of St. Michael-Albertville pulled out a late 3-2 decision to capture third place, dropping Swenson into fourth place.

Sophomore Luke Rowh was competing in his second state tournament, hoping to move up on the podium stand. Unfortunately, he took home his second fifth-place finish. In Rowh’s opening round match he faced third-ranked Nick O’Brien of Wayzata, defeating him 8-2. In the quarterfinals, Rowh scored a 6-3 decision over Ryan Weinmann of Irondale, earning a trip to the semifinals. Facing top-ranked Tommy Thorn of St. Michael-Albertville, Rowh could not prevent Thorn from much as he fell 17-1. Now in the wrestle backs, Rowh gave up a late reversal to sixth-ranked James Pleski of Forest Lake, losing 5-4 and dropping him into the fifth-place match. In a rematch of his first-round opponent, Rowh dominated O’Brien on his way to 15-6 major decision in claiming fifth place.

Hunter Swenson just missed placing in his second trip to the Xcel. After an opening round loss to top-ranked Mark Hall of Apple Valley, Swenson rebounded with win over Seth Pollock of Willmar. In the consolation quarterfinals, Swenson dropped an 11-2 major decision to Zack Gawboy of Maple Grove to end his year.

Bryan Rachuy lost to Anton Kalista of Lakeville North in his opening round at the state tournament. Having one more opportunity to wrestle, Rachuy fell behind early to Travis Holt of Cambridge-Isanti. Needing points in the third period, Rachuy began a comeback getting to within three. While working for near fall points, Rachuy was reversed to his back ending his tournament.

Cody Wagner’s run at the Xcel was short lived when Jace Engelmann of Brainerd/Pillager scored a 15-0 technical fall. With the unique bracket system the state tournament has, Wagner did not have a second match when Engelmann lost to Richard Carlson in the quarterfinals.

The Raiders’ season was filled with many more ups than downs. Seeing the team back at the state tournament was a highlight. Another highlight was the seven wrestlers qualifying for the state meet.

Tags: raider wrestling, sports, hastings, minnesota, spiral, local, prep