Wrestlers’ state podium dreams dashed

By Brenda Erdahl

Sports Editor

Annandale-Maple Lake wrestlers may have missed medals at this year’s state tournament, but they will be raring to go again next year, predicted Lightning Head Coach Ben Youngs.

Cassen Brumm and Nathan Klatt competed at the Xcel Energy Center last weekend in the Minnesota State High School League State Tournament after runner-up finishes at Section 6AA Individuals the week before.

Both were second-year-returnees to the tournament, and both had goals to get on the podium this year, but it wasn’t to be.

Brumm, a freshman at Annandale High School, missed his goal by one match.

He drew a tough opponent in Joel Friedrichs of Watertown-Mayer for his first match. Friedrichs, who was the No. 1 seed in the 114-pound weight class, won by technical fall 21-4 at 3:45.

Brumm picked up his first state tournament win in his second match when he defeated New Ulm Area’s Kane Johnson with a dominating, 7-2 decision. The win advanced him to the second day of the tournament where he would have to win his next match to place in the top six.

Brumm got to work quickly, earning the first takedown to lead 2-0, but his opponent, Tucker Skluzucek of Tri-City United, specialized in cradles and was able to get one in the second period for the pin at 3:25, Youngs said.

Klatt, a junior at Annandale High School, has wrestled at 215 pounds all season, but after defeating the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 285 pounds a few weeks ago, decided to take a chance and move up a weight class for state.

“It was a risky move but gave him what he felt was the best chance to win a state title,” Youngs said.

This time, the gamble didn’t pay out. A close bout with Samuel Winkels of Austin in the first-round match left him on the losing end of a 7-2 decision and out of tournament.

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