The Panthers qualified the seventh- and eighth-grade team, as well as a record number of individuals at this past weekend’s regional tournament. In total, they will have 12 individuals competing at state; the previous high was six in 2014. They will also have both the K-6 team and seventh- and eighth-grade teams competing in Rochester this upcoming weekend.
Friday night, the seventhand eighth-graders competed in their individual region tournament. Oakley Bornitz finished third and punched his ticket to the state tournament. Noah Johnson and Lane Hoffman also made the podium with sixth-place finishes.
Saturday, a record 11 K-6 graders finished in the top 3 of their division and qualified for state. Blake Robinson, Grant Robinson, Connor Gertner, and Liam Martinez were all region champions. Runnerup finishes from Garrett Gervais and Isaac Arnold, along with third-place finishes from Kezlyn Gervais, William Buyck, Henry Rentschler, Braxton Rolling, and Harrison Rentschler rounded out the kids who qualified for state.
On Sunday, the seventh- and eighth-grade team qualified at team regions in Worthington. The team suffered an opening round loss to Springfield 2618, but bounced back in a dual against Windom/ML, winning 25-19 with a pin at heavyweight. Their match against NRHEG also came down to heavyweight again with TMB/WWG winning again, 27-22. The Panthers defeated Springfield in their final round, finishing fifth out of 12 teams and qualifying for state.
The NYWAstate tournament in Rochester will begin this Thursday at 1:30 p.m. with the seventh- and eighthgrade team; individuals will be wrestling that evening. The fifth- and eighth-grade individuals along with the seventh- and eighth-grade team will wrestle Friday. All K-fourth-grade individuals and the K-6 team will wrestle on Saturday and Sunday.
INDIVIDUAL REGION RESULTS Myra Hohler – 4th place – K 40 Pierce Pedersen – 6th place – K 55 Boden Peterson – 5th place – K 55 *Kezlyn Gervais – 3rd place – K 60 Finley West – 4th place – 1-2 45 *Garrett Gervais – 2nd place – 1-2 57 **Blake Robinson – 1st place – 1-2 61 *Isaac Arnold – 2nd place – 1-2 70 *William Buyck - 3rd place – 3-4 90 *Henry Rentschler – 3rd place – 3-4 100 **Grant Robinson – 1st place – 3-4 100 *Braxton Rolling – 3rd place – 3-4 110 **Connor Gertner – 1st place – 3-4 115 **Liam Martinez – 1st place – 3-4 155 Lukas Swenson – 5th place – 5-6 70 *Harrison Rentschler – 3rd place – 5-6 130 Lane Hoffman – 6th place – 7-8 110 *Oakley Bornitz – 3rd place – 7-8 135 Noah Johnson – 6th place – 7-8 150 *State qualifier **Region champion
