Pierz sending nine wrestlers to state

PIERZ -- The Pierz Pioneers dominated the Section 6, Class 1A individual wrestling tournament by winning seven championships and sending nine wrestlers to state in 13 weight classes.

The Pioneers were 4-for-4 through the first four weight classes Saturday, earning championships at each division.

Nathan Janson (103 pounds, 37-1 record), Joe Hyatt (112, 23-8), Kyle Girtz (119, 27-10) and Nick Gruber (125, 21-5) all earned championships and a trip to state.

Craig Luberts (135, 41-1), Dan Britz (171, 39-3) and Kevin Smude (189, 16-2) also won their respective weight classes and a trip to state.

T.J. Marshik (145, 17-18) and Steve Andres (160, 35-6) will also go to state thanks to second-place finishes.

Section 6, Class 1A Individual Tournament

103 -- Nathan Janson (Pierz) pinned Josh Bartkowicz (USA) :41; Janson pinned Ryan Smude (Royalton) 2:34; Janson pinned Dennis Gregerson (Braham) 3:19, Janson takes first.

112 -- Joe Hyatt (Pierz) dec. Tim Allerton (Rush City) 9-4; Hyatt dec. Josh Golden (Ogilvie) 4-3; Hyatt dec. Josh Brady (Royalton) 7-5, Hyatt takes first.

119 -- Kyle Girtz (Pierz) pinned Matt Wuorinen (Rush City) 3:15; Girtz pinned Dustin Bretzman (Mille Lacs) 1:12, Girtz takes first.

125 -- Nick Gruber (Pierz) dec. Adam Schlichting (Royalton) 5-3; Gruber major dec. Mark Schafer (Ogilvie) 15-2; Gruber dec. Matt Morgan (Braham) 4-3, Gruber takes first.

130 -- Tony Andres (Pierz) pinned Omar Bukhowa (Braham) 3:54; Garett Sowman (Rush City) dec. Tony Andres 11-5; Tony Andres dec. Randy Borash (Royalton) 6-5; Ben Berg (Ogilvie) dec. Tony Andres 11-9, Tony Andres takes fourth.

135 -- Craig Luberts (Pierz) pinned Tom Estrem (Mille Lacs) 1:41; Luberts dec. John Marquardt (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 7-2; Luberts tech. fall David Shockman (Braham) 5:12, Luberts takes first.

140 -- Zach Solinger (Pierz) pinned Donald Neville (Braham) 3:14; Matt Steffenson (Mille Lacs) tech. fall Solinger 5:38; Dylan VanGorden (Hinckley-Finlayson) dec. Solinger 6-5; Solinger def. Sam Umbreit (Rush City) by disqualification, Solinger takes fifth.

145 -- T.J. Marshik (Pierz) won by default against Shawn Sobonia (Holdingford); Marshik dec. Justin Jones (Mille Lacs) 9-7; Matt Houtsma (Ogilvie) dec. Marshik 5-2, Marshik takes second.

152 -- Nick Wilkes (Mille Lacs) tech. fall Gene Hyatt (Pierz) 3:13; Gene Hyatt dec. Josh Triplett (Braham) 7-5; Ross Huls (Holdingford) pinned Gene Hyatt 1:57, Gene Hyatt did not place.

160 -- Steve Andres (Pierz) dec. Tony Bacon (Braham) 9-2; Bob O'Flanagan (Hinckley-Finlayson) dec. Steve Andres 8-2; Steve Andres def. Eddy Popp (Royalton), Andres takes true second.

171 -- Dan Britz (Pierz) pinned Robert Lind (Rush City) :20; Britz major dec. Mike Jones (Hinckley-Finlayson) 12-4; Britz dec. Jesse Tebrake (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 5-1, Britz takes first.

189 -- Kevin Smude (Pierz) pinned Josh Nestrud (Braham) 4:43; Smude pinned Paul Osterman (Mille Lacs) 5:03, Smude takes first.

Hwt -- Roy Gall (Pierz) pinned Chad Hanvy (Royalton) 1:13; Rob Martin (Mille Lacs) pinned Gall 2:59; Gall pinned Jon Strandberg (USA) :37; Gall pinned Robert Thomsen (Rush City) :59, Gall takes third.

Next meet -- Class 1A state tournament Thursday through Saturday, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul.