Area schools send three wrestlers to 1A finals

ST. PAUL -- The Pierz Pioneers advanced two wrestlers to the state Class 1A Individual finals Saturday and the Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders advanced one.

Craig Luberts won his semifinal at 135 and Dan Britz was victorious at 171 to get a crack at a state championship for Pierz. Joeb Oyster moved on at 130 for BHV.

Luberts recorded a 5-2 triumph against Cole Altermatt of Wabasso. He took on Chatfield's Ryan Priebe, who holds a record of 28-2, in the final Saturday.

Britz used a near-side cradle to get the edge against Craig Myhre at 171 to advance to the final in his first state appearance.

"He hit the weights hard this summer and it really helped develop him," Pierz coach Mark Jensen said. "Being a senior on the team, he's really come on and been a help for us."

The match was stopped early as Myhre slammed Britz' jaw on the mat. He rallied from the injury to record a takedown in each period to gain the advantage.

"He's really been tough on his feet," Jensen said. "It seems like he's out-quicking other guys."

Britz took on Adrian's Tyler Bullerman, who holds a perfect 40-0 record, in the final Saturday.

Joeb Oyster claimed a spot in the 130-pound final for the BHV Raiders, handily beating Frazee's Andy Quittschreiber 9-3 in the semifinals. He faced Goodhue's Troy Stehr in the final Saturday. Stehr holds a 38-6 mark.

Area Class 1A individual results

103 -- Brandon Schunk (Wabasso) dec. Nathan Janson (Pierz) 6-3, Janson vs. Brandon Schmoll (BOLD, 29-7) in consolation semifinals Saturday.

112 -- Trevor Balbach (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale) dec. Brent Franko (Triton) 5-0, Joe Gunderson (Hayfield) dec. Balbach 7-2, Balbach eliminated.

125 -- Greg Brendemuehl (Medford) dec. Jared Oyster (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale) 1-0, Jared Oyster eliminated; Mark Bonagofsky (Mahnomen/Waubun) major dec. Nick Gruber (Pierz) 8-0, Gruber eliminated.

130 -- Joeb Oyster (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale) dec. Andy Quittschreiber (Frazee) 9-3, Oyster vs. Troy Stehr (Goodhue, 38-6) in state final Saturday.

135 -- Craig Luberts (Pierz) dec. Cole Altermatt (Wabasso) 5-2, Luberts vs. Ryan Priebe (Chatfield, 28-1) in state final Saturday; Cullen Captain (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale) dec. Brent Yule (Medford) 7-1, Captain dec. Bryce Olson (Fertile-Beltrami) 10-4, Captain vs. Zeb Roth (Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, 20-2) in consolation semifinals Saturday.

145 -- Adam Aho (Frazee) major dec. T.J. Marshik (Pierz) 13-2, Marshik eliminated.

171 -- Dan Britz (Pierz) dec. Craig Myhre (Minneota) 10-6, Britz vs. Tyler Bullerman (Adrian) in final Saturday.

189 -- Kyle Asleson (Nicollet) dec. Kevin Smude (Pierz) 4-0, Smude eliminated.