Wachsmuth only Warrior winner in state meet

Andrew Wachsmuth may have been one of the least likely Brainerd Warriors with a chance to advance in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Wednesday night at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

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Wachsmuth wrestled only 13 matches this season, but did win nine, and finds himself in the state quarterfinals after a 10-4 decision over Roseville's Zach Allen.

Andrew Wachsmuth

"Andrew wrestled a kid we thought he could wrestle with and probably beat," Warriors co-head coach Jim Kath said. "He wrestled smart, stayed in good position and won the match. He's got a tough match (Thursday) so it was nice to get him a win right away."

Wachsmuth wrestles fourth-ranked Danny Zilverberg of Wayzata in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Brainerd's fourth-ranked Brandon Mutz, runner-up at 119 last year, suffered a stunning 9-8 setback against third-ranked Ali Mohammed of Burnsville.

Burnsville's Ali Mohammed (left) tried to get away from Brainerd's Brandon Mutz in the opening round of the 119-pound Class 3A state tournament Wednesday night. Mohammed edged Mutz 9-8.

Bill Johnson

"Brandon was leading the match after the first," Kath said, "then he just kind of let up on the guy a little bit. He gave up a big move in the second period, but came back in the third. He was down by two, got an escape but couldn't get a takedown at the end. It was a tough match for him to lose and a tough one for us to watch him lose."

If Mohammed wins his quarterfinal match then Mutz will compete in the wrestlebacks.

"It will be a long road back (to place)," Kath said. "We have to hope (Mohammed) carries us (Thursday), which we think he should and get Brandon back in there."

Highlights: Brainerd's Andrew Wachsmuth advanced to the quarterfinals.

Next: Quarterfinals 4 p.m. Thursday, wrestlebacks 7 p.m. Thursday at Xcel Energy

Brainerd's other three state entrants, Luke Boran (103), Mack Glasby (140) and Chad Ohman (171), lost their openers. Boran was pinned, Glasby lost in overtime and Ohman was decisioned.

"Ohman, wrestled a decent kid, who was third at state last year," Kath said. "It was tied 8-8 in the third, and Chad kind of gave up a big move. He dug himself a hole and couldn't quite get out of it."

Boran, Glasby and Ohman will be in the wrestlebacks only if their opponent wins his quarterfinal match.

Class 3A opening round

Brainerd results

103: Brady Johnshoy, Prior Lake, pinned Luke Boran :51

119: Ali Mohammed, Burnsville, dec. Brandon Mutz 9-8

140: Nick Knott, Faribault, dec. Mack Glasby 9-7 ot

145: Andrew Wachsmuth dec. Zach Allen, Roseville, 10-4

171: Connor Finn, Mounds View, dec. Chad Ohman 18-12

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.