W-DC claims consolation crown

MINNEAPOLIS -- It wasn't the way Wadena-Deer Creek coach Dennis Kaatz expected to win the fifth-place meet, but his team got the job done nonetheless.

The Wolverines won the last four matches Saturday as they slipped past Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena 26-24 to claim the consolation championship in Class AA at Target Center.

"It was a little unexpected," said Kaatz, whose team also placed fifth in its only other state tournament appearance in 1992. "We expected to build some points up, but we had to come back instead."

The Wolverines were down 24-8 when Luke Trout (160 pounds) and Matt Lowers (171) each won by decision. Needing 11 combined points to win the match, Tony Vittetoe and Nate Korkowski did one better, each recording a pin at 189 and heavyweight, respectively.

"I was thinking I had to pin him; it was as simple as that," said Nate Korkowski, who pinned Adam Theisen in 2:14. "He's a shorter guy and I used my height to help. A lot of heavyweights are shorter and I can use my legs a lot more.

"I was a little worried at the end, but the other guys pulled together and got it done."

Korkowski had pinned Theisen already once this year at the Staples-Motley tournament.

"We were down at the beginning, but then in the end we came back and completely dominated them," said Trout, who won his match 10-4 over Brad Lueck. "It wasn't a surprise at heavyweight because he had already pinned him once. But 189 was a surprise. Their 189 guy was a good wrestler."

Vittetoe won by fall over Thomas Bechtold at the 4:08 mark. The score was 2-2 going into the third period, but Vittetoe recorded a reverse at the 1:40 mark and put his opponent on his back.

Seniors Lowers and Korkowski each won the final matches of their careers and another, Dwight Line at 152 pounds, only lost 2-0 to Allen Nelson.

"My seniors really came through," Kaatz said. "They wrestled well in their last match in high school."

The Wolverines had to forfeit 112 pounds because sophomore Leland Brincefield was unable to go because of a dislocated shoulder he suffered in the individual portion of the tournament. He placed fourth at 119 pounds and finished the year 32-6.

Wadena Deer Creek 26, Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena 24

103 -- Nate Berry (W-DC) dec. Cody Nord 9-3

112 -- Brett Pater (B/CL-B) won by forfeit

119 -- Tony Nord (B/CL-B) dec. Logan Brincefield 7-3

125 -- Tim Klein (B/CL-B) dec. Peter Hayes 4-1

130 -- Dominick Alvarado (B/CL-B) dec. Louie Vandermay 8-4

135 -- Pat Kramer (W-DC) dec. Ryan Klein 3-2

140 -- Kyle Trout (W-DC) dec. Jason Spencer 7-0

145 -- Joseph Bechtold (B/CL-B) pinned Matt Sweere 4:29

152 -- Allen Nelson (B/CL-B) dec. Dwight Line 2-0

160 -- Luke Trout (W-DC) dec. Brad Lueck 10-4

171 -- Matt Lowers (W-DC) dec. Lars Johnson 8-3

189 -- Tony Vittetoe (W-DC) pinned Thomas Bechtold 4:08

Hwt. -- Nate Korkowski (W-DC) pinned Adam Theisen 2:14