Grapplers hang on against Storm to remain unbeaten

After watching the Brainerd wrestling team hang on for a 34-26 victory over the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm it's probably a good thing Warriors coach Bob Brakke has a razor cut.

If Brakke had long hair he may have yanked it all out Tuesday. He watched Brainerd build a 24-7 lead, lose five of the next six matches to maintain a precarious 28-26 edge entering the 171-pound bout where Adam Hahnert locked up the victory.

Hahnert's fall ensured that Brainerd would raise its Central Lakes Conference mark to 5-0 and its overall record to 6-0.

"We dodged one (Tuesday) I think," Brakke said. "You have certain matchups with certain teams and I didn't feel good about the matchups we had, nor did we particularly wrestle well. But, at the same time, we were able to come through and squeak one out. We'll take it."

Warriors 34, Sauk Rapids-Rice 26

The key: Adam Hahnert locked up the victory with a fall at 171 pounds.

Next meet -- Brainerd at Aitkin 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4.

With Brainerd clinging to a two-point lead, Hahnert pinned Blake Cruser in 1:21.

"(The Storm) had a junior varsity kid so they took a gamble," Brakke said. "They put their better kid at 160, they had both kids weigh in at 160 and got a major (decision) ahead of (Hahnert).

"I thought we had a good chance with Adam at the end there," Brakke added, "but obviously we felt like it should never have come down to that point."

The Warriors opened up a 17-point advantage by winning five of the first seven matches. In that span, Clinton Strother (215) and Ryan McKay (275) registered pins, Andrew Wachsmuth (103) a major decision, Nick Lingwall (119) a decision and Nate Rubin a technical fall.

Kyle Dukowitz, who scored a major decision at 145, was the only Warrior winner, other than Hahnert, in the last seven matches.

Brainerd 34, Sauk Rapids Rice 26

189 -- Chris Allen (SRR) maj. dec. Grant Jaeche 18-9

215 -- Clinton Strother (B) pinned Derek Anderst 1:59

275 -- Ryan McKay (Brd) pinned Paul Bronesch :52

103 -- Andrew Wachsmuth (B) maj. dec. Shane Fesenmeier 15-5

112 -- Mike Hines (SRR) dec. Tyler Jensen 5-3

119 -- Nick Lingwall (B) dec. Even Warnert 7-6

125 -- Nate Rubin (B) tech. fall Mitch Stenger 5:23

130 -- Tyler Spiczka (SRR) dec. Jake Patnode 12-6

135 -- Mitch Rau (SRR) dec. Nick Loreno 8-5

140 -- Zach Rudolph (SRR) dec. Josh Virnig 4-2

145 -- Kyle Dukowitz (B) maj. dec. Spencer Reur 12-3

152 -- Wes Voigt (SRR) pinned Mitch Yager 3:35

160 -- Wade Cruser (SRR) maj. dec. Dave Thomas 12-2

171 -- Adam Hahnert (B) pinned Blake Cruser 1:21

Conference -- SRR 0-3, B 5-0. Overall -- SRR 4-5, B 6-0.

Mike Bialka can be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.