Kenyon-Wanamingo, Medford Wrestlers Punch Their Spots at State
The Medford Tigers have five individuals heading to the MSHSL State Wrestling Tournament next weekend in St. Paul. The Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights qualified three individuals from Section 2A.
Kenyon-Wanamingo Head Coach Nathan Lexvold was a guest today on a K-W Coaches Show presented by Jim Sviggum Insurance in Wanamingo. Lexvold told us he hoped to get more guys to state but he's proud of the young men who will "represent Kenyon-Wanamingo well in St. Paul."
Knight 106 pound 8th grade student Gavin Johnson will be participating at his first state tournament. 138 pound junior Alec Johnson is making his third trip and 220 pound junior Carter Quam will also be in the Class A individual tournament.
Gavin Johnson placed second behind Eli Kruse of St. Clair/Loyola. Alec Johnson was second behind Jaxen Klinkner of Blue Earth Area. Quam was first at 220.
Coach Lexvold was "bummed" that 285 pound junior Armani Tucker missed by falling to champion Dylan Nirk of Westfield in overtime 4-2 and was defeated in the 2nd place wrestleback match with junior Gavin Hermes of Medford 4-2.
Tucker had a terrific season with 26 wins and Lexvold hopes the close qualification will motivate him to work hard and make it to state next season.
For Medford freshman Charley Elwood is the Section 2A 132 pound Champion. Senior Willie Von Ruden placed first at 152 pounds. Junior Josiah Hedensten placed second at 160 pounds by pinning K-W junior Tyler Craig in 2:34 in the 2nd place wrestleback match.
Junior Brennon Hoffman placed second at 220 pounds. He suffered a fall in 1:03 against K-W junior Carter Quam in the first place match and eked by sophomore NIck Lawrence of Blue Earth Area 3-2 in the 2nd place wrestlebacks.
Junior Gavin Hermes finished second at 285 pounds.