By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The NRHEG wrestlers traveled to Mapleton last Friday with hopes for a win and a chance for a share of the Gopher Conference title.

Unforeseen factors changed things.

An injury in their lineup forced the Panthers to wrestle differently than planned and they went on to lose 45-30 to Maple River Jan. 29.

“This match,” said Panthers coach Shawn Larson, “was a heartbreaker.”

Bonus points were the difference.

“Had we been able to keep from getting pinned, we would have had a legitimate chance to win,” said Larson. “Giving away bonus points is going to be the main focus heading into the section tournament.”

The Panthers fell behind early at Maple River, trailing 24-0 before Cordell Peterson won 6-1 at 132 pounds.

Cole Staloch won by fall at 145, Bryce Okland scored a 7-0 decision at 152, and Palmer Peterson got a pin at 160, but the Eagles answered with falls at 170 and 195 and a 10-5 decision at 182. Zeke Erickson and Wyatt Fitterer won by fall at 220 and 285, respectively.

Also wrestling for the Panthers: Andrew Bailey, 106; Brett Kubiatowicz, 113, Austin Hill, 120; Tyler Jacobson, 126; Trai Wicks, 138; Lucas Herrman, 170; Hunter Knutson, 182; Trey Hoppe, 195.

The Panthers wrestled three dual meets in Saturday’s Lakeville North Invitational.

They opened with a 42-31 victory over the host team. Winners: Cordell Peterson, Jacobson, Palmer Peterson, Hoppe, Erickson, Fitterer. Also wrestling: Bailey, Kubiatowicz, Wicks, Staloch, Okland.

NRHEG lost 39-30 to Stewartville. Wicks, Staloch, Bryce Okland, Palmer Peterson, Hoppe, Erickson and Fitterer won. Cordell Peterson took a rare loss, an 8-6 decision to Joey Thompson. Also wrestling: Bailey, Kubiatowicz, Conor Okland, Jacobson, Herrmann.

The Panthers were upended 61-18 by Hastings. Winners: Kubiatowicz, Cordell Peterson, Fitterer. Also wrestling: Wicks, Staloch, Bryce Okland, Palmer Peterson, Herrmann, Erickson.

“We wrestled a couple of solid matches against Lakeville North and Stewartville, but Hastings proved to be on an entirely different level then we were,” said Larson. “Against Lakeville North we battled hard and found ways to win matches that we recently may have lost, which was a little encouraging. Against Stewartville we were able to win matches that we lost in our last meeting and made it a much better match than when we saw them in November. There were very few highlights in our match against Hastings. They just had too much power for us and there was not much we were able to do. We did have two falls in the match from Cordell Peterson at 126, and Wyatt Fitterer at 285. We have some things to try to take care of in order to be competitive at the section tournament.”