The fourth-seeded Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles and the fifth-seeded Cubs met in the opening round of the Section 4A team tournament.
Behind eight victories – all but one of the bonus variety – the Eagles jumped out to a 26-4 and held off the Cubs for the 41-24 win during quarterfinal action in the Section 4A Team Tournament from Le Sueur-Henderson High School on Friday, Feb. 14.
The Eagles jumped out to this early 26-4 lead thanks to victories in five of the first six matches. Of those five victories, three came by pin, including Cason Demarais (107), Torii Berg (133), and Brayden Kramer (139). Brody Sieben picked up the 11-4 decision over the Cubs’ Teagan VanNurden, and John Weiss (121) secured the 17-0 technical fall to also account for the Eagles’ first five wins.
The Cubs’ lone victory during that Eagle opening run came at 127#, an 11-0 major decision victory for Max Schiefelbein.
Trailing by that 26-4 score, the Cubs rallied back with wins in four of the next five matches – all of the bonus point variety – to pull within seven, at 31-24.
During this run, James Schiefelbein (145) secured a 15-0 technical fall, Mark Schiefelbein (160) the team’s lone pin, Frank Schiefelbein (172) an 8-0 major decision, and Hank Meyer (189) a 17-2 technical fall for the Cubs.
The Eagles’ lone victory during that run came via a Ryder Schmidt (152) 21-2 technical fall.
With the Cubs now trailing by just a seven-point margin, at 31-24, with two matches left, the Eagles’ Mitchell Lipinski (215) officially secured the dual victory with a 13-3 major decision over the Cubs’ Garret Rosenow. The Cubs forfeited to the Eagles’ Nick Becker (285) to provide for the final margin.
With the loss, the Cubs’ dual season came to an end, and the Eagles advanced to the section semifinals.
Next action
The Cub wrestlers shift their focus to the Section 4A Individual Tournament from Kimball Area High School on Saturday, Feb. 22.