Eagles win two tight meets, Ruch raises record to 11-1

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- Getting big wins from "unsung heroes" as Coach Dar Arndt put it, the New Ulm High wrestlers won a pair of dual meets Thursday.

The Eagles raised their dual meet record to 6-4-2 by edging Madelia-Truman, 36-31 and River Valley, 36-33.

New Ulm led M-T 36-9 before the Jayhawks stormed back to make the final score tight with a pair of pins in the final two matches.

River Valley trailed the Eagles 32-18 before Brady Augustin and Mike Halter picked up pins to tighten things up.

"Our unsung heroes came through," Arndt said after the River Valley match.

New Ulm 103-pounder Adam Hoffmann rallied in the final 30 seconds to edge Luke Amsden 4-3. Eric Kral won by fall at 160 pounds and freshman 119-pounder Jeff Gieseke went up two weights to face state-ranked Matt Hillesheim at 130 pounds. Gieseke stayed off his back as Hillesheim won, 8-3.

Eagle 152-pounder Paul Ruch improved to 11-1 on the year with a 20-6 win over Dusty Dauer and 12-3 win over Jared Stevensen. Captain Matt Wenninger (6-3 at 171) did not wrestle due to bruised ribs and torn cartilage. Travis Aufderheide (8-2 at 215) was not allowed to wrestle due to a skin condition.

River Valley's forfeited 112 pounds, because their wrestler did not make weight.

It doesn't get easier for New Ulm. The Eagles host Blue Earth Area Friday, Jan. 10.

New Ulm's "B" team split a pair of matches. Dan Runck got three pins and four wins at 119 pounds, Nate Dobie had two pins and three wins at 112, Bob Miller won by fall at 140 and Jared Bowen won at 125 pounds.

New Ulm 36, River Valley 33

140-Kevin Widmer (RV) dec. Mike Kral 7-1. 145-Dan Mielke (NU) pinned Andrew Krueger 2:20. 152-Paul Ruch (NU) dec. Dusty Dauer 20-6. 160-Corey Vaske (RV) pinned Tim Kral 3:50. 171-Eric Kral (NU) pinned Tony Huiras 1:15. 189-Jesse Fox (RV) pinned Kyle LeBrun :44. 215-Marcus Seifert (RV) dec. Brett LeBrun 6-1. Hwt-Trent Zabel (NU) won forfeit. 103-Adam Hoffmann (RV) dec. Luke Amsden 4-3. 112-Neal Wenninger (NU) won forfeit. 119-Brady Augustin (RV) pinned Jacob Ellanson 3:28. 125-Chris Koob (NU) dec. Matt Baier 9-1. 130-Matt Hillesheim (RV) dec. Jeff Gieseke 8-3. 135-Mike Halter (RV) pinned Geoff Beranek :57.

New Ulm 36,

Madelia-Truman 31

140-Mike Kral (NU) dec. Derrick Ulmen 8-3. 145-Dan Mielke (NU) won forfeit. 152-Paul Ruch (NU) dec. Jared Stevensen 12-3. 160-Jesse Lang (M-T) dec. Ali Bernard 6-1. 171-Matt Wendinger (NU) won forfeit. 189-Geoff Gronewold (M-T) dec. Kyle LeBrun 6-2. 215-Matt Moses (M-T) dec. Brett LeBrun 8-1. Hwt-Trent Zabel (NU) pinned Josh Gray 1:10. 103-Brandon Greiner (M-T) dec. Adam Hoffmann 16-4. 112-Andy Forstner (M-T) dec. Neal Wenninger 5-3. 119-Josh Garcia (M-T) dec. Jacob Ellanson 9-4. 125-Chris Koob (NU) won forfeit. 130-Dusty Forstner (M-T) pinned Jeff Gieseke 5:37. 135-Jason Forstner (M-T) pinned Geroff Beranek :58.

Madelia-Truman 34,

River Valley 30

140-Kevin Widmer (RV) won forfeit. 145-Derrick Ulmen (M-T) pinned Andrew Krueger 5:10. 152-Jared Stevensen (M-T) dec. Dustin Dauer 14-2. 160-Jesse Lang (M-T) dec. Corey Vaske 6-0. 171-Geoff Gronewald (M-T) pinned Tony Huiras :50. 189-Jesse Fox (RV) won forfeit. 215-double forfeit. Hwt-Matt Moses (M-T) pinned Marcus Seifert 3:30. 103-Brandon Greiner (M-T) pinned Luke Amsden :27. 112-Andy Forstner (M-T) won forfeit. 119-Brady Augustin dec. Josh Garcia 11-4. 125-Matt Baier (RV) pinned Tyler Kronemann 2:34. 130-Matt Hillesheim (RV) dec. Dusty Forstner 8-2. 135-Jason Forstner (M-T) dec. Mike Halter 7-0.