Wenninger battles back to semifinals

But Eagle 171-pounder falls to Tartan's Graham

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

ST. PAUL -- The last three years of Matt Wenninger's Eagle wrestling career have been filled with success and almosts.

The last two years, he missed going to state, finishing third at the section tournament. This year, he almost missed it again, but won his true second match to advance.

In the state Class AAA Individual tournament, he fought his way to the semifinals and had a chance to tie the match slip through his fingers. Literally.

Wenninger was behind Tartan's Mike Graham (34-14) when he put him on a headlock and was on his way to tipping him on his head when the hold slipped away, along with Wenninger's chances to place.

The 13-5 loss was emotional for Wenninger, but after a few minutes, he was able to put things into perspective.

"It's a good ending," Wenninger (31-13) said. "Losing the match was disappointing, but I felt like it was a good season."

Not only did he pin the sixth-ranked wrestler in the 171-pound weight class, he also beat the third-ranked wrestler in wrestle-backs in the Class AAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament Friday before losing in the semifinals.

Wenninger had beaten #6 Neil Russel from St. Cloud Apollo Thursday, and then lost in the quarterfinals to drop to the consolation bracket. He won his wrestle-back match against Joe Sandkamp (36-9) with a hard-fought-for 9-8 decision to advance to the consolation quarterfinals.

Wenninger got a take down to lead 2-0 in the first period, and an escape and a reversal kept him ahead even after Sandkamp's reversal. His early escape was crucial, as it decided for Arndt and Wenninger how he would approach Sandkamp in the second period.

"They got outcoached on that," Arndt said. "He has a roll to a headlock, and if Matt hadn't gotten out of it, he would have been behind."

They decided to do the optional start so Wenninger could face Sandkamp on his feet.

"We beat him with that and his (Wenninger's) good takedowns secured the deal," Arndt said. "He listens to what the coaches want to do, and it pays off for him big time."

Even though Sandkamp also kept gaining points, Wenninger was able to use that ability on his feet to win the match.

Another thing that has worked to Wenninger's advantage was the decision at the beginning of the year to move up a weight class from 160, which he wrestled at last year, to 171, even though he still weighs just over 160.

Arndt attributes part of Wenninger's success this year to that decision to change weight classes, even though both Arndt and Wenninger agree that size was probably the difference in his last match. Coach Arndt points out that if Wenninger hadn't moved up, he may never have made it to state.

"Who would ever expect this of a guy who moved up a weight class?" Arndt said. "But I'm sure he's happy he did it."

Wenninger finished his high school career with 105 career wins. He is eighth on the list of ten New Ulm wrestlers to cross the 100 mark. After high school, Wenninger will be attending Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Will he wrestle?

"I'm going to miss it too much if I don't, so I'll have to say yes," he said. "But I have to make school my number one priority."

Aside from Wenninger, Chris Koob, who made a surprise trip to the State Tournament when he won his true second match at sections, also finished his season Friday with a 20-20 record. He wrestled Forest Lake's Jordan Kolbow (31-8) in the consolation bracket, losing by a 5-1 decision.

The point Koob made was on an escape, as Kolbow had control of the match for most of the time, taking down Koob twice and riding for the win.

"As a freshman, he [Koob] may have been in awe of the whole thing," Eagle Coach Dar Arndt said. "He needed to loosen up, let go, and chain wrestle. When one thing doesn't work, you need to shift from one thing to another."

Arndt said that the fluidity needed to win at state may be something that comes with more experience -- and may be encouraged by the impending end of a senior's high school career.

"[Koob] didn't open up like Matt did," Arndt said. "This is Matt's last chance. It's probably somewhere in the back of the freshman's mind that he can come back here again. For a senior, its finality is so important."

New Ulm Wrestlers with 100 Career Wins

Pete Zangel, 2000, 131 wins

Eric Miller, 2000, 130 wins

Shane Gulden, 2000, 126 wins

Nick Ruch, 1998, 124 wins

Andy Bernard, 2002, 121 wins

Bill Bastian, 2000, 112 wins

Alan Bastian, 1983, 107 wins

Matt Wenninger, 2003, 105 wins

Gus Martens, 2000, 103 wins

Nate Gieseke, 2002, 101 wins