|
|
|
March 3, 2000
Luneburg, Zangl and Miller in Class 3A semisBy PAUL DUNLAP Journal Sports Editor MINNEAPOLIS -- It was another first for the New Ulm wrestling program Thursday. Three different wrestlers -- 112-pound Josh Luneburg, 119-pound Peter Zangl, and 140-pound Eric Miller -- advanced to the state semifinals with a pair of wins at the Class 3A State Tournament held at Target Center. "We've never been in this situation before, having three kids in the semis," Eagle coach Dar Arndt said. "It's absolutely outstanding for New Ulm wrestling, and I really think we have some legitimate chances to make it to the finals from this spot. We're just going to have to wrestle hard from this point on." Luneburg was once again the technical master as he outlasted Fergus Falls' Mitch Gabrielson 7-3 in the opening round before a takedown and 2-point near-fall in the first period helped the Eagle senior to a 10-2 major decision over Stillwater's Dustin Dahlblom in the quarterfinals. "He (Dahlblom) was trying to shoot in on my legs, but I'm a down wrestler so my defense is usually my offense," Luneburg said. "It they can school me on my feet then I'm probably in a lot of trouble, but once we get down on the mat I like mychances." Zangl took pretty much the same road to the semis, decisioning Totino-Grace's Charlie Sadder 9-4 in the opening round. The New Ulm senior then had three takedowns and a 3-point near-fall in a big first period to cruise past Apple Valley's Joe Staska in a 13-2 major decision to advance. "Once I got in on (Staska's) legs and started taking him down, I felt I was in total control," Zangl said. "In the first period, I scored three (points) off a pin hold and I was trying to get the same move, but he knew it was coming and just laid down. "I'm just taking it one match at a time. Get a win next time, and keep it going." Miller wasn't about to be left out as he too won by decision in the first round and major decision in the quarters. He defeated Faribault's Eric Duchene 7-2 in the opening round, andrfinal win over Stkedowns and a 3-point near-fall in the first period en route to a 19-9 quarterfinal win over St. Cloud Tech's Josh McDonald. "I knew I just had to go after (McDonald)," Miller said. "I could tell he wantedto shoot right away, and when he first stutter-stepped and didn't shoot I just went for it and took him down. After I did it a few more times, he started breaking a little bit." Two more Eagle wrestlers -- 130-pound Shane Gulden and 189-pound Gus Martens -- are still alive. Gulden started the day with a technical fall (4:12) over Centennial's Justin Nygaard before yielding seven takedowns in the third period alone in a 22-11 loss to Apple Valley's Jacob Schlottke in the quarters. Martens fell to Northfield's Jordan Holm, the defending state champ, in a 13-5 major decision, butstayed alive in wrestlebacks as Holm moved on to the semis. "There were a couple matches today where I thought we'd win and we didn't," Arndt commented. "I don't know if it was a little bit of stage fright or what, but everyone that's here deserves to be here. You can't just go out there and win -- you have to earn it." Two other New Ulm grapplers were eliminated -- 152-pound Bill Bastian and 171-pound Andy Bernard after their opening-round losses, as their opponents subsequently lost in the quarters. Bastian yielded a first-period takedown and a two-point near fall in a 7-2 loss to St. Cloud Apollo's Clarke Athman, and St. Paul Como's Randy Taylor was able to score two takedowns and a reversal for the 6-3 win over Bernard. "We've got five guys active yet that can still medal, so we're pretty happy about that," Arndt said. "The guys that are at this level now are the seniors. It's their last chance at a state title or medal, and I think we can have three in the final after tomorrow." Luneburg (32-2) will face Totino-Grace junior Matt Svihel (31-3) in the semis, which begin today, 6:30 p.m. at Target Center period. Zangl (36-2) will face St. Paul Highland Park's B.J. Rains (31-0), and Miller (34-3) will tangle with Simley's Mike Verdeja (38-1). In wrestleback action starting at 8:30 a.m. today, Gulden (33-2) will face Fergus Falls' Jake Carr (22-3), and Martens (31-4) will take the mat against Stillwater's J.D. Greenberg (18-5).
|