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March 4, 2000
Luneburg lone Eagle in finalsBy PAUL DUNLAP Journal Sports Editor MINNEAPOLIS -- Three points doesn't sound like much in a wrestling match, but if you're Josh Luneburg it means a shot at the Class 3A state championship. Luneburg, New Ulm's 112-pound senior, shut out Totino-Grace's Matt Svihel 3-0 at Target Center Friday evening in state semifinal action. The match was scoreless after two periods before an escape and a huge takedown sealed the win and the right to advance. "Josh was outstanding," Eagle coach Dar Arndt said. "He's right where he needs to be, facing (Apple Valley's) Mark Buck for the title." Buck faced Chaska's Jake Moore in the other semifinal, winning a tight 1-0 contest. "Luneburg had beaten (Moore) handily (11-2) in the section finals, and Buck only beat him 1-0. I think he's got a real shot at a state title here if he wants to." His teammates, 119-pound Peter Zangl and 140-pound Eric Miller, fell in their attempt to reach the finals. Zangl's match went down to the last six seconds tied 3-3 before a takedown gave St. Paul Highland Park's B.J. Rains the win. "Pete had his chance there in the last few seconds," Arndt commented. "(Rains) had been called for clasping and warned for stalling, so the kid actually gave Pete a real good opportunity to win that (match). He took a good shot at it, but it looked like he let up for just a second and the kid countered it and got a takedown." Miller went up against a very tough wrestler in Simley's Mike Verdeja (35-1), who scored a reversal and takedown in the second period and two takedowns in the third en route to a 10-2 major decision. "Mike Verdeja won a Christmas tournament over (Blue Earth Area's) Ty Eustice, sowe knew he was a real good wrestler," Arndt said. "Miller doesn't have anything to be ashamed of, because (Verdeja) is probably the best wrestler in the state at that weight." New Ulm 130-pounder Shane Gulden (35-2) bounced back from his defeat Thursday, winning a pair of matches to move into the consolation semifinals. His 7-4 quarterfinal win over Simley's Pete McAfee moved him into a matchup with South St. Paul's Juan Martinez (31-3) today. Teammate Gus Martens won his first match, but then fell in a tight 3-2 decision to Grand Rapids' Phil Hendrickson in the consolation quarters. In the first round of wrestlebacks, Gulden defeated Fergus Falls' Jake Carr 12-5 and Martens pinned Osseo's Chad Connor in 3:31. The consolation semifinals for all classes begin at 10 a.m. today. Matchups, besides Gulden's, are Zangl (36-3) against Willmar's Mike Jensen (28-7), and Miller (34-4) taking on Northfield's Chad Johnson (30-6). The Class 3A championships begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Luneburg (33-2) will take the mat against Buck (35-4) shortly thereafter. "We're hoping to see three thirds here out of Gulden, Zangl, and Miller," Arndt said. "Hopefully, a state title as well."
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