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March 5, 2000
Luneburg falls in finalsBy PAUL DUNLAP Journal Sports Editor MINNEAPOLIS -- One second, two thirds, and a fourth. That's the final tally of state placings by New Ulm's crop of senior wrestlers at the Class 3A State Individual Tournament held this weekend at Target Center. "All in all, we had a good tournament," said coach Dar Arndt, whose Eagles produced seven state entrants this year. "A second, two thirds, and a fourth -- there's not a lot of teams in the state that can say that. This is the most ever (in one year) that have placed for New Ulm, so you've got to be pleased with that." Josh Luneburg (33-3) took the mat against Apple Valley's Mark Buck in the 112-pound championship match, but the Eagle senior couldn't seem to get comfortable as Buck scored a takedown in the second and a pair of penalty points in the third en route to a 4-0 win and the title. "He (Luneburg) couldn't use the legs to the body like he wanted to," Arndt said. "He just couldn't get to the real good part of his game, which is leg-riding and turning people to their back. "They (ref) called two illegal holds -- one on a leg and one around the body. To be honest with you, I never saw the one around the body. Basically, it was a 2-0 match." It would be the same call Arndt asked for and received that helped 140-pound Eric Miller (36-4) to a 4-3 decision over Faribault's Eric Duchene for third place. "A figure-four (hold) to the body is illegal," Arndt said. "I appealed to the referee on Eric's behalf, and the assistant ref on the mat did see it." His help would be needed again as Miller was taken down about the exact same moment that time expired. "That's why you've got the assistant referee watching the clock," Arndt said. "It's his interpretation that it (takedown) wasn't executed in time. You have to have control, and that referee felt that Faribault didn't have control. Earlier in the day, Miller scored five points in the second period and had a 3-point near fall in the third in an 11-6 decision over Northfield's Chad Johnson (30-7). Shane Gulden (37-2), at 130 pounds, worked his way through the consolation bracket for his third-place finish, winning four straight matches after losing in the quarters. His final hurdle was a 8-5 decision over Champlin Park's James Mead (31-9) to win the bronze medal. "He's only got one loss in the whole tournament," Arndt said of his senior co-captain. "To wrestle back all the way ... you know, that's coming from nowhere to get third. You have to give Gulden and Miller a lot of credit for coming that far back." Gulden overpowered South St. Paul's Juan Martinez (31-4) in the consolation semis earlier in the day, scoring five takedowns in a 10-2 decision. Eagle senior Peter Zangl (37-4), at 119 pounds, went through the first overtime tied 1-1 with Anoka's Steve Kosak before losing on second-overtime criteria. Whoever wins the flip gets choice of up or down, and they must either escape or hold on for 30 seconds. "The kid (Kosak) had been warned for stalling earlier in the match, and the ref wouldn't call it," Arndt said. "Zangl went all over the mat after him. "We won the toss, and weren't able to escape in 30 seconds. Usually, you're able to do that." In the consolation semis Zangl outlasted Willmar's Mike Jensen (28-8) 6-3, scoring a pair of takedowns in the third period to ensure the win
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