Aufderheide takes two at state

Hoffmann, Koob, Mielke fall in first round matches

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

ST. PAUL -- Travis Aufderheide was determined to begin the State Class AAA individual wrestling tournament with a win.

What he got was two.

The New Ulm senior was so determined that he got a pin in his first match in 37 seconds over Henry Williams of Woodbury (20-19).

Aufderheide (30-5) pinned down another first, surpassing 30 wins in one season for the first time in his career, "It was a good confidence booster," Aufderheide said. "It was nice to get a win at state."

Aufderheide had it in his mind that nothing was going to stop him from getting a win, and when Williams tied him up, Aufderheide used a Russian tie and used a one-leg dump to take him down. From there, he just looked for the pin hold and found it quickly.

The pin advanced Aufderheide to the quarterfinal round against Jordan Stracke from North Branch (30-10) where Aufderheide upped his record to 31-5.

Aufderheide started out slowly, unable to flip Stracke over, but Aufderheide wore him down, taking him down three times in the first two periods.

"I tried a modified move, but he had a wide base, so he wasn't going to go over," Aufderheide said. "He was gassing by the second, and got a last burst in the third when he knew he had to."

But Aufderheide let Stracke only get one escape and a takedown as Aufderheide came out on top of a 7-4 decision.

In the semifinals beginning at 6:45 p.m. today, Aufderheide will take on Steve Larson of Apple Valley (39-3).

"I have no expectations," Aufderheide said. "You can't worry about others. I don't even look at names -- I just go in and wrestle."

Class AAA

The Eagles' Adam Hoffmann started the day off against Owatonna's Alex Meger, ranked first in the state at 103, and was pinned in 5:17. Meger took control of the match right away with a takedown, using a fireman's carry. In the first period, Hoffmann had a hold on Meger's leg, but couldn't get up for the takedown. Megera built up a 9-0 lead before pinning Hoffmann.

"I shot in and was in pretty deep, but I couldn't finish it," Hoffmann said. "There was a single-leg takedown that he's good at and got me.

Coach Dar Arndt thought that Hoffmann had his chances, pointing out the shot in the first period, but also thought that Hoffmann, being an eighth-grader in his first time at state may have worked against him.

"I felt pretty good physically," Hoffmann said. "I was a little bit nervous because of the big crowd, but I tried to put that aside."

Hoffrmann will wrestle Mike Tingle from Robbinsdale Cooper (33-5) in wrestle-backs at 8:30 a.m. today. Tingle lost by major decision to Meger 12-2.

Chris Koob, in his second straight state tournament appearance, lost to Bemidji's Greg Skerik (34-2) in an 8-2 decision. Koob (30-11) got behind on two takedowns, and although he threw Skerik down in the third period, he couldn't get any more points.

Skerik lost in the quarterfinals, so Koob will not continue on in wrestle-backs.

Senior Dan Mielke (26-10) also lost his preliminary match against Owatonna's Derek Skala (36-6) in an 8-4 decision. After the first period, it was 2-2, but although Mielke got a reversal in the second, Skala scored on a takedown, a reversal, and Mielke was called for stalling in the third.

Mielke will wrestle Grand Rapids' Noel Sweeney (24-2) in wrestle-backs.

Buffalo Lake-Hector/BOLD

Sophomore Tom Elfering (16-6) lost his preliminary match at 145 by 12-6 decision to Kurt Haakinson from Sauk Centre (40-2). Haakinson went on to win, so Elfering will continue on in wrestle-backs against Caledonia/Houston/Spring Grove's Joe Taylor (25-14) at 8:30 a.m. today.

At 135, sophomore Cole Neubauer (10-13) lost to Adrian's Brandon Bullerman (35-9) by injury default and will not continue in the tournament.

Redwood Valley

Senior Bo Hagert won his preliminary match against Fridley's Brandon Johnson (34-7) by 6-1 decision at 145. In the quarterfinals, Hagert was pinned in 3:18 by Chad Zubke from Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis (35-5). Hagert will face Big Lake's Keith Lumley (32-6) at 8:30 a.m. today.

Dusty Myers, a senior at 152, will also be continuing in wrestle-backs today. Myers (38-1) lost his first match of the season to Waconia/Mayer Lutheran's Jared Duske (33-5). He will wrestle Waseca's Dan Robb (33-5) today. In quarterfinals, Robb lost to Duske in a 2-1 overtime decision.

Another senior, Tom Anderson (35-5) lost in the first round at 160, but will continue on today. Anderson lost in a 10-8 decision to Ryan Fast of Windom Area/Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin (32-13). He will go up against Jacob Vaith of Lake City (33-7) in wrestle-backs.

Paul Panitzke (30-13) was eliminated after he was pinned by Waseca's Scott Kaminski (34-5) in 3:02 in the preliminaries.

Red Rock Central/

Westbrook-Walnut Grove

Kirk Nelson (29-7) made it through to the quarfinals in the 215 weight class, but lost to Minnewaska Area's undefeated Nathan Stoen (41-0) by an 8-1 major decision. He had beaten Derek Moehling from Deer River/Northland ( 24-10) by 4-2 decision in the preliminaries and will continue on in wrestle-backs today at 8:30 a.m. against LeSueur-Henderson's Matt Burk (28-6).

At 275 lbs., senior Falcon Michael Hubert (30-6) lost in the preliminaries to Kasson-Mantorville's Kyle Bailey (37-5), and will face Jeff Dirkes of Albany (23-8) in wrestle-backs.