Aufderheide falls in semis

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

ST. PAUL -- A disappointed Travis Aufderheide strode off the wrestling mat after his State Class AAA semifinal match Friday.

The senior lost his 215-lb. match 17-9 at the Xcel Energy Center to Apple Valley's Steve Larson (39-3) and drops to the consolation bracket; Aufderheide (31-6) could have the chance to wrestle for third place if he wins his match against Simley's Nick Rydberg (41-3) at approximately 4:30 p.m. today.

Win or lose, he is guaranteed at least sixth place.

Aufderheide was unavailable for comment following the match.

"He looked pretty mad before," teammate Dan Mielke said. "But I think he's realizing he's still doing pretty good."

"It was actually a pretty good wrestling match," Eagle coach Dar Arndt said.

"He wrestled hard -- there's no doubt about it."

Down 5-10, Aufderheide had a takedown in third period that Arndt thought might have been a turning point in the match, but the takedowns were all on Larson's side after that as the match ended 17-9.

Teammate Adam Hoffmann lost a 5-2 decision to Robbinsdale-Cooper senior Mike Tingle (34-5) in the 103-pound wrestle-backs.

The Eagle eighth-grader gave up the first takedown, then tied the match 2-2 with a takedown of his own, nearly getting Tingle over to his back.

"He couldn't quite seal the deal when he had the takedown to the back; it could have been a five-point deal," Arndt said. "The kid scrambled and got out of it eventually."

Hoffmann was disappointed that he could not get back points on the takedown and was frustrated later in the match.

"I wasn't able to work up to get the points and it came out as a stalemate," Hoffmann said. "[Later], it just felt like he was holding on to me -- makes me mad, but that's the way it goes."

Hoffmann ends his season 32-7.

At 145, senior Dan Mielke lost his wrestle-back match to Noel Sweeney of Grand Rapids (25-2) by 15-2 major decision.

"I was kind of disappointed, but one of my goals was met, to get to the state tournament," Mielke said. "I got really tough draws, and both of my guys were bigger than me."

Mielke ends his season 26-11.