Eagles pin USC

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Three pins and three forfeit wins turned a close meet into a rout as the New Ulm High wrestling team went on for a 52-15 South Central Conference win over United South Central at NUHS gym Friday night.

"This one was a little better," coach Dar Arndt said, referring to Tuesday's tie with Madelia-Truman. The Eagles now stand at 1-0-1 on the season, and will travel to face St. James Tuesday in another SCC battle.

Seventh-grader Chris Koob got New Ulm off on the right foot as he pinned the Rebels' Jake Hovland at 1:44. Senior Jon Jamison survived 6-5 at 112, and Adam Bartels gave his team a real lift as he scored six points in the third period to force overtime before taking down Chance Carlson in the extra session for a 12-10 win.

"He (Bartels) gave us a lift, the same as at (103) and (112)," Arndt said. "Koob is really coming around for us, and Jamison really battled."

USC would come back quickly to tie the score as John Niebuhr pinned Dan Mielke (1:10) at 125 and Shawn Herman surprised the crowd by pinning state-ranked Nate Gieseke (1:50) at 130.

"We knew (USC) was good at both 25 and 30," Arndt said. "That Herman kid wrestled (Shane) Gulden real tough last year, and Niebuhr rated in the state. We thought we were doing the right thing there -- switching (Gieseke and Mielke) -- and thought we'd win at 30, but you can't take anything away from that Herman kid ... he came out hard."

Sky Royston, dropping down a weight, would pick the Eagles up again as he scored a 16-7 major decision over Chris Adams at 135. Sophomore Matt Wenninger then pinned Mike Frederick (3:17) at 140, and Justin Windschitl gave New Ulm a 28-12 win with his forfeit win at 145.

"We had to move because Paul Ruch is injured," Arndt explained. "We don't like to move if we don't have to, but those guys did a nice job. It was a good deal at 45 because (Windschitl) had the flu all day, and it was good that he got some rest."

Brady Krohnberg got USC its final points of the meet as he outlasted Dylan Kapolczynski 4-2 at 152, but forfeit wins by Tony Ruch (160) and Andy Howk (heavyweight) plus pins from freshman Travis Aufderheide (1:56) at 171 and junior Andy Bernard (1:47) at 189 produced the final 52-15 margin.

"How about our freshman at 71," Arndt said of Aufderheide. "He came out with a good bar-arm series and turned it in to a pin. Very good, as was Bernard at 89."

The New Ulm junior varsity won as well, defeating the Rebels 48-18.

NEW ULM 52, UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL 15

103-Chris Koob (NU) pinned Jake Hovland 1:44; 112-Jon Jamison (NU) dec. Joshuwa Levine 6-5; 119-Adam Bartels (NU) dec. Chance Carlson 12-10 OT; 125-John Niebuhr (USC) pinned Dan Mielke 1:10; 130-Shawn Herman (USC) pinned Nate Gieseke 1:50; 135-Sky Royston (NU) maj. dec. Chris Adams 16-7; 140-Matt Wenninger (NU) pinned Mike Frederick 3:17; 145-Justin Windschitl (NU) won by forfeit; 152-Brady Krohnberg (USC) dec. Dylan Kapolczynski 4-2; 160-Tony Ruch (NU) won by forfeit; 171-Travis Aufderheide (NU) pinned Brian Leesch 1:56; 189-Andy Bernard (NU) pinned Jake Courrier 1:47; HWT-Andy Howk (NU) won by forfeit.