Prep State Wrestling: Four area wrestlers earn medals at state (UPDATED)

Kody LaFraniere-Sorenson of Frazee was the highest placer in the Beyond the Bleachers coverage area with a state championship in the State Individual Wrestling Tournament that wrapped up at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Saturday night.

The top-ranked Sorenson went undefeated through the 189-pound bracket to claim the title. The senior capped off his high-school career with a close 3-2 decision over Nate Meixell of Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 3-2 in championship match. In the semifinals earlier in the day, Sorenson pinned David Joseph of Kimball Area with seven seconds left in the third period (5:53).

Sorenson becomes the 19th Hornet to win a individual state championship and wrapped up the season with a 48-1 record.

Shane Novak of New York Mills lost a tough 5-4 decision to Jacob Braaten of Minnewaska Area in the 112-pound championship match to place as runner-up. The sophomore opened the day with a 6-3 decision over Quinten Berres of Kimball Area in the semifinals. He finishes the season with a 40-7 record.

Finishing in third place were Tanner Ellenberg (125) of Frazee and Abbot Aho (112) of Fergus Falls. Ellenberg bounced back through the wrestlebacks to edge Ben Rynda of Trinity School at River Ridge 3-2 in the third place match. Aho was beaten 8-4 by Nate Thomas of Kasson-Mantorville in the Class AA semifinals. The sophomore edged Luke Zilverberg of Scott West 7-5 in the wrestlebacks and then tangled with Eric Bourgeois of Monticello for the second time in the tournament, winning 9-5 for the third-place medal.

Placing fourth at state were Trevor Stilke (112) of Frazee and Colin Turchin (HWT) of Bertha-Hewitt. Stilke came back through the wrestlebacks, defeating Dylan Herman of United South Central 6-1 and Mitch Andrews of Border West 3-2 for the spot in the third-place match. The senior ended up getting buzzed 17-3 by Isaac Novacek of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River. Turchin was pinned 5:12 by Travis Longhenry of Canby in the championsip semifinals to fall into the wrestlebacks. The junior scored a 1:59 fall over Teddy DuFrane of Sibley East but was pinned by Josh Van Overbecke of Minneota in the third-place match.

Frazee’s Bruce Lemon (130), after reaching the championship semifinals on Friday night, lost all three matches on Saturday to finished in sixth place. Lemon was edged 6-5 in overtime by Jordan Theede of Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Pederson in the fifth-place match. Dillon Kifer (135) of Little Falls also placed sixth when he was edged 5-4 by Zach Campbell of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton\Westbrook-Walnut-Grove in the Class AA fifth-place match.

Both Perham wrestlers were eliminated in the second round of wrestlebacks. Cody Nylander (215) lost 9-2 to Mario Arroyo of Mont-Lons/LeCenter and Jesse Hein (HWT) was edged 3-2 by Karl Eichinger of Princeton. Danny Pike (171) of Park Rapids Area was also eliminated in the second round of wrestlebacks, losing 8-7 to Thomas Sandt of Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial.

EDITORS NOTE: I goofed yesterday and omitted Kody LaFraniere-Sorenson from the list of area wrestlers that placed at state. I regret the oversight and wish to congratulate Kody on his state championship.