/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

SECTION WRESTLING: Tigers come from behind to knock out Fairmont/MCW in tiebreaker to earn first trip to state as a team in school history

Photo courtesy of Marshall wrestling Members of the Marshall wrestling team pose with their Section 3AA trophy after defeating Fairmont/Martin County West in the section finals on Saturday in Worthington. The Tigers came back from a 29-12 deficit to earn a tiebreaker before clinching their first trip to state as a team in school history.

WORTHINGTON – After seeing its last three duals against Fairmont/Martin County West go in favor of the Bulls, the Marshall wrestling team knew it had find a new approach, especially when there was a spot in the Class AA team tournament on the line.

But the No. 1 ranked Tigers were quickly forced to scrap that plan when the Bulls got out to a 17-3 lead early before later pushing their advantage to 29-12. Marshall coach Justin Bouwman told his team to just take it one match at a time and focus on the objective in front of them.

“We just had to take it one match at a time,” Bouwman said. “You can’t really guess where things are going to go and we told our kids to focus on being the next guy up to get a W and just go from there. We knew we had good opportunities with our heavier weights, so we wanted to make sure that we are at least in striking distance when we get to those guys.”

Slowly but surely, Marshall took their coaches’ words to heart and started to gain some momentum in the process. Zach Stahl got things going in the 182-weight class with a major decision victory (8-0) before Tyler Timm picked up a major decision victory of his own (11-2) in the 195-weight class to cut the deficit to 29-20.

Zack Felcyn then got a huge six points for Marshall in the 220-weight class when Fairmont/Martin County West’s Everardo Hernandez was disqualified.

Bouwman said he was pleased with the way Felcyn continued to fight throughout his bout.

“At that point, we were in striking distance and their athlete was trying to avoid being pinned and we forced him to not be active and it turned into a stallout disqualification,” Bouwman said. “Credit to Zack, he kept going and forced the action and ultimately the official had to make a call.”

Now trailing by just three points going into the final match, the Tigers sent Jaiden Bahr into the heavyweight bout in hopes to either force a tiebreaker or give Marshall the victory. Bahr would earn a 5-0 decision victory, knotting the score at 29-29 and sending the dual into a tiebreaker.

Bouwman said there is a list of different tiebreaker criterias that the National Wrestling Federation has set and that it went to a Criteria 3, which is if there are any unsportsmanlike misconducts or major penalties given throughout the dual. Marshall was given a point, and the Tigers completed the comeback to punch their ticket to the state team tournament for the first time in program and school history.

Bouwman said it’s a special moment for all of those involved and they wouldn’t have gotten to this position without a lot of sacrifice and hard work.

“It’s a huge thing. To see all of the hard work come to the top and pay off; from the kids to the coaches and parents, it’s the work of many, not just myself, I have a lot of help,” Bouwman said. “It’s a chance to get on the map and say we’re here and it’s not just any one individual doing it, we’re doing it as a team and we’re excelling.”

Marshall 64,

Dawson-Boyd/

LQPV/Montevideo United 12

The Tigers began their section tournament quest earlier in the day against No. 4N seed United. Marshall got out to a strong lead and never looked back, as Dylan Louwagie (106-weight class), Hsa Khee Lar (113-weight class), Hsa Law Eh (120-weight class) and Lucas Hodges (132-weight class) all earned pins while Conner Roth (126-weight class) won by decision to give Marshall a quick 27-0 lead.

After United’s Trevon Johnson got their team on the board with a pin victory in the 138-weight class, Marshall responded by winning the next six matches. Noah Jensen (145-weight class) won by major decision (10-2) before Jackson Hughes (152-weight class), Grant Louwagie (160-weight class) and Elijah Sterner (170-weight class) picked up three consecutive pins in 0:26, 4:37 and 2:26, respectively.

Zach Stahl (182-weight class), Tyler Timm (195-weight class) and Cole Felcyn (285-weight class) won by decision (12-7) and two pins (4:16 for Timm and 3:51 for Felcyn) while United’s Quintin Lehmann picked up a pin victory of his own in the 220-weight class to bring it to the 64-12 final.

Marshall 56,

Worthington 12

Marshall then advanced to the semifinal round, where it would take on the No. 2 seed in the South, Worthington. This time, the Tigers’ quick start would be more of a back-and-forth affair but Marshall still had control as it led 22-12 after six matches. Dylan Louwagie won by major decision (11-0) while Hsa Khee Lar (1:08), Hsa Law Eh (3:31) and Hodges (0:13) all won by pin for the Tigers while Worthington’s Zaydan Abdulrahman and Lay K Paw earned a pair of pins.

Despite Marshall’s tight start, the Tigers were able to gain momentum starting in the 145-weight class when Jensen won by major decision (9-0). Jensen’s victory sparked a 34-0 run for Marshall, with the Tigers sweeping the rest of the matches.

Bouwman said their key in both the United and Worthington match was their ability to set the tone right from the start and carry their momentum into the later weight classes.

“The kids were ready to go. They wanted to set the tone and they started it out right away,” Bouwman said. “It was the same thing for the Worthington match. The lighter weights got out to a good start and built that momentum for the heavy weight classes.”

Hughes (9-2), Grant Louwagie (8-3), Sterner (8-3) and Jaiden Bahr (220-weight class, 5-1) all won by decision while Stahl (1:26), Timm (3:36) and Cole Felcyn (5:42) each won by a pin to close out the Tigers’ 56-12 victory and set up the showdown between Marshall and Fairmont/MCW.

Marshall will now compete in the Class AA team tournament on Feb. 28 at the Xcel Energy Center. The Class AA quarterfinals will begin at 9 a.m. and their opponent is to be determined.

Bouwman said their biggest takeaway is they have the confidence and skillset to wrestle with anyone and they just need to be consistent as a team.

“We have the tools, skills and kids to be able to wrestle with anyone and give ourselves a chance to win,” Bouwman said. “We just need to do this as a solid team and be consistent.”

Bouwman added he’s looking forward to being able to represent the Marshall community and the school at the biggest stage of prep wrestling and is ready for the team to show the state what they can do.

“We’re looking forward to that excitement and be able to represent our section, town and school in the highest of highest of events and we want to make a name for Marshall wrestling,” Bouwman said.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today