Photo by Brennen Rupp TMB/WWG's Anthony Axford wrestles against Minneota's Austin Kloos during their meet on Thursday.

TRACY – It was a battle, literally of top 10 teams on Thursday when the seventh ranked Minneota Vikings squared off against the 10th ranked Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove. In the end it was Minneota that was left standing with a 35-30 victory.

“We did some good things, but we made some mistakes,” Minneota coach Joel Skillings said. “I’m sure they’d say the same thing. I’m happy with our progress. It was a big win for us. We have great kids.”

In a dual that was decided by five points TMB/WWG coach Karl Campbell said if his team could have been on the opposite side of just one of the many tightly contested matches the outcome would have been different.

“If we win one of the tightly contested matches the score is different,” Campbell said.

The opening match set the tone for the entire dual. TMB/WWG’s Ayden Horner won in dramatic fashion over Eric Carrasco in the 106-pound division by decision, 8-5.

In the 113-pound division it was Minnetoa’s Jonah Gruenes defeating Caden Johnson by decision 9-0. The Vikings earned a victory in the 120-pound division by forfeit.

It was another tightly contested match in the 126-division between Kade Lozinski and Levi Ellingson. Lozinski earned a 4-2 decision victory for the Vikings.

The Panthers earned a victory by forfeit in the 132 division.

The match of the night occured in the 138-division between Blake Reiss and Tyler Vandendriessche. Reiss earned a 10-5 decision victory in overtime to get the win for the Vikings.

“We’ve spent some time with him in particular,” Skillings said. “He’s lost some tight matches down the stretch. Not only did he close a period and score some points, but he didn’t meltdown when he got into overtime, because he could have. He battled through it and did some good things.”

In the 145-weight class Anthony Axford picked up a much needed victory for the Panthers. Axford defeated Austin Kloos by technical fall 24-9.

Minneota’s Cole VanOverbeke picked up a 10-0 decision victory in the 152 division over Austin Axford. Kyle Banks won by fall in the 160-division for the Vikings over Gabe Krick.

TMB/WWG’s Trevor Eisfeld earned a 17-5 decision victory over Josh Laleman In the 182-division Minneota’s Shawn Buysse defeated Jace Paplow by decision 3-1.

In the 195 and 225 divisions the Panthers earned back to back pinfall victories to take a 30-29 lead. Austin Buchholz won in the 195-division and Tyler Timm won in the 225-division.

With the Vikings trialing 30-29 the Vikings needed senior, Trent Esping to come out on top against Sam Bauer. Esping, the defending state champion won by fall to help the Vikings defeat the Panthers 35-30.

“Trent is a senior,” Skillings said. “He’s pretty battled tested. If anything went wrong he wouldn’t have done it on purpose. I’m pretty relaxed when it gets to that point. You have to trust your kids.”

The Vikings will be back on the mat on Saturday against Wabasso/Red Rock Central.

“We know where we have to get yet,” Skillings said. “It’s early, we’ve made some huge improvements. We’ve made some great improvements in the practice room. That’s what I want to see. If we do that it will show up when we hit the mat.”