Photo by Jake Przytarski Marshall’s Dylan Louwagie tries to pin his opponent during the Class AA individual tournament Friday at Xcel Energy Center.

ST. PAUL - For a second year in a row, the Southwest region of Minnesota was well-represented at the Minnesota State Individual Wrestling tournament with a total of 26 area wrestlers embarking on the two-day grappling-gauntlet in hopes of returning home with its ultimate prize – a state championship.

Of those 26, only seven remain in contention remaining undefeated in their two duals on Friday and are set to enter today’s final session within a single match of playing for a title.

Among those still vying for gold is a newcomer to the tournament in Marshall’s 106-pound wrestler Dylan Louwagie, who defeated both of his opponents decisively on Friday and will take on Ty Bisek of New London-Spicer in the semifinals today.

In order to continue his successful run, Louwagie wants to keep things simple.

“I just need to continue to outwork my opponents and get points,” said Louwagie.

On the other end, some familiar faces to the tournament like that of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove’s Dereck Ellingson is hoping threes the charm with the goal of a gold medal well within his grasp after finishing third last year.

“The goal is to win a state title this year,” said Ellingson. “I got third last year, so I really want to push through, get that gold medal. Having that confidence that you can beat anybody is really what’s going to make the difference.”

Panther teammates Anthony Axford, competing at the 145-pound weight division, Ayden Horner at 113 and Trevor Eisfeld at 182 will also be competing in the semifinals. The road will be especially challenging for Eisfeld, who’s path to a title will almost assuredly come with a matchup with the reigning state champion from Canby and the area’s fifth wrestler left standing, Jaden Kindopp.

Kindopp, who won both of his matches handily, is back on the hunt for gold but will happy with however things unfold knowing he has made great strides this season.

“Honestly, I don’t feel pressure here I’ll be happy with anything I accomplish,” said Kindopp. “I know I improved last year and even if it doesn’t show out here I’ll be happy with the end result.”

Kindopp is set to square off with Logan Wendt of St. Charles in the semifinals today, but not before some much-needed time to unwind before another battle on the mat.

“(I’m going to get) a lot of sleep,” said Kindopp. “I’m going to go back to the hotel and will kind of just relax, watch TV. Just kind of get my mind off of it actually and get a lot of rest and get ready for tomorrow.”

Rounding out the list of seven is Derek Werner of Wabasso/Red Rock Central, who stands alone as the only wrestler of the bunch to have won both of his matches by pin-fall. He’ll square off with Dover Eyota’s Michael Nelson, who has been on a hot streak of his own racking up back-to-back pins in his first two matches.

The final session is set to begin at 9:30 a.m., starting with the consolation quarterfinals followed by the championship semifinals.

CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT

106 pounds

Dylan Louwagie (Marshall) won 7-2 against Jonathan Harvey (Lake City); won via tech fall at 4:40 against Andrew Novack (Chisago Lakes, Lindstrom)

120 pounds

Has Law Eh (Marshall) lost 14-2 to Chase DeBlaere (Simley)

132 pounds

Lucas Hodges (Marshall) lost via tech fall to Ryan Sokol (Simley) at 2:23

138 pounds

Trevon Johnson (Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley/Montevideo United) pinned Tyler Harms -Synkiew (Cloquet-Esko-Carlton) at 0:48; lost 7-0 to Bryce FitzPatrick (Mahtomedi)

160 pounds

Grant Louwagie (Marshall) pinned Tyler Gustafson (St. Paul Johnson) at 0:31; lost 11-0 to Cade Mueller (Waconia)

170 pounds

Elijah Sterner (Marshall) lost 11-7 to Isaiah Thompson (Detroit Lakes)

182 pounds

Zach Stahl (Marshall) pinned Hunter Hall (Mahtomedi) at 5:50; lost 12-1 to Zachary Peterson (Perham)

195 pounds

Jaiden Bahr (Marshall) lost 4-3 to Brenan Peralta (Thief River Falls)

CLASS A STATE TOURNAMENT

113 pounds

Ayden Horner (Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove) won 9-0 against Christian Carlson (Frazee); won 5-2 against Cael Bartels (Chatfield)

Eric Carrasco (Minneota) won 16-12 against Christian Pater (Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena); lost 7-2 to Derek Steele (Sibley East, Arlington)

120 pounds

Kade Lozinski (Minneota) won 13-6 against Hunter Mondor (Benson); pinned by Trevor Janssen (Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena) at 1:27

132 pounds

Dereck Ellingson (TMB/WWG) won 4-2 against Carter Sorenson (Fosston/Bagley); won 14-5 against Jack Gravelle (Aitkin)

Teddy Pesch (Minneota) pinned by Taylor DeFrang (Dover-Eyota) at 5:37

138 pounds

Blake Reiss (Minneota) pinned Jake Mortensen (Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City) at 1:38; lost 5-3 to Mark Buringa (St. Charles)

145 pounds

Anthony Axford (TMB/WWG) won 6-3 against Nathan Bauer (Kenyan-Wanamingo); won 2-1 against Baxter O’Reilly (Goodhue)

152 pounds

Jared Schroepfer (Wabasso/Red Rock Central) lost 13-6 to Spencer Miller (Staples-Motley)

160 pounds

Ayden Friese (Quad County) won 11-1 against Daniel Mielke (Rush City/Braham); lost 6-1 to Owen Bjerga (Staples-Motley)

Cole VanOverbeke (Minneota) won 2-1 against Ethan Kovars (Zumbrota-Mazeppa); lost 6-4 to Caleb Vacura (Badger/GB-MR)

170 pounds

Jace Paplow (TMB/WWG) won 5-0 against Tyler Jacobson (New Richland-H-E-G); lost 5-2 to Tyson Meyer (Minnewaska Area, Glenwood)

Shawn Buysse (Minneota) won 5-3 against Dylan Fischer (New York Mills); lost 5-1 to Kaleb O’Reilly (Goodhue)

182 pounds

Jaden Kindopp (Canby) pinned Dylan Stewart (Benson) at 3:14; won 11-0 against Mason Smid (Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena)

Trevor Eisfeld (TMB/WWG) won 7-1 against Zavier Grefe (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie); won 7-1 against Austin Smith (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis)

195 pounds

Derek Werner (Wabasso/Red Rock Central) pinned Sawyer Klatt (Roseau) at 3:41; pinned Carter Holtz (Kimball Area) at 3:44

Josh Steffen (Canby) pinned by Michael Nelson (Dover-Eyota) at 0:34

220 pounds

Shane Noyes (Canby) lost 7-3 to Luke Tweeton (Frazee)

285 pounds

Sam Bauer (TMB/WWG) pinned by Braden Willis (Mille Lacs) at 1:27