Photo by Jake McNeill: The Minneota wrestling team captains hold up the Section 5A championship trophy as the Minneota community cheers them on in Saturday's Section 5A championship match at Ortonville High School.

This story will be updated with stats, quotes, details and additional photos.

ORTONVILLE — After falling into an early hole in the lightweights, the top-seeded Minneota wrestling team rattled off nine straight victories to close out a 47-17 win over No. 3 Paynesville in the Section 5A championship on Saturday. The win sends the Vikings to the state tournament for the first time since 2016.

“When I heard the crowd roar, it just sent shivers down my spine,” Minneota sophomore Randy Sorensen said of what he felt in the moments after he sealed the match with a pin of Easton Braun in 189. “It’s the first time in 10 years, so of course it’s going to be loud. They’re all excited, we’re all excited to go, it’s going to be a great time.”

The Vikings were also the top seed in last year’s section tournament but were upset by third-seeded Canby in the championship round. This time around, however, the Vikings took care of business with a pair of dominant wins. Minneota routed Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in the semifinals by a score of 46-17. The Canby Lancers also competed on Sunday, but fell 42-20 to Paynesville to halt their attempt to repeat as section champions.

Leading up to the clinching win, all of the momentum appeared to be on Minneota’s side. Owen Myrvik came from behind to get a pin in 145, Mason Javers got a first-period pin in 160, Adam DeVlaeminck earned a technical fall in 152 and Brock Fier and Blake Mead each earned major decisions to put the Vikings in command.

Minneota trailed 17-0 through the first four matches of the day. In Eli Faris’ 133-pound match against Braydon Kierstead, he trailed 17-5 before he was slammed head-first onto the ground and was knocked unconscious. After the match was paused, he was helped to his feet, walked off the mat and was awarded a win by medical forfeit. Minneota head coach Matt Myrvik said the team is hopeful that Faris will be alright, but that it was a scary situation, particularly in the context of Landon Pohlen’s season-ending injury a few weeks prior and a similar injury last year.

With the match in hand, Minneota continued to win, as Carson Javers earned a 10-1 major decision in 215 and Cael Fier closed the match with a pin in 285.

Minneota will compete at the team state tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul at 4 p.m. With a win in either of their first two matches, the Vikings would also compete again the next day.

Ahead of the team tournament, the Vikings will also compete in the Section 5A individual tournament on Saturday at Canby High School.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Minneota 47, Paynesville 17

107: Adrian Anaya (PAYN) def. Derek Fier (MIN) MD 12-4. 114: Tyson Meagher (PAYN) def. Heydan Danielson (MIN) Fall 4:50. 121: Nolan Roberg (PAYN) def. Nolan VanKeulen (MIN) MD 10-0. 127: Jamison Meagher (PAYN) def. Quinton Anderson (MIN) Dec. 5-0. 133: Eli Faris (MIN) def. Braydon Kierstead (PAYN) MFF. 139: Blake Mead (MIN) def. Devon Schmidt (PAYN) MD 12-4. 145: Owen Myrvik (MIN) def. Levi Kerzman (PAYN) Fall 5:14. 152: Adam DeVlaeminck (MIN) def. Alex Weber (PAYN) TF 21-5 4:41. 160: Mason Javers (MIN) def. Brighton Frenchick (PAYN) Fall 1:34. 172: Brock Fier (MIN) def. Daniel Flint (PAYN) MD 12-4. 189: Randy Sorensen (MIN) def. Easton Braun (PAYN) Fall 1:28. 215: Carson Javers (MIN) def. Colin Wendlandt (PAYN) MD 10-1. 285: Cael Fier (MIN) def. Brice Messer (PAYN) Fall 2:46.

SEMIFINALS

Minneota 46, KMS 17

107: Heydan Danielson (MIN) def. Brody Nielsen (KMS) Fall 1:33. 114: Brayden Nielsen (KMS) def. Derek Fier (MIN) Dec. 8-7. 121: Oswaldo Moreno (KMS) def. Nolan VanKeulen (MIN) Dec. 9-5. 133: Eli Faris (MIN) def. Tucker Wilts (KMS) TF 15-0. 139: Blake Mead (MIN) def. Kalan VanHeuveln (KMS) Fall 0:57. 145: Trey Gunderson (KMS) def. Brycen Myhre (MIN) Fall 1:46. 152: Adam DeVlaeminck (MIN) def. Cole Froehlich (KMS) Dec. 7-3. 160: Taytan Nielsen (KMS) def. Colton Bitker (MIN) TF 17-2 3:25. 172: Mason Javers (MIN) def. Jake Holtkamp (KMS) MD 13-3. 189: Brock Fier (MIN) def. Joshua Jones (KMS) Fall 1:58. 215: Randy Sorensen (MIN) def. Wyatt Rudningen (KMS) Fall 1:45. 285: Cael Fier (MIN) def. Jay Harkema (KMS) Fall 2:39.

Paynesville 42, Canby 20

107: Logan Stoks (CAN) def. Adrian Anaya (PAYN) Dec. 6-4. 114: Tyson Meagher (PAYN) def. Cash Antony (CAN) Dec. 4-0. 121: Nolan Roberg (PAYN) def. Maddox Kockelman (CAN) MD 16-7. 127: Jamison Meagher (PAYN) def. Liam Citrowske (CAN) Fall 1:38. 133: Devon Schmidt (PAYN) def. Ben Drietz (CAN) TF 15-0 5:21. 139: Braydon Kierstead (PAYN) def. Jaxson Ramberg (CAN) Fall 0:48. 145: Daven VanEngen (CAN) def. Abraham Nething (PAYN) MD 15-4. 152: Alex Weber (PAYN) def. Taten Hoffman (CAN) Fall. 160: Lane Citrowske (CAN) def. Brighton Frenchick (PAYN) MD 15-6. 172: Daniel Flint (PAYN) def. Brennan Giese (CAN) Fall 3:58. 189: Quintin McLain (CAN) def. Lathan Rien (PAYN) Fall 2:50. 215: Wesley Verhelst (CAN) def. Sam Brick (PAYN) Dec. 5-4. 285: Brice Messer (PAYN) def. Jordan DePestel (CAN) Fall 5:16.