Falcons send two to state
The Red Rock Central wrestling team has two wrestlers advancing to the Class A Individual State Tournament, which begins Friday in St. Paul.
RRC had one champion and one runner-up at Saturday’s Section 3A Tournament, held in Jackson.
At 195 pounds, senior Vander Mathiowetz had a bye into the semifinals, where he won a 16-1 technical fall over Eathan Martinez of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove. In the championship, Mathiowetz and Matthew Haley of Jackson County Central took a scoreless tie into overtime, where Mathiowetz recorded a takedown to secure a 2-0 win and the section championship and his second state tourney trip.
Mathiowetz (38-3) will face senior Dylan Heiderscheidt of Medford (29-13) in the opening round of the state tourney. Mathiowetz was ranked third in the final Class A poll by The Guillotine, while Heiderscheidt was not ranked.
The winner could potentially face second-ranked Ayden Goetzinger of Caledonia-Houston in the second round, while undefeated top-ranked Thomas Dineen of Benson is a potential semifinal foe.
At 138 pounds, freshman Evan Bartholomaus opened with a 16-0 technical fall win over Carlos Ulloa-Castillo of Adrian-Ellsworth. Bartholomaus then won a wild 7-5 overtime decision over Kollin Anderson of St. James, where Bartholomaus scored a reversal and a takedown in the final nine seconds to force overtime.
In the championship, Bartholomaus lost a 17-2 technical fall to Thomas Freking of JCC, but secured his first trip to state when Anderson won third place.
Bartholomaus (33-8) will face senior Lane Fink of Canby (38-10) in the opening round of the state tournament. Bartholomaus was not ranked in the final state poll by The Guillotine, while Fink was ranked eighth.
Second-ranked Colbe Tappe of Staples-Motley is a potential second-round opponent.
RRC had five other section placewinners.
At 220 pounds, senior Keaton Skarupa opened with a major decision, but was pinned in the semifinals. He rebounded with a major decision and defeated Julio Esqueda of St. James 5-1 to finish third. He did not have a shot a true second due to his semifinal loss to the eventual section runner-up.
At 106 pounds, freshman Keagan Steen opened with a decision win before falling in the semifinals. He won by fall in the consolation round, but dropped an 8-1 decision to Moe Erdman of Adrian-Ellsworth to finish fourth.
Andrew Pankonin (132), Carter Beranek (145) and Austin Cowan (182) each finished sixth.
