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Sophomore Sean Glenz and seniors Matt Kerzman and Pat Utsch won individual titles for the Bulldogs. All three were seeded first at their weight and won two matches to claim their individual title.

Glenz recorded a fall in the semifinals and then won 5-1 in the finals at 140. Kerzman recorded two pins to win the title at 152. And Utsch had a technical fall and a major decision to win at 189.

Sophomore Sean Glenz raised his season record to 19-0 as he won the championship at 140 on Saturday at the Paynesville Invitational.

Two other Bulldogs reached the finals but lost. Sophomores Joel Kerzman (135) and Aaron Bachman (160) took second place for the Dogs.

Taking fourth place were sophomores Joe Sheridan (112) and Keith Klein (145). Taking fifth were eighth grader Jordan Christian (103), junior Todd Thielen (119), eighth grader Jordan Spaeth (171), and junior Josh Tebben (215). Taking sixth were ninth grader Aaron Burris (125), junior Jack Mueller (130), and junior Cody Flanders (275).

Scott West won the team title for the second straight year with 243.5 points, topping Minneota (207), Dassel-Cokato (190), Paynesville (153.5), Park Rapids (101), and Deer River (86.5). Scott West had seven individual champions, followed by Minneota and Paynesville with three each.

Park Rapids had one individual champion, senior Tyler Safratowich, a two-time state champion who tied a tournament record by becoming the second wrestler to win four individual titles. Safratowich - who won at 103 in 2001, at 103 in 2002, at 119 in 2003, and at 130 in 2004 - tied former Paynesville standout Brad Fenske as the only wrestlers to win four individual titles at the invitational. Fifteen wrestlers have won three individual titles, including ten Bulldogs.

Senior Matt Kerzman recorded pins in both his matches as he claimed the individual title at 152 on Saturday.

In the 34-year history of the event, Paynesville has been the team champion 19 times.

Team scores
1. Scott West 243.5
2. Minneota 207.0
3. Dassel-Cokato 190.0
4. Paynesville 153.5
5. Park Rapids 101.0
6. Deer River 86.5

Individual Results
103-Jordan Christian (P)...lost by pin to Lucas Edberg (SW), 3:23...lost 7-1 dec. to Coler Uscola (PR)...won 6-2 dec. over Josh O'Shea (DR)... Fifth Place;
112-Joe Sheridan (P) ...pinned Eric Enerson (DR), 3:58...lost 8-2 dec. to Kurt Salmen (D-C)...lost 16-2 maj. dec. to Edward Dvorak (SW)...Fourth Place;
119-Todd Thielen (P)...lost by pin to Steve Rohkola (D-C), 3:57...lost by pin to Craig Peterson (M), 0:25 ...won 9-6 dec. over Adam Huotari (DR)...Fifth Place;
125-Aaron Burris (P)...lost by pin to Zac Evans (DR), 4:53...lost by pin to Tim Hentges (SW), 2:28...lost by tech. fall to Evans (DR), 19-3...Sixth Place;
130-Jack Mueller (P)...lost by pin to Tyler Safratowich (PR), 3:32...lost by pin to Tony Schuster (SW), 0:50...lost by tech. fall to Tim Bebeau (DR), 18-3...Sixth Place;
135-Joel Kerzman (P)...won 4-3 dec. over Dan Nyquist (D-C)...lost 6-0 dec. to Jacob Roberts (SW)...Second Place;
140-Sean Glenz (P)...pinned Marshal Sager (D-C), 3:46...won 5-1 dec. over Craig Janiszeski (M)...First Place;
145-Keith Klein (P)...pinned Brad Schussman (DR), 1:08...lost 9-2 dec. to Shane Salmen (D-C)...lost 5-2 dec. to D. Stripling (M)...Fourth Place;
152-Matt Kerzman (P)...pinned Adam Komplelien (M), 1:36...pinned Greg Colosey (SW), 1:33...First Place;
160-Aaron Bachman (P)...pinned Steve Rogers (DR), 6:48...lost by pin to Dave Gerhart (SW), 0:19...Second Place;
171-Jordan Spaeth (P)...lost 5-3 overtime dec. to Jake Nelson (D-C)... lost 7-2 dec. to Tony Buysse (M)...Fifth Place;
189-Pat Utsch (P)...won by tech. fall over Dan Stoutland (SW), 3:28...won 11-3 maj. dec. over Mike Kisner (D-C)...First Place;
215-Josh Tebben (P)...lost 8-3 dec. to Sean Wolf (SW)... lost by tech. fall to Der Moehling (DR), 6:00...Fifth Place;
275-Cody Flanders (P)...lost by pin to Lionel Carter (DR), 1:34...lost by pin to Tyler Klejeski (D-C), 0:53...lost 1-0 dec. to Cody Smith (PR)...Sixth Place.

Dogs sweep Albany, LPGE
The Bulldogs swept LPGE and Albany at home on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to finish their conference season with a dual meet record of 3-1. The Dogs beat Albany 37-35 and topped LPGE, who qualified for state in Class AA a year ago, 40-24.

In December, the Bulldogs beat Melrose but lost to Sauk Centre in West Central Conference North matches.

Against LPGE, the Dogs rallied from a 24-13 deficit by winning the last five weights, including two pins and two wins by forfeit. Sophomore Aaron Bachman started the string with a key pin at 160, and junior Josh Tebben recorded a pin at 215 to seal the victory for the Bulldogs.

Senior Pat Utsch claimed the individual title at 189 on Saturday, winning two matches including this major decision against a Dassel-Cokato wrestler. Utsch was one of three Dogs to take first at the invitational.

Senior Matt Kerzman, wrestling up at 171, also recorded a close decision for the Dogs. The Thunder forfeited at 189 and 275.

Earlier, the Bulldogs also got a key pin at 119 from junior Todd Thielen, who got a third-period pin in an otherwise close match.

Other winners for the Bulldogs were sophomore Sean Glenz (major decision at 145) and ninth grader Aaron Burris (decision at 125).

Sophomore Joel Kerzman and junior Jack Mueller suffered their second and third losses of the year, respectively, to state-rated wrestlers from LPGE.

Against Albany, senior Pat Utsch clinched a close victory for the Dogs with a pin at 215, as Paynesville held on to beat the Huskers 37-35.

The Bulldogs trailed twice early in the match but rallied to lead by 14 points at 31-17. Then Albany got back-to-back pins to close within 31-29 with two matches to go. Utsch's pin gave Paynesville a 37-29 lead and assured the victory.

Sophomore Keith Klein tries for a reversal during one of his matches on Saturday at the Paynesville Invite. He placed fourth at 145.

The Dogs also got pins from Mueller at 135 and from Joel Kerzman at 140. Matt Kerzman added a major decision at 160. And eighth grader Jordan Christian started the scoring for the Dogs with a decision at 103.

Albany also forfeited at two weights to Paynesville.

The Bulldogs are now 13-6 overall.

Paynesville 40, LPGE 24
103-Jaeson Pesta (LPGE) dec. Jordan Christian, 4-1; 112-Derek Pesta (LPGE) dec. Joe Sheridan, 4-3; 119-Todd Thielen (P) pinned Joe Morisch, 5:38; 125-Aaron Burris (P) dec. Chad Hibbs, 9-5; 130-Brad Twardowski (LPGE) pinned Cory Spanier, 3:29; 135-Sam Schad (LPGE) pinned Jack Mueller, 4:22; 140-Travis Pesta (LPGE) dec. Joel Kerzman, 4-2; 145-Sean Glenz (P) maj. dec. Jacob Zeig, 11-3; 152-Mitch Amoly (LPGE) dec. Keith Klein, 7-5; 160-Aaron Bachman (P) pinned Dan Hoeschen, 4:21; 171-Matt Kerzman (P) dec. Pat Jenkins, 5-3; 189-Pat Utsch (P) won by forfeit; 215-Josh Tebben (P) pinned Jacob Pesta, 5:32; 275-Derek Burris (P) won by forfeit.

Paynesville 37, Albany 35
103-Jordan Christian (P) dec. Matt Dowell, 7-6; 112-Brad Maciejewski (A) dec. Joe Sheridan, 7-0; 119-Alex Plantenburg (A) maj. dec. Andrew Christian, 9-0; 125-Cory Spanier (P) won by forfeit; 130-Kurt Schlangen (A) pinned Aaron Burris, 1:55; 135-Jack Mueller (P) pinned Ryan Bolfes, 1:30; 140-Joel Kerzman (P) pinned Sergei Krougov, 4:35; 145-Scott Schlangen (A) maj. dec. Keith Klein, 17-4; 152-Sean Glenz (P) won by forfeit; 160-Matt Kerzman (P) maj. dec. Kris Doll, 17-4; 171-Matt Meyer (A) pinned Aaron Bachman, 2:53; 189-Aaron Blackmore (A) pinned Josh Tebben, 0:43; 215-Pat Utsch (P) pinned Bret Mandel, 4:37; 275-Jeff Dirkes (A) won by forfeit.