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The Dogs, rated #3 in Class AA, beat Milaca's junior varsity team 75-6, Perham 37-19, and the Milaca varsity to win the tournament.

Against Milaca in the final, the Dogs trailed 12-3 after losing three of the first four matches, but Milaca got only three more wins - two from state-rated wrestlers (Clay Hoeck #3 at 135 and Mitch Vedders #1 at 160, who wrestled up at 171) as the Dogs won seven of the final ten weights.

Senior Josh Johnson got the Bulldogs rolling against Milaca on Saturday with this pin using a granby. Johnson scored two five-point moves using a granby roll and then pinned his opponent in the second period at 130.

Paynesville's only win in the first four weights came from senior Pat Noonan, who edged a 17-5 wrestler with a 6-5 decision.

Senior Josh Johnson got the Dogs rolling with a pin at 130. Johnson used a granby roll to score five-point moves twice in the first period, then used another in the second period to get a pin, cutting the deficit to 12-9.

Senior Adam Christian had a first-period pin at 140, and junior Matt Kerzman had another first-period pin at 145 to give the Bulldogs a 21-16 lead.

After Milaca cut the lead to 21-19, senior Josh Kerzman recorded a pin at 160 to give Paynesville a 27-19 lead, which was cut to 27-23 after Vedders won at 171.

Junior Pat Utsch got a pin at 189 and Milaca forfeited to senior Marty Engen at 215 to clinch the match. Senior Brad Person added a pin at 275 to end the match.

Against Perham, the Dogs trailed 13-0 but rallied to tie the score 19-19 and then swept the final four weights to win 37-19. Sophomore Jack Mueller got the Dogs started with a decision at 125. Christian had a major decision at 135, senior Justin Reeck had a decision at 140, and Matt Kerzman had a pin at 145 to knot the score at 16-16.

Ninth grader Joel Kerzman gave the Dogs a quick lead 19-16 with a decision at 152, but Perham tied the score again at 19-19.

Senior Ryan Glenz started the sweep of the lower weights with a decision at 171, Engen pinned at 189, Utsch pinned at 215, and Person won a decision at 275, giving the Bulldogs 18 points in the final four weights.

Milaca's junior varsity wrestled in the varsity tournament because West Central Area pulled out. In the first round, the Dogs dominated them, recording 12 pins and one decision, while losing only one match. Getting pins for the Bulldogs were sophomore Cory Christenson (112), Noonan (119), ninth grader Sean Glenz (125), Christian (135), Reeck (140), Matt Kerzman (145), Joel Kerzman (152), Josh Kerzman (160), Ryan Glenz (171), Engen (189), Utsch (215), and Person (275). Johnson also won a decision at 130.

Christian earned his 100th career win against Milaca's junior varsity. (See separate story.)

Undefeated wrestlers for the Dogs were Christian, Matt Kerzman, Engen, Utsch, and Person.

Tournament results were: (1) Paynesville; (2) Milaca; (3) Perham; (4) New Ulm; (5) Hutchinson; (6) Sauk Centre; (7) Milaca JV; (8) Renville County West. The Bulldogs are now 18-7 for the season.

Last night, the Bulldogs wrestled Litchfield, a section rival rated #5 in the state in Class AA.

They will host ACGC, Kimball, and Pierz on Thursday. Paynesville will wrestle ACGC, both varsity and junior varsity, at 5 p.m. For varsity only, ACGC will wrestle Pierz and Paynesville will wrestle Kimball around 6:30 p.m. Paynesville will wrestle Pierz, both varsity and junior varsity, around 8 p.m.

The section team competition starts on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. Seedings, however, were not done by press time. If the Dogs are seeded #1 or #2, they will host a round of team sections. If not, they will most likely be hosted by Litchfield and Dassel-Cokato.

Paynesville 45, Milaca 23
103-Chuck LeMar (M) pinned Joey Sheridan, 1:23; 112-Josh Dehart dec. Cory Christensen, 9-4; 119-Pat Noonan (P) dec. Steven Vedders, 6-5; 125-John Fradette (M) dec. Sean Glenz, 7-4; 130-Josh Johnson (P) pinned Nic Ziegler, 2:40; 135-Clay Hoeck (M) maj. dec. Justin Reeck, 9-1; 140-Adam Christian (P) pinned Doug Lanz, 1:26; 145-Matt Kerzman (P) pinned Alex Totzke, 1:57; 152-Andy Kotsmith (M) dec. Joel Kerzman, 5-2; 160-Josh Kerzman (P) pinned Tony Swenson, 3:53; 171-Mitch Vedders (M) maj. dec. Ryan Glenz, 18-10; 189-Pat Utsch (P) pinned Clinton Swenson, 2:39; 215-Marty Engen (P) won by forfeit; 275-Brad Person (P) pinned Bryan Witschen, 4:22.

Paynesville 37, Perham 19
103-Phillip Moenkedick (Per) pinned Joey Sheridan, 3:02; 112-Pete Kratzke (Per) maj. dec. Cory Christensen, 16-6; 119-Joe Werner (Per) dec. Pat Noonan, 8-3; 125-Jack Mueller (Pay) dec. Nathan Silbernagel, 7-5; 130-Tyler Doll (Per) dec. Sean Glenz, 8-6; 135-Adam Christian (Pay) maj. dec. Michael Guehna, 19-11; 140-Justin Reeck (Pay) dec. Greg Perrine, 3-0; 145-Matt Kerzman (Pay) pinned Jake Rux, 2:18; 152-Joel Kerzman (Pay) dec. Kenny Moenkedick, 6-4 (OT); 160-Eric Carr (Per) dec. Josh Kerzman, 5-2; 171-Ryan Glenz (Pay) dec. Jon Flatau, 9-7; 189-Marty Engen (Pay) pinned Justin Flatau, 2:32; 215-Pat Utsch (Pay) pinned Jake Turgeon, 5:10; 275-Brad Person (Pay) dec. Tyler Sazama, 2-0.

Paynesville 75, Milaca JV 6
103-Torin Erickson (M) pinned Joey Sheridan, 1:35; 112-Cory Christensen (P) pinned Cody Kragt, 3:55; 119-Pat Noonan (P) pinned Kaleb Coffee, 2:32; 125-Sean Glenz (P) pinned Zach Majerus, 3:58; 130-Josh Johnson (P) dec. Ben Johnson, 7-6; 135-Adam Christian (P) pinned Mike Rygh, 1:56; 140-Justin Reeck (P) pinned Marshal Anson, 1:46; 145-Matt Kerzman (P) pinned Steven Swenson, 1:26; 152-Joel Kerzman (P) pinned Tony Moscho, 1:56; 160-Josh Kerzman (P) pinned Steve Yeats, 1:47; 171-Ryan Glenz (P) pinned Dominic Ruis, 2:35; 189-Marty Engen (P) pinned Tyler Theisen, 0:22; 215-Pat Utsch (P) pinned Andy Peterson, 5:40; 275-Brad Person (P) pinned Chris Peterson, 5:39.

Canby 38, Paynesville 22
The Bulldogs lost their annual match against Canby on Friday in Canby. The Lancers, rated #5 in Class A, have strength in their lower weights, too, with five wrestlers rated individually in state from 145 to 215.

With the match starting at 145, the Lancers won six of the first seven matches, with senior Marty Engen recording the only points for Paynesville with a major decision at 189.

Ninth grader Joey Sheridan added a decision at 103, senior Pat Noonan had the Dogs' only pin at 119, ninth grader Sean Glenz won a major decision at 125, and senior Adam Christian won by technical fall at 135, but the Dogs never got closer than 12 points after losing six of the first seven matches.

Canby 38, Paynesville 22
145-Lance Citrowski (C) maj. dec. Matt Kerzman, 14-2; 152-Jack Spectumi (C) dec. Joel Kerzman, 7-5; 160-Matt Hoffman (C) dec. Josh Kerzman, 10-3; 171-Ross Kockleman (C) dec. Ryan Glenz, 12-7; 189-Marty Engen (P) maj. dec. Jed Reaker, 13-5; 215-Dan Full (C) pinned Derek Burris, 1:52; 275-Brad Pederson (C) maj. dec. Brad Person, 10-2; 103-Joey Sheridan (P) dec. Alez Kortz, 5-1; 112-Colby Citrowski (C) pinned Cory Christensen, 4:45; 119-Pat Noonan (P) pinned Tad Merritt, 0:50; 125-Sean Glenz (P) maj. dec. Brandon Clafys, 10-1; 130-Taylor Christenson (C) pinned Jack Mueller, 0:29; 135-Adam Christian (P) tech. falled Cody Barr, 23-7; 140-Derek Stoks (C) dec. Justin Reeck, 1-0.