Paynesville won both of its pool matches to advance to the finals, where the hosts from Foley rallied to beat the Bulldogs 32-24.
Junior Jeremy Sogge and senior Joe Hiltner, both rated individually in state, each broke a tie with a pin to put Paynesville ahead by six. Sogge's pin at 125 gave the Bulldogs a 12-6 lead, and Hiltner's pin at 145 made it 21-15.
Junior Josh Schreifels followed Hiltner's pin with a 9-4 decision that gave Paynesville a 24-15 lead.
Foley, however, won the last four matches to claim the tourney title. Junior Max Meagher, at 160, and sophomore Ryan Glenz, at 189, came the closest to breaking into the win column for Paynesville. Meagher lost an 8-6 decision and Glenz lost 12-11.
Adam Christian at 112, Nathan Glenz at 119, and Jeremy Fuchs at 135 also won decisions for Paynesville.
Paynesville's youthful lineup showed against the older Falcons. Foley had five seniors take the mat, and the Bulldogs had only one (Hiltner).
All six of Paynesville's victories were by returning regulars.
Foley, which is rated tenth in Class AA, also lost a team point due to penalty.
In pool competition, Paynesville defeated Hibbing 36-27 and Becker 38-26.
Against Hibbing, the Bulldogs recorded four pins, two decisions, and won one match by forfeit. Christian and Nathan Glenz got pins at 112 and 119. Sogge won by forfeit at 125, and Kerzman won an 8-6 decision at 130 to build an early 21-5 lead.
Hiltner added a pin at 145, and Meagher won an 11-9 overtime decision at 160.
Ryan Glenz sealed the team victory with his pin at 189.
Against Becker, the Bulldogs rallied from a 20-15 deficit by winning four consecutive matches from 152 to 189. Hiltner started the run with a pin at 152, Meagher followed with a technical fall at 160, Ryan Glenz recorded a pin at 171, and junior Jason Leyendecker won by forfeit at 189.
Nathan Glenz and Jeremy Sogge gave the Bulldogs an early lead against Becker with pins at 119 and 125, but the Bulldogs' only other points in the lower weights came on a decision from Fuchs at 135.
Three Paynesville wrestlers won three individual matches for the day. Hiltner won three times by pin. Sogge had two pins and a forfeit, and Nathan Glenz had two pins and a decision.
The conference title could be decided in the next week. The Bulldogs wrestle the top two contenders for the West Central Conference North crown at home this week.
The Bulldogs will host Litchfield on Thursday and will host Albany next Tuesday, Dec. 12. The Dragons have been the Bulldogs' top competition for the conference title in recent years, but this year the Huskies are receiving votes in the Class AA state ratings.
Foley 32, Paynesville 24
103-Zack Rajkowski (F) pinned Sean Glenz, 5:00; 112-Adam Christian (P) dec. Ryan Holthaus, 6-5; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) dec. Dave Julifs, 15-10; 125-Jeremy Sogge (P) pinned Lance Muyres, 5:57; 130-Aaron Bemboom major dec. Justin Reeck, 13-0; 135- Jeremy Fuchs (P) dec. Josh Foss, 7-4; 140-Mike Swendra (F) pinned Nick Fuchs, 2:55; 145-Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Luke Matvick, 4:51; 152-Josh Schreifels (P) dec. Justin Swendra, 9-4; 160-Josh Fitzpatrick (F) dec. Max Meagher, 8-6; 171-Chris Wajciechowski (F) tech. falled Josh Kerzman, 21-6; 189-Greg Frank (F) dec. Ryan Glenz, 12-11; HWT-Jake Helmin (F) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 0:26.
Paynesville 36, Hibbing 27
103-Brandon Nestie (H) tech. falled Sean Glenz, 15-0; 112-Adam Christian (P) pinned Travis Timmerman, 1:26; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) pinned Kyle Downs, 0:30; 125-Jeremy Sogge (P) won by forfeit; 130-David Kerzman (P) dec. Ben Lamphere, 8-6; 135- Noah Schmelzer (H) dec. Jeremy Fuchs, 5-3; 140-Skip Johnson (H) pinned Nick Fuchs, 3:14; 145-Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Mall Seline, 1:10; 152- Doug Downs (H) dec. Josh Schreifels, 6-4; 160-Max Meagher (P) dec. Ethan Osterhoodt, 11-9 OT; 171-Craig Wall (H) major dec. Josh Kerzman, 8-0 189-Ryan Glenz (P) pinned Aaron Olson, 0:36; HWT-Elliot Osterhoodt (H) pinned Jason Leyendecker, 3:09.
Paynesville 38, Becker 26
103-Jason Shierts (B) dec. Sean Glenz, 13-10; 112-John Koranda (B) major dec. Adam Christian, 19-6; 119-Nathan Glenz (P) pinned Jared Shierts, 1:13; 125-Jeremy Sogge (P) pinned Jadian Foley, 3:57; 130-Kent Backes (B) major dec. Justin Reeck, 11-3; 135- Jeremy Fuchs (P) dec. Scott Duke, 8-5; 140-Jevon Foley pinned Nick Fuchs, 3:10; 145-Eric Ohren (B) dec. Josh Schreifels, 4-2; 152- Joe Hiltner (P) pinned Ben Cox, 1:05; 160-Max Meagher (P) tech. falled Jeremy Ademan, 18-2; 171-Ryan Glenz (P) pinned Kurt Kipka, 1:07; 189-Jason Leyendecker (P) won by forfeit; HWT-Jon Anderson (B) pinned Brad Person, 3:37.
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