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The Bulldogs won six of the 14 weights and led only once, at 10-8 after five weights. Sauk Centre won six of the nine weights after that. The Mainstreeters also outpinned the Bulldogs four to one.

Junior Todd Thielen won a 14-5 major decision against Sauk Centre last week and recorded a pin in 13 seconds against Mille Lacs.

Senior Matt Kerzman got the only pin for the Bulldogs. Wrestling above his natural weight at 171, Kerzman recorded a first-period pin that cut Sauk Centre's lead to 23-22. But the Mainstreeters won the final three matches to win 36-22.

At the top, Paynesville won three of the first five matches. Sophomore Joe Sheridan scored two takedowns in the third period to win a 5-4 decision at 112 for the Bulldogs' first points. Junior Todd Thielen won a 14-5 major decision at 125, and junior Jack Mueller won a 4-1 decision at 130.

Sophomore Sean Glenz beat rival Darrin Quistorff 7-2 at 140, and sophomore Keith Klein used a five-point move in the third period to win an 8-5 decision at 160.

The Bulldogs also lost a couple close matches. Sophomore Joel Kerzman, normally at 135, wrestled above his weight at 152 and lost 3-2. Senior Pat Utsch lost 2-1 to state-rated Ethan Vogt, a former state champion, at 215.

The Bulldogs are now 1-1 in the West Central Conference North and 8-4 overall. They do not wrestle again competitively until January.

Sauk Centre 36, Paynesville 22
103-Brian Beilke (SC) dec. Jordan Christian, 9-5; 112-Joe Sheridan (P) dec. Jozy Olson, 5-4; 119-Brad Hartigan (SC) pinned Andrew Christian, 3:00; 125-Todd Thielen (P) maj. dec. Adam Helgeson, 14-5; 130-Jack Mueller (P) dec. Steve Hollenkamp, 4-1; 135-Zach Winter (SC) pinned Cory Spanier, 1:43; 140-Sean Glenz (P) dec. Darrin Quistorff, 7-2; 145-Kurt Haakinson (SC) pinned Scott Millner, 0:45; 152-Jake Urhus (SC) dec. Joel Kerzman, 3-2; 160-Keith Klein (P) dec. Brian Ruegemer, 8-5; 171-Matt Kerzman (P) pinned Nathan Reynolds, 0:51; 189-Nick Ruegemer (SC) maj. dec. Josh Tebben, 15-2; 215-Ethan Vogt (SC) dec. Pat Utsch, 2-1; 275-Matt Groetsch (SC) pinned Cody Flanders, 0:31.

Paynesville 42, Mille Lacs 39
The Bulldogs outpinned Mille Lacs, a new Section 6A rival, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, winning 42-39.

The two teams split the 14 weight classes, with each side winning seven matches. All seven of Paynesville's wins were by pin, whereas Mille Lacs had five pins, one technical fall, and one major decision. That difference in bonus points gave the Bulldogs a three-point victory.

The two teams split the first four weights, with each team getting two pins. Recording pins for Paynesville were sophomore Joe Sheridan at 112 and junior Todd Thielen at 125.

After Mille Lacs won a technical fall at 130, the Bulldogs grabbed the lead with three straight pins. Junior Jack Mueller (135), sophomore Joel Kerzman (140), and sophomore Sean Glenz (145) had back-to-back-to-back pins.

This pin streak gave the Bulldogs a 30-17 lead.

At 160, senior Matt Kerzman made it four pins in five weights for the Bulldogs by recording another fall. And, at 215, senior Pat Utsch sealed the victory by scoring the Dogs' last pin, and last points.

Utsch and Thielen had the fastest pins for the Bulldogs for the night, each needing just 13 seconds to record a pin.

Paynesville 42, Mille Lacs 39
103-Rob Olson (ML) pinned Jordan Christian, 2:59; 112-Joe Sheridan (P) pinned Kevin Pederson, 3:59; 119-Nick Pfaff (ML) pinned Andrew Christian, 3:09; 125-Todd Thielen (P) pinned Paul Thompson, 0:13; 130-Geoff Springer (ML) tech. falled Corey Spanier, 17-1; 135-Jack Mueller (P) pinned Kyle Prickett, 2:40; 140-Joel Kerzman (P) pinned Jimmy Thoen, 1:22; 145-Sean Glenz (P) pinned Joe Odle, 1:01; 152-Justin Jones (ML) pinned Keith Klein, 3:19; 160-Matt Kerzman (P) pinned Dan Rorschlein, 1:36; 171-Tyler Walters (ML) pinned Aaron Bachman, 2:21; 189-Nolan Boucher (ML) maj. dec. Josh Tebben, 11-2; 215-Pat Utsch (P) pinned Chris Steffenson, 0:13; 275-Jon Odle (ML) pinned Cody Flanders, 0:31.