Like always, the Bulldogs got off to a quick start as the first two matches ended with a pin in Paynesville's favor. Dave Kerzman and Chris Welle recorded these pins. After two major decisions by Josh Frenchick and Jeremy Reiter, the Bulldogs were up by a score of 20-0. The Bulldogs then continued to rack up points as Tim Roberg recorded a pin and Ryan Stoneburner a technical fall. After Colby Scheierl's major decision at 140, Belgrade won their first match of the night with a pin.
Paynesville came back though, with a pin at the next weight with Zach Welle. Belgrade then won their last match of the night at 160. The Bulldogs finished the match off with a major decision, a tech fall, and a pin. The final score was 56-9.
Paynesville: 56
BBE: 9
Minnewaska
On Thursday, Feb. 6, the Bulldogs made one of their long trips to Minnewaska to wrestle the Lakers.
At 103 Brandon Wendlandt started off the Bulldogs with a pin in :18. Chris Welle then won a close match at 112 by a score of 5-3. After a close loss at 119, Jeremy Reiter won by a major decision and put the Bulldogs up by a score of 13-3.
The Lakers then won at 130 by a major decision, but that was the last time they won a match that night. Paynesville finished off the match with eight straight victories, three of those being pins. Wrestlers who won through that stretch were: Tim Roberg, Colby Scheierl, Andy Binsfeld, Zach Welle, Andy Heinen, Billy Stanger, Jesse Spates, and Lee Hiltner. The final score was 48-7.
Paynesville: 48
Minnewaska: 7
Canby
On Friday the Bulldogs traveled a fair distance to wrestle Canby. After the JV tied 27-27 the Bulldogs varsity team were motivated to win, and did, as they won eight out of the thirteen matches.
One key to the match was when Paynesville did lose, they only lost by a decision most of the time. When they did win though, they earned bonus points which gave them a bigger lead to work with.
The two bottom weights, Dave Kerzman and Chris Welle, continued to give Paynesville a lead after they were done wrestling. The score after the 112 match was 7-0, but Canby came back at the 119-pound match with a decision and put the score at 7-3.
The Bulldogs then won the next three matches, as Jeremy Reiter, Tim Roberg, and Ryan Stoneburner each won, and gave Paynesville a lead of 19-3.
Canby tried once again to come back as they won the next four out of five matches. The only wrestler for Paynesville to win during that stretch was Zach Welle at 152.
Jesse Spates and Lee Hiltner finished the match off with a tech fall and a pin. The final score was 33-16
Paynesville: 33
Canby: 16