Trojan grapplers fall to Scott West in semifinals
For the third straight year, the New Prague Trojan wrestling team saw its season come to an end at the hands of the Scott West Panthers.
Two years ago, New Prague lost by criteria in the section finals. Last year, it came in the quarterfinals and on Saturday, Feb. 18, the Trojans lost an upset bid against the No. 1 seed in the semifinals, losing 39-17 at Jordan High School. New Prague defeated Watertown- Mayer on Thursday, Feb. 16, to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.
Scott West went on to defeat Hutchinson in the championship match and will represent Section 2AA in the State Class AA team tournament at the Xcel Energy Center Thursday, March 2, when they take on Totino-Grace.
The Trojan wrestlers, meanwhile, turn to individual action Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25 at Waseca High School. Action begins at 4 p.m. Friday and resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday. The top two wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the State individual tournament March 3 and 4.
Trojans 40, Royals 21 New Prague had a strong start, winning four of the first five matches to build a big lead that they never relinquished in defeating Watertown- Mayer/Mayer Lutheran 40-21 in a quarterfinal match Thursday, Feb. 16.
Colby Dunkel and Joe De- Jong opened the match with wins for the Trojans. Dunkel pinned his opponent at 106 pounds in 4 minutes, 57 seconds, and DeJong scored a major decision at 113 by a 13- 3 score.
After the Royals scored a major decision, the Trojans answered with a fall by Carter Bornholdt at 126 in 5:17 and a 4-0 decision by Max Scheffler at 132.
Watertown won by technical fall at 138, but the Trojans won the next three matches. Trevor Skogerboe scored a 6- 4 decision with a last-second reversal at 145, Gaige Giles scored a fall at 152 pounds in 1:30 and Nick Arguedas won a thrilling 3-1 overtime decision at 160 pounds.
After a decision at 170 by Watertown cut the Trojans’ lead to....
To see more on this story pick up the February 23, 2017 print edition of The New Prague Times.
