CROOKSTON WRESTLERS TIE WITH FRAZEE, BUT FRAZEE WINS AFTER SIXTH-TIEBREAKER TO ADVANCE

The Crookston Pirate wrestling team won seven matches, and the Frazee Hornets also won seven matches with a tie at 34 at the end fot he match.  In wrestling a tie is decided by a set of tie-breaking criteria and after going down to the sixth tie-breaker, Frazee won the match by tie-breaker to win the Section 8A semi-final match at the Fertile-Beltrami High School gymnasium. 

Crookston started the match with a great performance from Evin Trudeau.  Evin started the match with a takedown for an early 2-0 lead.  In the second period, Trudeau took a 4-0 lead and after he allowed an escape, he countered with a take down with 40 seconds left in the period for a 6-1 lead.  Evin continued to control the match and had a nice move for a pin with four seconds left in the period to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead.  “Evin has been awesome for us all season long,” said Pirate Coach Wes Hanson. “He built up a big lead and locked up something tight and got the pin and that was a huge way to start the duel.”

Crookston was open at 113 pounds and Frazee tied the match at 6. 
At 120 punds, Gavin Hlucny came out strong and had a takedown 20-seconds into the match for a 2-0 lead.  Gavin controlled the entire period and came close to a pin, but the buzzer sounded and he took a 2-0 lead into the second period.  Hlucny continued to control the match with another takedown and after giving up an escape, he had another takedown for a 6-1 lead going into the third period.  He started the final period with a takedown and added three near-fall points and scored one more point late to win the match 12-1 for a 10-6 lead. “It was a good match for Gavin and set the tone early,” said Coach Hanson. “He was able to build a big lead and get us a bonus point with a major decision and it was some pretty good wrestling.”

Crookston lost by a Tech Fall at 126 pounds when Lucas Perala was able to get out of two near pin situations to save a point for the team score. “Lucas was able to limit it to a tech fall instead of a pin and that was huge,” said Coach Hanson. 

Casey Weiland, an eighth grader, had a big match at 132 pounds.  Casey trailed 7-2 going into the third period before he had a takdown 25 seconds into the period to get within a 7-4 deficit.  After he gave up an escape, he countered with a countdown to get withing an 8-6 deficit and a few seconds later he made a great move to get a pin to give the Pirates a 16-11 lead. “I am so proud of Casey.  That was absolutely huge,” said Coach Hanson. “To jump in there as an eighth grader and to keep working and eventually get the big move for the fall was huge.”

Crookston had a 4-2 loss at 138 pounds and the Pirate lead was 16-14.  

Ethan Bowman dominated his match from the start at 152 pounds.  He scored an early takedown and within a few seconds he had built a 7-0 lead going into the second period.  Bowman continued to dominate and had a takedown followed by three near fall points for a 12-0 lead.  With 32 seconds left in the period he scored three more points to win by a Tech Fall giving Crookston a 21-14 lead. “He came out and was dominated,” said Coach Hanson. “He worked hard in the match and got us the tech fall.”

Frazee won the next match by a forfeit, won by a Tech Fall, and won a third match in a row by a 8-5 decision to take a 28-21 lead. 

Hunter Knutson got the Pirates back on the winning track with an impressive performance.  He took a 2-0 lead with a strong takedown and controlled the rest of the period.  In the second period there was no scoring and in the third, Hunter started with an escape for a 3-0 lead and added a takedown as he won the match 5-0 to bring the Pirates within a 28-24 lead. “Hunter had a great match and worked hard out there,” said Coach Hanson. “Hunter was grinding and had a nice win.”

Hunter Kresl had a huge win at 195 pounds for the Pirates.  He had a takedown in the first period for a 2-0 lead after one period.  In the second period, Kresl took a 6-1 lead with a takedown and was close to a pin but he couldn’t get the shoulder on the mat and received three near fall points for a 9-1 lead after two periods.  In the third period, Hunter gave up an escape and followed with a takedown for an 11-2 lead.  After giving up an escape, he had another takedown with 45-seconds left in the match for a 13-3 lead.  Hunter gave up another escape and that is how the match would end, with Kresl winning 13-4 to tie the match at 28 with two matches remaining. “Hunter had a good first period and came close to a pin, but a foot came out,” said Coach Hanson. “He battled and got the major decision to tie the match and that was huge.”

Ethan Boll came out at 220-pounds and had a takedown and a pin in 26-seconds to give the Pirates a 34-28 lead, but the Pirates had to forfeit the heavyweight match and the score at the end of the match was a 34-34 tie.  “Ethan didn’t waste any time and knew we needed a pin and went and did it,” said Coach Hanson. 

With the teams tied 34-34 the officials went to the tie-breaker criteria.  The first criteria two criteria were unsportsmanlike or misconducts and neither team had any.  The third tie-breaker was match penalties that resulted in bout points and neither team had any.  The fourth tie-breaker was matches won and both teams had seven wins.  The fifth tie-breaker is pins (with forfeits counting as pins) and both teams had three.  The sixth tie-breaker was the least forfeits.  Crookston forfeited three matches and Frazee didn’t have a forfeit so Frazee won the match 35-34 to advance to the championship.  “It was a tough situation for us,” said Coach Hanson. “The first time they looked at it, they gave us a point thinking we won more matches, but it was tied at 7-7 so they went back to the tie-breakers,” said Coach Hanson. “Unfortunately we had more forfeits and Frazee won the match.  It is a tough way to lose, that is for sure. It was an outstanding season for our guys.  It was a tough situation, especially after we wrestled so well.  It hurts and will hurt for a while and I am proud of this team.  We need to bounce back for individuals on Saturday.”

Crookston ends the team season with a 15-10 record and will host the Section 8A Individual Wrestling tournament on Saturday, February 26 at the Crookston High School Gymnasium starting at 10:00 a.m.