The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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  • Matt Johnston

    LSH

December 24, 2008

Le Sueur-Henderson goes 2-0 at East triangular

By Jim Rueda

MANKATO — The Le Sueur-Henderson wrestling team went over the .500 mark for the first time this season Tuesday and Giants’ freshman Charlie Pesch believes that’s a sign of good things to come.

Participating in a triangular meet at Mankato East High School, LSH downed New Prague 39-32 and then defeated host Mankato East 45-25. East fell to New Prague 62-15.

“We still have some boo-boos but we’re getting healthy,” Pesch said afterward. “Just about everybody is back in the lineup. There will probably be weight shifting after Christmas but the same people should be in there.”

Pesch was one of seven double-winners for the LSH Tuesday. The 130-pounder opened with a pin in 3:48 against New Prague and then got a takedown in overtime to edge East’s Wyatt Derynck 8-6.

Josh Willaert (171 pounds) was the Giants’ most dominant wrestler Tuesday.

He had a pin in 2:51 against the Trojans and pinned East’s Justin Simpson in 4:45.

LSH’s other two-time winners were Brent O’Connell at 112, Brett Schwartz at 135, Class A’s second-ranked Jason Sunderman at 140, sixth-ranked Sam Lindgren at 152 and Austin Holland at 189. Schwartz and Sunderman were both awarded forfeits against East.

The Cougars’ only double-winners were Tuesday were Mat Schnorenberg at 215 and Class AA’s sixth-ranked Paul Kratzke at 285. Kratzke pinned both of his opponents while Schnorenberg had a pin and a major decision.

“We wrestled a lot better against Le Sueur than we did against New Prague,” East coach Bruce Urbatch said. “We weren’t as tentative. We had to forfeit a few weights and we’re hoping we can get some relief from that when we do a little weight-shifting after Christmas.”

Nate Roberts (160) dropped a 7-2 decision to New Prague’s David Doran and then rebounded with an impressive 11-2 major decision against LSH’s Brad Johnson.

“I could feel him gassing out and then he seemed to be getting frustrated,” said Roberts, who outscored Johnson 5-0 in the third period. “I think maybe that emotion got the better of him and I was able to take advantage.”

The triangular left Le Sueur-Henderson with a 3-2 record, East with a 4-9 record and New Prague with a 5-2 mark.

The Cougars are off until Jan. 8, when they travel to Owatonna to take on Class AAA’s eighth-ranked Huskies.

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