Three Panther wrestlers qualify for state
The Glencoe-Silver Lake/Lester Prairie wrestling team will be represented at state once again this season.
A trio of Panthers – Brandon Richter, Nate Tesch and Nick Brelje – all claimed runner-up finishes in their respective weight classes at the Section 2AA individual meet last weekend after two days of competition at Delano High School.
Richter dropped his first match of the year, losing to New Prague’s James Berg in the 138-pound final, but still punched his ticket for the state Class AA meet by going 4-1 with three pins and one technical fall in his bracket. Richter capped off his sectional by pinning Scott West’s Ryan Siegle in just 27 seconds during their “true second” match.
Tesch went 3-1 in the 152-pound bracket, pinning three opponents while losing to New Prague’s Nick Knutson in the championship round. The senior needed just 30 seconds to pin Mound Westonka’s Ethan Rademacher in his first match after receiving an opening-round bye.
Brelje went 3-1 in the 170-pound bracket to earn his state appearance. He opened his sectional by pinning Delano’s Samson Streachek in a first-round matchup and then posted wins over Hutchinson’s Josh Filk (5-2) and Waconia’s Mason Hemze (4-0).
For more on this story, see the Feb. 25 issue of the Chronicle.