By Colin Staab and Keith Harner
The Owatonna Huskies paid a visit to the packed gym at Northfield High School Thursday night. The Raiders last scheduled home meet was also Raider youth night, Takedown Cancer Night, and Senior Night.
Senior Noah Ackerman with his family being recognized for senior night.
Senior Ethan Tupa being recognized on senior night.
Caley Graber started the Raiders off with a 9-2 major decision putting the home team up 4-0. Drew Pribyl wrestled tough in his match losing 13-3 to the eighth ranked wrestler in class AAA at 107 pounds Kaden Lindquist. The match was tied at four.
At 121 pounds, Charlie Johnson fought hard and only gave up a 14-2 major decision to junior Donoven Sorenson. Talyn Blankenberger wrestled two-time state entrant Lane Karsten where he gave up the fall in 1:30 seconds. Going into 133 pounds, Northfield was down 14-7. Luckily Caden Staab was up next where he beat Jayden Jirlele 6-1 to receive three team points for Northfield.
Eighth grader Sam Harner won by an 11-3 major decision against Parker Casas. In one of the fastest paced matches of the dual, Zane Engels came out on top against Trey Hiatt 6-3. After three consecutive wins, the match was tied 14-14.
Owatonna’s Riley Kreeger had his way against Jamison Baker at 152 pounds, winning by fall in the second period. However, a team point was taken away from Owatonna due to unsportsmanlike conduct after the match was over. Colin Staab got the Raiders back on a roll winning 6-4 against Carter Flatland at 160 pounds.
With four matches to go Northfield was hanging onto a one point lead 20-19. Iah Schwiech won a very pivotal match for the Raiders 7-4 at 172 pounds. Up next, Owen Murphy against RJ Reinardy. Owen got him on his back right off the whistle, a minute later the ref slapped the mat putting Northfield up 26-19.
This set up a win the match and win the dual situation for Ryan Kuyper. Ryan started off strong raking up 11 points in the first period against Max Flemke at 215 pounds. Kuyper went on to win the match 11-2. Senior Noah Ackerman lost by fall to fellow football player Blake Fitcher in 1:37. Northfield won the dual against conference and section rival 30-25.
| Northfield | Owatonna | Result | Team Score | |||
| 107 | Caley Graber | Jacob Wilson | N 9-1 | 4-0 | ||
| 114 | Drew Pribyl | Kaden Lindquist | O 3-13 | 4-4 | ||
| 121 | Charlie Johnson | Donoven Sorenson | O 2-14 | 4-8 | ||
| 127 | Talyn Blankenberger | Lane Karsten | O pin 1:30 | 4-14 | ||
| 133 | Caden Staab | Jayden Jirele | N 6-1 | 7-14 | ||
| 139 | Sam Harner | Parker Casas | N 11-3 | 11-14 | ||
| 145 | Zane Engels | Trey Hiatt | N 6-3 | 14-14 | ||
| 152 | Jamison Baker | Riley Kreeger | O fall 4:28 | 14-19 | unsportsmanlike conduct -1 | |
| 160 | Colin Staab | Carter Flatland | N 6-4 | 17-19 | ||
| 172 | Iah Schwiech | Logan Risser | N 7-4 | 20-19 | ||
| 189 | Owen Murphy | RJ Rienardy | N pin 1 :25 | 26-19 | ||
| 215 | Ryan Kuyper | Max Flemke | N 11-2 | 30-19 | ||
| 285 | Noah Ackerman | Blake Fitcher | fall 1:37 | 30-25 |
Next up for Northfield is the Koda Duals in Farmington on Saturday, January 13.
