WEST FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Its wrestling’s equivalent to a big late game comeback. Down 23 points heading into the final four weight classes. For Valley City, no problem. Four straight pins lifted the Hi-Liners to a 37-36 win over Thief River Falls Saturday afternoon at the West Fargo Triangular.
The match started at 132 where Ethan Miller lost 7-5 to Kale Geiser. Isaiah Schuldheisz got the three points back at 136 with a 4-1 win over Ethan Lane. But the Prowlers got three straight pins at 145, 152, and 160. At 152, Evan Mielke lost to Brady Kasprick who is ranked #5 in Class AA at 145 in Minnesota. Ezra Hanse lost to Cody Wienen at 160. Wienen is ranked #10 at 152. Broden Muske lsot for the first time this season, 8-5 to Brandon Zuniga at 170 to make it 24-3 Prowlers.
Jonathan Redfearn picked up a major decsion at 182, 15-4, over Dakota Fellman and Jonah Schuldhiesz pinned Carter Engebretson in 1:26 at 195 to make it 24-13 TRF.
But a couple of pins at 220 and 285 put the score at 36-13 Thief River Falls with the four lower weight classes to go.
At 106, Koltyn Grebel pinned Maverick Iverson at 1:04 to make it 36-19. Koye Grebel pinned Noah Jacobson in 2:28 at 113 to pull the Hi-Liners to within 36-25. Tucker Johnson pinned Nick Svir in 3:11 at 120 to make it 36-31 with one match to go.
Logan Novara did not waste any time ending the suspense. He pinned Anthony Peralta in 24 seconds to give the Hi-Liners the 37-36 win.
Earlier in the day, Valley City defeated West Fargo 39-25 with a come-from-behind win.
Logan Novara started the match for the Hi-Liners with a pin of Alana Schafer 2:57 into the 126lb match. Ethan Miller followed that with a 4-1 win over Cole Irwin at 132.
The Packers took the next four matches to open up a 19-9 lead. Broden Muske slowed the Packers down with a 5-0 win over Tanner Nein at 170. Muske is rnaked #3 in the state and Nein is ranked seventh. Halfway through the match, the Packers led 19-12. Kaleb Porter, who is ranked #5 in the state at 170 pinned Kael Grebel at 182 to make it 25-12. That was the last win for the Packers.
Valley City would get the last six matches. Jonathan Redfearn won by fall at 195, Jonah Schuldheisz won a 5-1 decision at 220 and Carson McGough won by a 5-0 decision at 285. Koltyn Grebel gave the Hi-Liners the lead at 30-25 with a pin over Own Magnell at 106. Koye Grebel clinched the match with a fall over Lindsey Anderson at 113. Tucker Johnson wrapped up the dual with a 7-0 win to make the final 39-25.
With Thursday’s conference match postponed, this match counted in the EDC standings. With the win, Valley City improves to 8-0 in the EDC and clinched at least a share of the conference title. The Hi-Liners are 48-5 in conference duals in the last six years. The Hi-Liners can wrap up the EDC title next Saturday when they wrestle Fargo North as part of a triangular with West Fargo Sheyenne at North. Overall the Hi-Liners are 10-1.