By John RittenhouseThe Adrian wrestling team secured a trip to the Minnesota State Class AA Wrestling Championships in St. Paul Saturday in Pipestone.The Dragons won the Section 3AA Team Tournament by defeating Redwood Valley and Yellow Medicine East at the weekend event.Saturday’s wins gave AHS their first Section 3AA title, and they send the 34-5 Dragons to the state championships that will be staged at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul March 4-6. Adrian will wrestle Section 6AA champion Milaca-Faith Christian in the quarterfinals at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, March 4.It will be Adrian’s sixth appearance at a state tournament as a team, and the first since 2001.The Dragons will compete at the Section 3AA Individual Tournament in Montevideo Friday and Saturday.Adrian 32, YME 22The Dragons captured the section title by topping the Sting by 10 points during Saturday’s championship match in Pipestone.The match was up for grabs with the Dragons clinging to a 14-13 edge after YME’s Nick Cole topped Dusty Bullerman 7-2 at 140 pounds, but AHS won four of the next five matches to secure the section championship.Nate Engelkes ignited the title-clinching run by pinning Spencer Sannerud in 3:06 at 145 before Tony Sauer (8-4 over Jordan Stock) and Cody Reverts (5-2 over Erick Isfled at 160) posted decision wins to give AHS a 26-13 lead.YME’s Tyler Santjer kept his team alive by nipping Trent Bullerman 5-3 in overtime during the 171-pound match to make it 26-16, but Adrian’s Levi Bullerman settled the issue by sticking Nick Shommer in 2:50 at 189.YME’s Justin Stoks (8-4 over Cody Lutmer at 215) and Ben Khali (1-0 over Josh Winselman at heavyweight) posted decision wins to end the match.The Sting took a 7-0 lead when Ryan Tangen secured a 14-3 major decision win over Tony Thier at 103 and Chad Listal topped Joey Bullerman 12-9 at 112.Adrian, however, moved in front 9-7 with Brandon Croat’s 5-0 win over Matt Williams at 119 and Michal Barrie’s 1:26 pin over Landen Cole at 125.Blaine Weber gave YME its last lead of the match (10-9) when he topped Pete Jensen 9-4 at 130, but Adrian regained the lead (14-10) for good when Brandon Bullerman beat Tom Jacobson by technical fall at 135.Match wrap-up103 (Y) Tangen m.d. Thier.112 (Y) Listal dec. J.Bullerman.119 (A) Croat dec. Williams.125 (A) Barrie pins Cole.130 (Y) Weber dec. Jensen.135 (A) B.Bullerman t.f. Jacobson.140 (Y) Cole dec. D.Bullerman.145 (A) Engelkes pins Sannerud.152 (A) Sauer dec. Stock.160 (A) Reverts dec. Isfeld.171 (Y) Santjer dec. T.Bullerman.189 (A) L.Bullerman pins Shommer.215 (Y) Stoks dec. Lutmer.275 (Y) Kahli dec. Winselman.Adrian 48, RWV 15The Dragons coasted to a 33-point win over Redwood Valley during Saturday’s section semifinal match in Pipestone.Adrian outscored the Cardinals 35-0 in the first seven weight classes and never looked back the rest of the match.The early run featured pins by Croat (19 seconds over Nick Hodgson at 119) and Brandon Bullerman (1:12 over Mitch Heiling at 135), and a forfeit victory from Jensen at 125.Thier and Barrie clinched technical fall wins over Alex Knoblach and Russell Gewerth at 103 and 125 respectively. Joey Bullerman rolled to a 14-2 major decision win over Brady Myers at 112, and Dusty Bullerman edged Alex Tiffany at 140.RWV’s Bo Hagert ended Adrian’s run by topping Nate Engelkes 6-3 at 145, but Sauer countered with a 17-7 major decision win over Ross Potter at 152 to give the Dragons a 35-3 lead.RWV’s Dusty Myers (6-3 over Reverts at 160) and Tom Anderson (5-4 over Trent Bullerman at 171) posted decision wins and Blake Hagert pinned Wade Loosbrock in 3:20 at 189 to bring the Cardinals within 24 points (39-15) of AHS.The match ended with Adrian’s Levi Bullerman nipping Paul Panitzke 4-2 before Winselman drew a forfeit at 275.Match wrap-up103 (A) Their t.f. Knoblach.112 (A) J.Bullerman m.d. Myers.119 (A) Croat pins Hodgson.125 (A) Jensen by forfeit.130 (A) Barrie t.f. Gewerth.135 (A) B.Bullerman pins Heiling.140 (A) D.Bullerman dec. Tiffany.145 (R) Hagert dec. Engelkes.152 (A) Sauer m.d. Potter.160 (R) Myers dec. Reverts.171 (R) Anderson dec. T.Bullerman.189 (R) Hagert pins Loosbrock.215 (A) L.Bullerman dec. Panitzke.275 (A) Winselman by forfeit.
