Wrestling roundup: Big night for BBE, Hall of Fame coach

Feb. 2—GRANITE FALLS — Friday's Quad County triangular was a day to celebrate the past and present of wrestling.

The host Cobras honored former BDRSH head coach Ray Miller for his induction in the Class of 2024 into the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

On the mat, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa senior Maximus Hanson put up his 200th career win in helping the Jaguars to a 2-0 showing at Yellow Medicine East High School's Espeland Gymnasium.BBE won a top 12 matchup of Class A teams by beating Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie 44-23. The Jaguars followed that up with a 69-0 victory against Quad County.

Quad County — a co-op of MACCRAY, Renville County West and YME — lost to B-H/V/PP, 48-21.

Prior to the final match of the triangular, Miller was honored with a video from RCW Media. Miller sported a shirt that showed all the stops along his 44-year wrestling career, beginning in Roslyn, South Dakota in 1963 before beginning the wrestling program at Sacred Heart in 1968. He coached at BDRSH (Belview, Danube, Renville, Sacred Heart), RCW, YME and those schools' various iterations. He also had a chance to speak to the crowd.

"I'd like to thank the Hall of Fame committee for thinking I'm good enough to do this and for all the kids that ever wrestled for me, all the fans and all the people of Sacred Heart, Renville (and) YME," Miller said with a dry sense of humor. Retiring in 1999, Miller finished with a career record of 243-259-8, according to The Guillotine.

Miller concluded by saying "There couldn't be a better place to live."

B-H/V/PP led BBE 20-6 through five matches before the Jaguars won seven of the final eight matches. One of those matches was Hanson's 200th win as he pinned the Raiders' Cayden Kimber in 3 minutes, 17 seconds at 172 pounds. The defending Class A 170-pound champ is 34-0 this season.

Noah Jensen (107), Ryan Jensen (139), Hunter Laage (189) and Carson Gilbert (215) also scored falls for the Jaguars against the Raiders. Tanner Viessman added a tech fall at 145.

Against Quad County, BBE got falls from Dylan Koob (127), Louie Tensen (133), Jensen (139), Andrew Spanier (145), Viessman (152), Brett DeRoo (160) and Ethan Mueller (172).

The Cobras ended their match with the Raiders well with three straight wins. Jacob Savig scored a second-period fall at 189, Jasen Jensen took an 8-2 decision at 215 and Owen Slettedahl won a 3-2 decision in a second overtime at 285. Blaine Carroll added a fall for Quad County at 139.

Recording pins for the Cards were: Trey Tallman at 107 pounds, Ivan Mares at 133, Conlan Carlson at 142 and Cameren Champagne at 160

Willmar heads to a tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday at Annandale. Host Annandale/Maple Lake joins Holdingford, New London-Spicer, Perham, Rocori, St. Michael-Albertville and Shakopee at the tournament.

Paynesville finished 2-1 at its home quadrangular, which included a win against Minnewaska.

Mason McNab (121 pounds), Braydon Kierstead-Hahn (133), Mitchell Blonigen (145) and Brandon Hess (152) all won by fall for the Bulldogs.

Chase Smith picked up a pin for the Lakers at 127.

Hutchinson/Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart managed to hang on for a one-point dual win against Paynesville.

Mason McNab (121 pounds) and Peyton Hemmesch (189) had falls for the Bulldogs. Roman Roberg (107) and Brandon Hess (152) added major decisions.

Roman Roberg (107 pounds), Devon Schmidt (114) and Mason Hansen (139) all scored six points by fall to lift Paynesville over Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield.

Jake Decker had a fall at 160 for the Charging Dragons.

BOLD's Ava Kiecker and Ava Hammerschmidt competed in the inaugural Osakis Girls Tournament.

Kiecker went 2-2 in the 112-pound bracket with falls against Brainerd's Elizabeth Knutson in 4:30 and Milaca's Allison Knaffla in 4:39.

The Warriors had 43 points, finishing 18th in the 20-team tournament. South St. Paul won the team title with 239.5, beating Milaca's 238.