Cole Tensen and Travis Winter both win State Tournament opening matches!

Cole Tensen battles in his state tournament opener against Pipestone-Jasper's Jadon Evans tonight at the Xcel Energy Center in St.Paul.

Travis Winter attempts to roll his opponent in the state tournament opener, Dylan Thisius of United South Central.

Travis and Coaches Vos and Richards mentally prepare for the state opener.

Coaches Richards and Vos yell directions at Winter during his 10-4 win.


They both advanced to Day 2 of the State Wrestling Tournament. What a night for the Jaguars!

Cole Tensen won a 6-1 decision in his 145-pound match against Jadon Evans of Pipestone-Jasper. After a scoreless first period, he earned a three-point nearfall at the end of the second period to go up 3-0. He ultimately went up 6-0 in the third period before giving up a lone escape to cap a 6-1 decision.

Travis Winter won a 10-4 decision in his 160-pound match against Dylan Thisius of United South Central (a consolidated school of the towns of Bricelyn, Easton, Freeborn, Kiester, Walters, and Wells that is south of Mankato). He came bfrom behind, too, after suffering a takedown only 25 seconds into the first period. Less than a half minute later, Winter earned an escape and finally a takedown of his own as the first period wound down with him on top 3-2. He poured it on in the second period, earning an escape and five near-fall points to take a big 9-2 lead going into the third period.

USC has a strong wrestling tradition, placing third as a team in 2007, winning the Gopher Conference in 2008, and qualifying for state in 2006.

Up next for Tensen and Winter for Day 2 of the State Tournament:
Tensen will face his nemesis from West Central Area, Jake Long, in Match #843 on Mat 3. Long (41-1) is the defending 140-pound state champion. He won a very close 7-5 decision in his state opening match, defeating junior Casey Nunn of Frazee.

Winter will do battle against senior Jarid Groth of Kenyon-Wanamingo (33-9), who was the Section 1A champion and defeated Danny Pike of Park Rapids Area by fall (5:54) in his state opener.

**Class A quarterfinal matches begin on Thursday night at 6pm.

One certainly gets a case of being in awe of the "bright city lights" of the Xcel Energy Center, especially if you hail from a small town!


On Thursday morning the team quarterfinals will start at 9:30 a.m., and a second round of team quarterfinals will follow at 11:30 a.m. At 4 p.m. the Class AA individual quarterfinals will begin. They will be followed by the Class AAA and Class A individual quarterfinals at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. The evening session on Thursday will conclude with individual wrestlebacks for each class. Class AA will begin at 7 p.m., and Class AAA and Class A start at 8 and 9 p.m., respectively.

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