Dance team at Minnewaska + wrestling updates

The B-B-E/Paynesville Pirouettes dance team has started the 2023-2024 season with the Minnewaska Invitational. Following the playing of the National Anthem, The JV Jazz Pirouettes performed first in their division to start the dance comp. Each varsity division has six teams, including Sauk Centre, Montevideo, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Minnewaska Area and Moorhead along with our Pirouettes.

More to come. I also have to catch up with how the wrestling team is faring at the Melrose Defender Invitational. Update: as of 6:30 p.m., the B-B-E Jaguars wrestling team has 98 team points to hold first place! Alexandria Area is in second with 85.5 points, and Paynesville Area sits in third with 85 points. In the 145-pound bracket, Ryan Jensen won a 13-2 major decision in the quarterfinals. At 160, Ethan Mueller won by fall (3:43) in the quarterfinals. At 189, Maximus Hanson has two wins by fall, first with a time of 3:23 in the first round and then by a time of 3:24 in the quarterfinals. He faces Alexandria senior Landon Raths in the semis. Carson Gilbert won by fall (1:08) in the quarterfinals at 215. At 285, Harley Weber won by fall (1:32) in his quarterfinal match to get a spot in the semis.

Update: as of 7 p.m., Paynesville Area has pulled into first place with 128 points. The Jaguars are in second with 111 points, and Mora is in third with 108.5 points. At 114, Noah Welte has blazed his way into the championship with two wins. He won a 12-1 major decision in the quarterfinals and then by fall (1:59) in the semis.

Update just 12 minutes later! The Jaguars are now in first place with 135 points and a two-point advantage over Thief River Falls. In third is Paynesville with 128 points, and Mora is in fourth with 108.5 points. Ryan Jensen won by fall (0:49) in his semifinal match to get a spot in the finals.

The varsity kick division should get underway at 7 p.m. at Minnewaska.

At Pine River-Backus tonight, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team has a 28-17 lead later in the first half. At halftime: B-B-E 30, PR-B 21.

Update later on Friday night: there is a giant battle taking place for the top spot at Melrose. At 9 p.m., the Paynesville Area Bulldogs are in first place with 185 points. The Jaguars are in second with 178.5 points. In third is Thief River Falls with 158 points. NEW UPDATES in a new blog post...including a final score on the girls' basketball game.