Defenders meet quality teams on home mats

Kerzman, De los Santos Morales win twice in pair of losses

The Sauk Centre-Melrose Defenders wrestling team did not back down from a challenge Jan. 5 in a triangular at Melrose Area High School in Melrose.

The Defenders fell 65-16 to Morris Area-Hancock/Chokio-Alberta and 51-13 to Willmar. Willmar is listed in the Lean and Mean ranking by state wrestling publication The Guillotine with four wrestlers ranked in Class AAA and MAHACA has four wrestlers ranked among the top 10 in their division in Class AA.

“You look at our schedule and there are quality teams,” said Vaughn Glasener, head coach. “Both of these teams are very solid when their full lineups are there. They place winners out there.”

The evening started off well for the Defenders, with Dominic Kerzman pinning his opponent in the 106-pound match. The Tigers tied it with a forfeit. Lanna Walter won by forfeit for Sauk Centre-Melrose before MAHACA won 10 of the next 11 matches, eight by pins, to dominate the match.

Mitchell Christen, at 145, and Dan Frericks, at 165, both faced state-ranked wrestlers.

There were bright spots. Kerzman and Jose De los Santos Morales, 132 and 138, both won two matches. Kerzman dropped down to 106 for the triangular.

“I think he wants to settle in, and he has potential there,” Glasener said.

Kerzman defeated his Willmar opponent 7-3, earning takedowns in all three periods. De los Santos Morales had two 11-3 matches for his wins. Against MAHACA, he primarily used takedowns. The Willmar victory came as he combined takedowns with near falls.

Will Sjogren, 285, ended SC-M’s night on a high note. He finished his match in 28 seconds against Willmar and finished 1-1 on the night after being pinned in his MAHACA match. In this final appearance, Sjogren ended up on his back early in the first period. He fought off a pin until the final 15 seconds.

“When big guys get on their back, it’s tough,” Glasener said. “He fought for quite a while. He needed a few more seconds.”

In the Willmar match, Sjogren dominated from the start quickly, taking his opponent down and rolling him over. The win gave him four wins by pin in five matches since the Christmas break.

“Our top kids are getting good quality matches and young kids are getting a feel of what it’s all about,” Glasener said. “We are learning.”

MAHACA 64, SC-M 16

SC-M: 106: Kerzman won 1:01. 113: SC-M forfeited. 120: Walter won forfeit. 126: Ted Wiechman lost 5:19. 132: Noah Christen lost 3:24. 138: De los Santos Morales won 11-3. 145: Mitchell Christen lost 9-1 (MD). 152: Ben Friedrichs lost 1:45. 160: Dan Frericks lost 0:30. 170: Cesar Avalos lost 1:37. 182: Eden Rangel lost 2:23. 195: SC-M forfeited. 220: Isaac Frericks lost 2:42. 285: Sjogren lost 1:45.

Willmar 51, SC-M 13

SC-M: 106: Kerzman won 7-3. 113: SC-M forfeited. 120: Walter lost 14-7. 126: Noah Christen lost 1:08. 132: De los Santos Morales won 11-3. 138: Mitchell Christen lost 6-1. 145: Double forfeit. 152: SC-M forfeited. 160: Avalos lost 2:18. 170: SC-M forfeited. 182: Rangel lost 1:23. 195: Jonny Lara lost 0:27. 220: Isaac Frericks lost 8-3. 285: Sjogren won 0:28.