05 January 2013

Wrestling: Falcon flurry finishes off Tigers

John Walz scored a pin in the 145-pound bout (photo by Jim Lindquist)
Farmington won six of the first nine matches to build a 24-12 lead but Faribault came on strong in the upper weights to hand the Tigers a 36-24 loss Friday night at Tiger Gym.

The Falcons rang up a pair of pins, two decisions and a six-point forfeit in the final final five bouts to secure the win.

Jamin LeDuc and Taylor Venz continued to dominate in the lower weight classes for Farmington. Once-beaten LeDuc (13-1) scored a 9-0 major decision in the 106-pound match-up and Venz raised his season mark to 18-2 with a 7-0 decision at 113 lbs.

Brayden Chapman gave the Tigers a 12-6 lead with a technical fall victory at 132 pounds and then John Walz, Jake Rudeen and Joe Hoeve combined for three straight wins to give the home team its biggest lead of the night at 24-12.

Walz recorded a pin at 145 lbs. and Rudeen (152) and Hoeve (160) followed with back-to-back one-point wins.

The Friday night dual served as a last-minute warm-up for today's (Saturday) eight-team Koda Classic tournament.

Other schools in the field include Lakeville North, Lake City, Chatfield, Milaca, Northfield, Park of Cottage Grove and Paynseville Area.