(photo by Jim Lindquist)
A patchwork Farmington lineup managed a 1-2 showing and finished sixth in Friday night's eight-team Lakeville North Duals tournament.
The Tigers lost 45-25 to host Lakeville North in the opening round and then beat a junior varsity all-star team in the consolation semifinals. In the consolation finals the locals dropped a 57-21 verdict to N-R-H-E-G.
"We were short five starters again and that was reflected in the final scores," Farmington coach Chad Olson said.
In the opening round loss to the Panthers the Tiger wins came from Jacob Gabbard, Kelvin O'Brien, John Walz, Jake Rudeen, Joe Hoeve and Bret Hoffman. O'Brien's victory was his first as a varsity wrestler.
Farmington's Taylor Venz suffered just his fourth loss of the season (against 23 wins)on a 5-3 decision to the fifth-ranked Class AA 106-pounder in the state.
After the win over the JV All-Stars, officially by a 1-0 score, the Tigers managed four wins in the fifth place match.
Venz won by technical foul and Gabbard (19-3) scored a major decision in the 113-pound bout. Hoffman and Brian Caravantes each scored victories by forfeit.
"We gave (meet champion) North their best dual of the tourney despite missing five starters," Olson said. "We took the weekend off in hopes of getting healthy. All of the starters should be back next week."
Thursday the Tigers head to St. Paul to tangle with St. Agnes. Then its back to the practice mat to prepare for the Section 2AAA team tournament slated for Feb. 18 at FHS.
