Wrestling: Tigers seventh in Koda Classic

Jamin LeDuc 15-1 for the season at 106 lbs. (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington won one match and came within a decision or two of taking two more in a seventh place effort at the Koda Classic held Saturday at FHS.

The Tigers opened the eight-team meet against Lakeville North and came with an eyelash of upsetting the ninth-rated Panthers in a 31-29 loss.

Farmington burst to a 20-0 lead thanks to a pin by Matt Rustad (126), a technical fall by Jamin LeDuc (106) and three-point decisions by Taylor Venz (113), Jacon Gabbard (120) and Brayden Chapman (132).

Venz, the second-ranked 106-pounder in Class 3A with a 20-2 record, claimed a 2-0 decision over 10th-rated Collin DeGrammont.

After the blazing start the momentum turned on a dime as the Panthers won seven of the next nine matches with the Farmington wins coming from Chris McCue (182) and Jamie Scavone (275).

The same scenario, a strong start followed by a lack of success at the upper weights, played out in Farmington's loss to Paynesville Area in the consolation semifinals.

The Tigers roared to a 28-0 lead thanks to a forfeit, pins by Venz, Gabbard and Matt Rustad (126) and a major decision by Chapman. The lead gradually melted away, however, as Paynesville won seven of the next eight matches, three of them by pin, to pull out the 40-34 victory.

Farmington's only win in the run came from Joe Hoeve who pinned Anthony Wendlandt in the 160-pound match-up.

Jacob Gabbard 3-0 at Koda Classic (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The 48-24 victory over Lake City in the seventh place match had little of the drama of the first two of the day. The Tigers won early and often and were never seriously threatened.

Venz, Gabbard and McCue each scored pins for the winners while Walz and Godfery Mpetey (220) each picked up decisions. The Tigers also piled up 24 points via forfeits.

"We were in all the duals, but again it came down to giving up too many bonus points," Tiger coach Chad Olson said. "That hurt us on Friday against Faribault and all day on Saturday.

"We are not full strength and are dealing with injuries. The positive is we now have the depth. When someone goes down we have capable back-up ready to go at almost every weight. In the past couple of years, we would have had to forfeit those weights."

The Tigers hit the mat again next Thursday when they host Eagan and Stillwater in a triangular meet.