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| Matt Rustad posted 20th and 21st victories (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
The Tigers won their first round match against section rival Eden Prairie 40-33 before dropping a 45-22 decision to a strong Woodbury team and a 46-25 to another solid team in Stewartville.
"It was a great effort by our wrestlers," Olson said. "Friday was probably the quietest I have been as a coach, because the wrestlers were giving great effort and sticking to their plans. It was a very enjoyable night for me."
Jamin LeDuc (106), Taylor Venz (113) and Joe Hoeve (160) each scored early six-point falls and Brayden Champman added a decision at 132 lbs but the Eden Pararie match was still in doubt heading into the 170-pound bout.
Kyle Heusborg gave the Tigers some momentum with a pin for his first varsity win and then Logan Haakana scored two points in the final 10 seconds of regulation to force overtime in the 182-pound bout where he eventually won by decision. Jamie Scavone added an exclamation point to the win with a pin the the 285 lbs. match.
"Those two wins really got things to swing in our favor," Olson said of Heusborg and Haakana's efforts.
Haakana scored another fall in the loss to Woodbury and LeDuc, Venz, Matt Rustad (126) and Kyle Benjamin (138) all recorded major decisions.
Hoeve registered the only Farmington pin against Stewartville with LeDuc running his season record to 25-1 with a technical fall. Venz won for the 32nd time in 34 tries with a major decision. Benjamin also won a major decision and Rustad and Godfrey Mpetey (220) each scored three-point decisions.
With their victories Hoeve (20-12) and Rustad (21-13) each surpassed the 20-win mark for the season.
The Tigers finish their regular season next Friday when they travel to Zimmerman for a triangular with Zimmerman and Anoka.
"Anoka is ranked 12th in the state (3A) and I'm looking forward to seeing how we measure up against them," Olson said.
