Wrestling: Tigers take third in Koda Classic

Brayden Chapman finished 3-0 at Koda Classic (file photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington was oh-so close to competing in the championship match of last Saturday's Koda Classic at FHS but in the end had to settle for a third place finish in the eight-team meet. The Tigers were seventh in the same meet last season.

Farmington went 2-1 in pool competition, its only loss a narrow 33-31 decision to eventual runner-up Lakeville North, and then beat Milaca 47-31 to grab third place honors.

 "We wrestled well for three of the four rounds," coach Chad Olson said. "North just out wrestled us."

The No. 11-rated Tigers started their long day with a 59-16 rout of Missota Conference rival Northfield in which no less than nine Farmington grapplers recorded six-point falls.

Victor Gliva (106 pounds), Skyler Raymond (113), Jamin LeDuc (120), Bryan Caravantes (130), Brayden Chapman (138), Zach Suefer (160), Jake Rudeen (171), Trevor Frost (195) and Godfrey Mpetey (285) all recorded pins.

The second match of the day against Paynesville was also a one-sided affair with the Tigers winning the first eight bouts on the way to a 53-21 win.

Bonus points again played a major role in the Farmington win with Raymond, LeDuc, Rudeen, Mason Hawkins (138) and Eric Heusbourg (145) all scoring pins. Gliva and Venz each added five-point technical falls and Joe Liden scored a four-point major decision. Caravantes scored a decision and Farmington won by forfeit at 182 pounds..

The competition got a little stiffer in the final round of pool action against Lakeville North. Farmington led 28-21 with three matches left but the Panthers scored a pin and earned six points via forfeit to pull out the victory and earn a spot in the title match against Chatfield.

Twelve of the Tiger points came on a pair of forfeits. Matt Rustad won by fall and Chapman scored a major decision. The other nine points came on three-point decisions by LeDuc, Venz and Mpetey.

The roar was back for the third place match with Milaca, the 10th ranked Class 2A team in the state.
The Tigers again started quickly, claiming the first eight matches to race to an early 38-0 advantage.

Farmington got pins from Gliva, Raymond, LeDuc and Joe Hoeve (182) and another tech fall from Venz. Chapman, Heusbourg, Liden and Rudeen each chipped in with decisions. The winners also picked up six points on a forfeit in the 138-pound match.

LeDuc and Venz each finished the day with perfect 4-0 records. Gliva and Champan were 3-0.

The Tigers return to the mat next Saturday when they head north for an appearance at the Monticello Invitational.