by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls boys wrestling team will send a pair of sophomores to the state tournament later this week.
Lincoln Davis, 114, and Landen Larson, 160, qualified for state as section runners-up at the 2025 Section 8AA meet Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22 at Park Rapids Area High School.
Davis was the top-seeded wrestler at 114 pounds. He rolled to the championship match with wins over Bo Bush of Perham by fall, and 12-2 major decison over Levi Budke of Fergus Falls. Davis had beaten second-seeded Gage Weber of Detroit Lakes in all three head-to-head battles prior to Saturday’s Section 8AA championship match, but on Saturday, Weber scored the first two takedowns of the match to take a 6-1 lead and he hung on for the 10-8 decision. Davis regrouped and won by fall over Alex Adams of Minnewaska Area.
“Lincoln did not have his best match in the finals. He did put together a great match in his true second match and dominated his way into the state tournament. If Lincoln can get to what he does well at the state tournament, he has a shot to win some matches.”
Larson won by 17-2 technical fall over Zachary Brezina of Alexandria Area in the quarterfinals and an 18-10 win over Caden Larson of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton to reach the championship match. Larson wrestled a competitive championship match but lost a 6-2 decison to Caleb Fronning of Fergus Falls.
“Landen has really worked hard to get to this point,” Geiser said. “He wrestled a great match in the finals against an exceptional athlete from Fergus. It will be interesting to see how he competes at state I know he has the skills to do well if he can be mentally ready, he will do well.”
The Prowlers were painfully close to getting a third state qualifier in Elias Motta at 145 pounds. Motta was seeded second at 145. He reached the championship match with a 6-3 win over third-seeded Jeremy Linn of Detroit Lakes. He lost by a score of 7-2 to Isaac Adams of Perham in the championship match and he needed a win over Trevor Holmberg of Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus in the true second match.
Motta led 4-2 late in the third period. Holmberg recorded a reversal in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. In overtime, Motta was able to get behind Holmberg for what would have been the winning takedown but he was unable to return Holmberg. Instead, Holmberg caught Motta on his back and won the match by 7-4 decision.
“Elias had a couple of heartbreaking losses at the end of the section tournament,” Geiser said. “He had great effort, but sometimes your opponent matches your effort. He’s only 13, so the future is bright.”
Also finishing third after dropping a true second match for the Prowlers was freshman Brian Berg. Berg pinned Izaiah Vargas of Detroit Lakes in the third place match at 127 pounds, before dropping an 11-5 decision to Peyton Trout of Perham in the true second match.
“Brian Berg put some awesome matches together at sections,” Geiser said. “He gave himself a chance to go to state but fell short.”
Senior Brennen Johnson and eighth grader Kaiden Nelson added fourth place finishes and 172 and 107, respectively.
“Brennen Johnson had a great semifinals match that was back-and-forth,” Geiser said. “Perhaps with a different ref he gets the pin call in the first period and he’s in the state tournament. But that’s how things go sometimes.
“Kaiden Nelson put the section on notice. He certainly put on a show as he had the two highest scoring individual matches in the entire tournament! He really learned how to use his style to his advantage this weekend. I am excited for what the future brings for him.”
MSHSL Section 8AA Results for Thief River Falls
107 – Kaiden Nelson (23-22) placed 4th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 23-22 won by fall over Easton VanHavermaet (Sauk Centre-Melrose) 1-2 (Fall 0:55); Quarterfinal – Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 23-22 won by tech fall over Beckham Bunkowske (Perham) 29-20 (TF-1.5 5:11 (26-11); Semifinal – Kayleb Kosen (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 36-2 won by fall over Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 23-22 (Fall 1:12); Cons. Semi – Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 23-22 won in sudden victory – 1 over Sutton Stroeing (Detroit Lakes) 24-18 (SV-1 28-23); 3rd Place Match – Brock Manderschied (Alexandria Area) 25-12 won by decision over Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 23-22 (Dec 12-11).
114 – Lincoln Davis (36-5) placed 2nd and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 36-5 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 36-5 won by fall over Bo Bush (Perham) 15-22 (Fall 3:49); Semifinal – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 36-5 won by major decision over Levi Budke (Fergus Falls) 29-20 (MD 12-2); 1st Place Match – Gage Weber (Detroit Lakes) 28-8 won by decision over Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 36-5 (Dec 10-8); 2nd Place Match – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 36-5 won by fall over Alex Adams (Minnewaska Area) 36-16 (Fall 6:00).
121 – Thomas Eidsmoe (25-20) placed 6th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 25-20 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Jared Ohm Mehrer (Detroit Lakes) 11-11 won by fall over Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 25-20 (Fall 4:38)
Cons. Round 2 – Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 25-20 won by fall over Seth Mayers (Sauk Centre-Melrose) 0-2 (Fall 0:50); Cons. Round 3 – Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 25-20 won by fall over Garret Aakre (United Clay Becker Badgers) 13-24 (Fall 2:17); Cons. Semi – Sam Schmitz (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 27-12 won by injury default over Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 25-20 (Inj. 0:00); 5th Place Match – Connor Malone (Alexandria Area) 5-8 won by medical forfeit over Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 25-20 (M. For.).
127 – Brian Berg (27-14) placed 3rd and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 27-14 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 27-14 won by fall over Izaiah Vargas (Detroit Lakes) 16-12 (Fall 3:12); Semifinal – Nolan Fettig (Alexandria Area) 24-2 won by decision over Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 27-14 (Dec 7-5); Cons. Semi – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 27-14 won by fall over Bryce Mick (Pequot Lks-Pine River-B) 28-23 (Fall 1:40); 3rd Place Match – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 27-14 won by fall over Izaiah Vargas (Detroit Lakes) 16-12 (Fall 1:19); 2nd Place Match – Peyton Trout (Perham) 31-17 won by decision over Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 27-14 (Dec 11-5).
133 – Ian Jacobson (22-23) placed 8th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 22-23 won by fall over Leo Kueber (Park Rapids Area) 5-26 (Fall 1:39); Quarterfinal – Kassten Hartwell (Fergus Falls) 29-13 won by fall over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 22-23 (Fall 1:22); Cons. Round 2 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 22-23 won by fall over Luke Johnson (Sauk Centre-Melrose) 4-21 (Fall 0:54); Cons. Round 3 – Kody Johnson (United Clay Becker Badgers) 24-14 won by fall over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 22-23 (Fall 3:58).
139 – Tristan Hruby (18-22) placed 6th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 18-22 won by fall over Jacob Fronning (Fergus Falls) 19-17 (Fall 2:57); Quarterfinal – Parker Zutter (Pequot Lks-Pine River-B) 46-1 won by tech fall over Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 18-22 (TF-1.5 1:21 (17-2); Cons. Round 2 – Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 18-22 won by decision over Zander Deutsch (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 16-22 (Dec 7-6); Cons. Round 3 – Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 18-22 won by tech fall over Tristan Carrizales (Roseau) 11-8 (TF-1.5 6:00 (22-5); Cons. Semi – Everett Northup (Detroit Lakes) 13-11 won by major decision over Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 18-22 (MD 11-2); 5th Place Match – Mason Evjen (Alexandria Area) 19-13 won by major decision over Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 18-22 (MD 12-3).
145 – Elias Motta (34-8) placed 3rd and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 34-8 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 34-8 won by fall over Ben Thureen (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 23-18 (Fall 5:43); Semifinal – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 34-8 won by decision over Jeremy Linn (Detroit Lakes) 19-12 (Dec 6-3); 1st Place Match – Isaac Adams (Perham) 14-4 won by decision over Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 34-8 (Dec 7-2); 2nd Place Match – Trevor Holmberg (Pequot Lks-Pine River-B) 34-12 won by decision over Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 34-8 (Dec 7-4 OT).
152 – Aiden Eidelbes (7-12) placed 6th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Aiden Eidelbes (Thief River Falls) 7-12 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Donavan Zima (Detroit Lakes) 17-14 won by fall over Aiden Eidelbes (Thief River Falls) 7-12 (Fall 3:04); Cons. Round 2 – Aiden Eidelbes (Thief River Falls) 7-12 won by fall over Dawson Dabill (Pequot Lks-Pine River-B) 4-25 (Fall 1:14); Cons. Round 3 – Aiden Eidelbes (Thief River Falls) 7-12 won by major decision over Rafael Sanchez Velez (United Clay Becker Badgers) 22-22 (MD 18-5); Cons. Semi – Zachary Richards (Alexandria Area) 29-14 won by tech fall over Aiden Eidelbes (Thief River Falls) 7-12 (TF-1.5 2:35 (17-0); 5th Place Match – Donavan Zima (Detroit Lakes) 17-14 won by tech fall over Aiden Eidelbes (Thief River Falls) 7-12 (TF-1.5 3:31 (20-4).
160 – Landen Larson (33-13) placed 2nd and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 33-13 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 33-13 won by tech fall over Zachary Brezina (Alexandria Area) 23-19 (TF-1.5 2:32 (17-2); Semifinal – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 33-13 won by major decision over Caden Larson (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 11-14 (MD 18-10); 1st Place Match – Caleb Fronning (Fergus Falls) 35-3 won by decision over Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 33-13 (Dec 6-2); 2nd Place Match – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 33-13 won by no contest over Caden Larson (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 11-14 (NC).
172 – Brennen Johnson (32-18) placed 4th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 32-18 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 32-18 won by fall over Brian Morrison (Detroit Lakes) 15-13 (Fall 2:51); Semifinal – Landon Day (Alexandria Area) 30-14 won by decision over Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 32-18 (Dec 12-9); Cons. Semi – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 32-18 won by tech fall over Corbin Schiller (Park Rapids Area) 17-12 (TF-1.5 4:40 (15-0); 3rd Place Match – TJ Fuller (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 8-6 won by decision over Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 32-18 (Dec 6-2).
189 – Hunter Miller (15-21) placed 8th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 15-21 won by fall over Dawson Kratzke (United Clay Becker Badgers) 16-20 (Fall 5:55); Quarterfinal – Tryston Larson (Perham) 30-11 won by fall over Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 15-21 (Fall 2:47); Cons. Round 2 – Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 15-21 received a bye; Cons. Round 3 – Alex Holmer (Park Rapids Area) 15-15 won by fall over Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 15-21 (Fall 2:46).
215 – Chandler Pream (16-27) placed 8th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 16-27 won by fall over Dane Weber (Detroit Lakes) 5-19 (Fall 1:40); Quarterfinal – Caleb Johnson (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) 37-4 won by fall over Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 16-27 (Fall 0:28); Cons. Round 2 – Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 16-27 won by fall over Brevyn Agre (Roseau) 11-17 (Fall 1:59); Cons. Round 3 – Luke Maanum (Alexandria Area) 24-17 won by fall over Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 16-27 (Fall 0:33).
285 – Joey Bruggeman (17-29) placed 8th and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 17-29 won by fall over Jaxon Werder (Alexandria Area) 21-18 (Fall 1:36); Quarterfinal – Isaac Frericks (Sauk Centre-Melrose) 36-6 won by fall over Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 17-29 (Fall 0:52); Cons. Round 2 – Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 17-29 won by fall over Eli Okeson (Detroit Lakes) 7-15 (Fall 2:34); Cons. Round 3 – Zamareon Miller (Park Rapids Area) 6-18 won by fall over Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 17-29 (Fall 1:06).