by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls boys wrestling team came away with a 1-1 dual record after splitting matches at its home opening triangular meet Thursday, Dec. 5. The Prowlers, who moved up from 24th to 17th in the latest Guillotine Class AA team rankings, dropped a 41-23 dual to section rival and fifth-ranked (AA) Perham Yellowjackets to open the night, before pulling off a huge upset with a 37-30 win over the fifth-ranked (AAA) Bemidji Lumberjacks in the nightcap.
The Prowlers nearly pulled off two upsets Thursday night. The Prowlers and Yellojackets traded wins early in the opening dual, which was a rematch from the 2025 Section 8AA semifinals.
The Yellowjackets got wins from Halo Roth over Mason Kazmierczak at 107 and Weston Sprabary over Aydin Yoder at 121. The Prowlers got on the board with a 15-0 technical fall victory by Kaiden Nelson over Jaxon Pazdernik at 114 pounds, and they turned a 12-5 deficit into a 14-12 advantage with 22-18 win by Damian Kazmierczak over Dresden Wegscheid at 127 and a win by fall from Ian Jacobson over Bo Bush at 133.
The Yellowjackets regained the lead with wins by Peyton Trout and Brody Wacker at 139 and 145. Trout held off a late comeback attempt by Brian Berg for a 12-3 major decision that was close to being a 6-5 win by Berg. Berg was in on a single leg in the final 10 seconds of the match, but rushed the finish and ended up giving up the three-point takedown and four nearfall points as time expired. Then at 145, Wacker secured a 20-4 technical fall win over Ian Lundeen.
The Prowlers got a huge win from Tristan Hruby, who upset eighth-ranked (145AA) Johnny Ramos 13-8. Hruby’s win made the score 21-17 in favor of the Yellowjackets.
The Prowlers looked to have another win coming their way at 160 with Elias Motta clinging to a 1-0 lead late in the third in his match against Perham’s Carson Zeise. Motta stayed aggressive despite having the 1-0 lead and Zeise took advantage with a late takedown and 3-1 lead to push the dual lead back to seven points at 24-17.
At 172, top-ranked Tiegan Detloff won by 21-5 technical fall over 10th ranked Landen Larson to give the Yellowjackets a 29-17 lead.
At 189, Ian Hruby came close to making it a dual when he threw Perham’s John Steeke to the mat with a headlock. Hruby was unable secure the fall, however, and Steeke battled back before eventually securing a win by fall for himself.
At 215, second-ranked Eli Roiko pinned Chandler Pream to make the score 41-17.
The Prowlers got on the board for the final time at heavyweight, with Joey Bruggeman securing the first-period fall over Lucien Harms.
“I was worried the score would get out of hand versus Perham,” said Head Coach Kenny Geiser. “Instead, we were in the dual most of the match. I was impressed with the way our kids fought in every weight class.”
The Prowlers trailed 16-0 after three matches were in the books against the Lumberjacks in the night’s final dual. Damian Kazmierczak and Thomas Eidsmoe got the comeback started, with Kazmierczak pinning Sam Schonek at 127 and Eidsmoe winning by 21-4 technical fall over Luke Kleefield at 133.
The Lumberjacks took a 19-11 lead with an 11-5 win by Gabriel Morin over Brian Berg at 139. Ian Lundeen pinned Rhylund Olson at 145 to make the score 19-17, but the Lumberjacks bounced back with wins by fall from Nickolas Strand over Tristan Hruby at 152 and Jeremy Linn over Aiden Eidelbes at 160.
The Prowlers trailed 31-17 with four matches remaining and needed to win-out and get some bonus points to have a shot at winning the dual. They did just that.
Motta and Larson both bumped up a weight and picked up wins. Motta won by 20-5 technical fall over Cater Rinehart and Larson pinned Roman Blake to make the score 31-28 in favor of the Lumberjacks.
At 215, Pream used a first period takedown and third period turn to shut out Bemidji 189-pounder Tanner 6-0 and tie the score 31-31.
The dual came down to heavyweight and Bemidji was heavily-favored with second-ranked (AAA) Nehemiah Schwinghammer taking the mat against Bruggeman. Bruggeman had a loud crowd supporting him and the stage was not too big. He threw Schwinghammer and nearly had the fall in the first 30 seconds of the match. Schwinghammer eventually got off his back and to his base, but was penalized for pushing off of Bruggeman’s face while bridging. After an escape, Schwinghammer trailed 8-1 and started working for a throw of his own. He pummeled in and attempted to body lock Bruggeman, but Bruggeman stuffed Schwinghammer’s throw for another feet-to-back takedown before securing the win by fall. Bemidji was penalized a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the dual making the final score 37-30.
“I feel like it was the arrival for our team and for Joey,” Geiser said. “We have been looking forward to this group of wrestlers as they come through the program, meaning the 9-12th grade group. They took a big step Thursday.”
Perham defeated Bemidji 35-28 in the opening dual meet of the night.
Perham 41, Thief River Falls 23
107: Halo Roth 8th, PERH over Mason Kazmierczak (0-0) 7th, TRF (Fall); 114: Kaiden Nelson (1-2) Fr., TRF over Jaxon Pazdernik 8th, PERH (TF 15-0); 121: Weston Sprabary Fr., PERH over Aydin Yoder (0-0) So., TRF (Fall) 127: Damian Kazmierczak (2-1) Jr., TRF over Dresden Wegscheid Sr., PERH (Dec 22-18); 133: Ian Jacobson (2-1) So., TRF over Bo Bush So., PERH (F 3:15); 139: Peyton Trout Fr., PERH over Brian Berg (2-1) So., TRF (MD 12-3); 145: Brody Wacker So., PERH over Ian Lundeen (2-2) So., TRF (TF 20-4 (6:52)); 152: Tristan Hruby (2-1) Fr., TRF over Jonny Ramos Sr., PERH (Dec 13-8); 160: Carsen Zeise Jr., PERH over Elias Motta (0-0) Fr., TRF (Dec 3-1); 172: Tiegan Detloff Jr., PERH over Landen Larson (4-0) Jr., TRF (TF 21-5 (5:38)); 189: John Steeke Sr., PERH over Ian Hruby (0-0) So., TRF (F 6:21); 215: Eli Roiko Jr., PERH over Chandler Pream (2-2) Jr., TRF (F 0:13); 285: Joseph Bruggeman (2-1) Sr., TRF over Lucien Harms Jr., PERH (F 1:46).
Thief River Falls 37, Bemidji 30
107: Easton Trepanier 8th, BEMI over Mason Kazmierczak (0-0) 7th, TRF (F 0:18); 114: Oscar Hanks So., BEMI over Kaiden Nelson (1-2) Fr., TRF (MD 19-11); 121: Keaton Glynn So., BEMI over Aydin Yoder (0-0) So., TRF (F 2:29); 127: Damian Kazmierczak (2-1) Jr., TRF over Sam Schoneck So., BEMI (F 0:22); 133: Thomas Eidsmoe (2-1) So., TRF over Luke Kleefeld Sr., BEMI (TF 21-4 (4:27)); 139: Gabriel Morin Sr., BEMI over Brian Berg (2-1) So., TRF (Dec 11-5); 145: Ian Lundeen (2-2) So., TRF over Rhylund Olson Jr., BEMI (F 0:21); 152: Nickolas Strand Sr., BEMI over Tristan Hruby (2-1) Fr., TRF (F 0:24); 160: Jeremy Linn Jr., BEMI over Aiden Eidelbes (2-2) Jr., TRF (F 1:06); 172: Elias Motta (0-0) Fr., TRF over Carter Rinehart Jr., BEMI (TF 20-5 (5:46)); 189: Landen Larson (4-0) Jr., TRF over Carter Rinehart Jr., BEMI (F 1:49); 215: Chandler Pream (2-2) Jr., TRF over Tanner Littler Jr., BEMI (Dec 6-0); 285: Joseph Bruggeman (2-1) Sr., TRF over Nehemiah Schwinghammer Jr., BEMI (F 0:46).