Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougar Wrestling

Not to be outdone, the youth K-6 dual team finished 3rd overall out of 32 teams in the NYWA State Duals held in Rochester. On Saturday, the youth grapplers beat Hutchinson, Minneota and Brainerd to reach the championship pool on Sunday. In the first match of the championship, ZM fell to Pine Island. ZM rebounded nicely and took out Chatfield in the third place overall match. You guys make us VERY proud!

We had 4 place winners in the state tournament for K-6th grade as well as 8 in the invite. Led by our own STATE CHAMP Owen Lexvold!

Jake Moran 6th place. 5th/6th grade 88 pounds.

Owen Lexvold STATE CHAMP. 5th/6th grade 140 pounds

Jaxon Liffrig 2nd place 1st/2nd grade 50 pounds

Kade McNamara 3rd place Kindergarten 60 pounds

In the invite tournament, we had:

Evan Scharpen 4th place 5th/6th Grade 70 pounds

Levi Matthees 1st place 5th/6th Grade 80 pounds

Benton Radtke 4th place 5th/6th Grade 115 pounds

Elih Schaefer 1st place 3rd/4th Grade 60 pounds

Ryland Brown 2nd place 3rd/4th Grade 68 pounds

Jacob Matthees 4th place 3rd/4th Grade 80 pounds

Mason Haugen 4th place 1st/2nd Grade 45 pounds

Tanner Poncelet 1st place 1st/2nd Grade 60 pounds

ZM 7th and 8th grade team were in action at the NYWA State tournament last Thursday and Friday in Rochester at the Civic Center. On Thursday, the team rolled through KMS, ANML, and United to win the pool and position us in the championship 4 team bracket for Friday.

Day 2 in the semifinals against Hastings came down to the last match in overtime with the winner advancing to the championship. Easily the most exciting match of the entire dual tournament, it did not end in our favor and Hastings won the dual. It was an interesting match, because all other matches were complete and the entire arena was focused on this one match, with our guy giving up a good 70 pounds. For 3rd/4th place we lost to Staples Motley.

The ZM team won the sportsmanship award for the tournament, voted on by the referees. This shows we do not only have talented wrestlers, but our wrestlers and coaches will represent ZM extremely well, win or lose.

Here is a link to the 7th/8th grade Nywa pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PAN8hkHnVytT73bu5

We had 6 place winners in the state tournament for 7th and 8th grade as well as 2 in the invite.

Samuel Moore 3rd place. 85 pounds

Carl Murray 4th place. 90 pounds

Jent Beyer 4th place. 95 pounds

Noah Schaefer 4th place. 110 pounds

Gunner Mancilman 6th place. 140 pounds

Macy Schaefer 2nd place girls. 85 pounds

In the invite tournament, we had:

Leo Beyer 2nd place. 110 pounds

Aidan Majerus 4th place 95 pounds

The ZM Youth earned a state berth in the NYWA state tournament held in Rochester next weekend by placing 3rd place in Region 1. The Youth team started out by losing to Kasson-Mantorville, but came all the way back through the wrestlebacks by beating LaCrescent, Caledonia, PEM and Northfield. Congrats Cougars…Sounds like a well earned “Wrestlers Thanksgiving” at the end of the long day!

32 ZM wrestlers in grades K-8th competed at Byron NYWA regionals on Friday and Saturday to punch their ticket to NYWA state tournament in Rochester next weekend. Top 3 in each category move on to state. ZM had 17 qualifiers listed below:

Kade McNamara – 1st place K 60 pounds

Jaxon Liffrig – 1st place 1st and 2nd 50 pounds

Jase McNamara – 2nd place 1st and 2nd 65 pounds

Patrick Fruth – 3rd place 1st and 2nd 70 pounds

Jonah Karow – 3rd place 5th and 6th 70 pounds

Jake Moran – 3rd place 5th and 6th 88 pounds

Brody Lohmann – 3rd place 5th and 6th 130

Owen Lexvold – 1st place 5th and 6th 140

Cole Schiell – 1st place 7th and 8th 80 pounds

Sammy Moore – 1st place 7th and 8th 85 pounds

Carl Murray – 1st place 7th and 8th 90 pounds

Simon Karow – 2nd place 7th and 8th 90 pounds

Jent Beyer – 1st place 7th and 8th 95 pounds

Noah Schaefer – 3rd place 7th and 8th 110 pounds

Mitchell Olson – 3rd place 7th and 8th 125 pounds

Gunner Mancilman – 2nd place 7th and 8th 140 pounds

Cain Lexvold – 2nd place 7th and 8th 150 pounds

Nine ZM wrestlers competed at the MN-USA state tournament over the weekend at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Five ended up on the podium with hardware to show for it, led by the smallest one, Jaxon Liffrig, with a state title!

Here is the MN state place winners from Zumbrota Mazeppa:

8u weight class C- Jaxon Liffrig State Champ

12u 70 pounds – Jonah Karow 5th Place

14u girls 83 pounds – Macy Schaefer 3rd place

14u 87 pounds – Samuel Moore 5th Place

14u 149 pounds – Cain Lexvold 3rd Place

The ZM 7th and 8th graders dual team competed on Sunday in a field of 9 teams in Grand Meadow for a chance to advance to state. ZM beat GMLOS, Chatfield and Pine Island to win the tournament and advance to state in 3 weeks. Congrats Cougars…can’t wait to watch you at state!

Here is a link to the photos taken from this tournament: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nF9ars12SJpAJzjA8

Gabe Tupper and Jack Krier made the MN State podium at the Xcel Center on Friday and Saturday. Gabe went 4-2 and finished 5th overall. Jack went 3-3, and unfortunately had to forfeit his last two matches due to injury. Kaleb Lochner ended up 2-2 and just missed the podium by one match. Lucas Schiell ended up 0-1. You guys battled hard and made us all proud!

Jack Krier is in the semi’s (2-0), while Kaleb Lochner and Gabe Tupper (both 2-1) are still alive in consolation bracket. Lots of tough wrestling going on! Keep it going guys!!

Jack Krier, Kaleb Lochner, and Gabe Tupper all won their first matches and move to the quarterfinals. Lucas Schiell lost a decision in the first round, but is still alive in the consolations….keep it rolling guys!!!

The ZM K-3 wrestlers competed in Waseca today and finished 11th overall. The young grapplers beat teams from Pine Island, St James, and Shakopee and lost to Owatonna, Northfield and Wayzata. Keep up the good work!