Wrestling: Z-M advances to section semifinals

Ninth-grader Joey Majerus, ranked second in Class A at 106 pounds, secured pins in both his matches Thursday in Lake City as the fifth-seeded Zumbrota-Mazeppa wrestling team advanced to the semifinals of the Section 1A team tournament.

The Cougars (16-10) breezed past 12th-seeded Fillmore Central/Lanesboro/Mabel-Canton 68-8 in the first round. Eighth-grader Devin Manzy, Majerus, sophomore Hunter Prodzinski, junior Nate Bennet, ninth-grader Dillon Downes and sophomore Shane Bode all notched pins in their respective weight classes. Junior Mitchell Watkins won by 14-4 major decision at 126 pounds and sophomore Cody Heitman defeated Andy Love by 10-1 major decision at 138 pounds. Z-M received four forfeits in the match.

The quarterfinal match saw Majerus start the Cougars with a pin of Kevin McKinley at 106 pounds as Z-M used a hot start to knock off fourth-seeded Lake City 43-21. The Cougars won the first nine matches against the Tigers.

Ninth-grader Freedom Hunt tallied a 15-3 major decision against Noah Bailey at 120 pounds, Watkins won a 10-6 decision over Shane Siewert at 132 pounds and Hunter Prodzinski secured a pin against Levi Norman at 138 pounds. Heitman defeated Derek Bremer at 145 by 3-0 decision, sophomore Chase Steffen won a 9-5 decision with a late near fall against Michael Noll at 152 pounds and Bennett pinned Troy Nibbe at 160 to give Z-M a 43-0 lead.

The Cougars will wrestle Saturday against top-ranked Chatfield in the Section 1A semifinals at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.

Tags: sports, prep, wrestling, zumbrota, mazeppa