ST. PAUL – The Perham wrestling team left the 2023 state wrestling tournament failing to put a wrestler on the podium after the weekend concluded.
Isaac Adams (120), Chandler Mickelson (132), Braylon Rach (182), Hudson Hackel (195) and Rorey Lindquist (220) packed their singlets and hit the road to compete against the best wrestling talents in the state on Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4 at the Xcel Energy Center.
Rach was the only Yellowjacket to win his first-round matchup. He defeated Benilde St. Margarets' Bryce Commerford by decision (10-3). In the quarterfinals, Rach suffered his first loss at the hands of the eventual Class AA state champion, Simley's Travis Smith, by fall (1:58).
After winning his wrestleback match against Albert Lea's Kadin Indrelie by decision (5-3), Rach was the only Perham wrestler to move on to the second day of the tournament.
On Saturday, Rach put his talents up against Aitkin's Jacob Williams who ended his season by a 7-3 decision.
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Mickelson started his state tournament wrestling against Marshall's Dylan Louwagie and lost by decision (9-3). With Louwagie winning his next match, Mickelson was granted a wrestleback against Simley’s James Salas to keep his season afloat.
Salas ended Mickelson’s season after narrowly winning by a 3-1 decision.
Lindquist lost his first match against Rocori's Grady Minnerath by fall (3:25). He would wrestle again in a wrestleback after Minnerath defeated his next opponent. Lindquist met Hibbings’ Ian Larrabee in the first round of the consolation bracket. Larrabee would move on and end Lindquist’s season after a 5-1 win by decision.
Adams’ first taste of action was against Totino-Grace’s Austin Herbst who took him down by fall (1:21). Herbst failed to secure a victory in the quarterfinals sending Adams home early.
Hackel also suffered a first-round defeat by Simley’s Lano Oduwaiye by fall (3:12). He needed Oduwaiye to win his next match to get a chance to wrestle again. Unfortunately, Hackel’s wish was never granted as Oduwaiye lost in the quarterfinals, ending Hackel’s hopes of a long state tournament weekend.
The Perham wrestling team ended its 2022-23 season without a medal hanging around a Yellowjacket’s neck.
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