Photos attached are courtesy of Robert LaPlante / Wright County Journal Press / The Drummer
From Co-Head Coach Bryan Clemen-
The Charging Dragon Wrestling team headed east to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul with four individuals and goals of getting on the awards stand as we competed in the Class AA Individual State Tournament. Mission accomplished.
DC/L had four wrestlers in the tournament and came away with three state place winners, with Jude Link becoming only the 2nd wrestler in DC school history to win a state title and the first Charging Dragon to win one. The only other state champion from DC was Shane Colberg, who coincidentally also won the 160 weight class back in 1996.
Hayden Hoernemann completed his career with back-to-back state place winnings and Tate Link made it to back-to-back state tournaments and placed this year. Spencer Henke got a chance to see what he can accomplish with hard work and gained some valuable experience. This group did an outstanding job this week!
MSHSL State Championships Results for Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield
160AA
Jude Link (34-3) placed 1st and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Jude Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-3 won by fall over Jefferson Johnson (Brooklyn Center-Concordia Academy) 30-18 (Fall 3:23)
- Quarterfinal - Jude Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-3 won by tech fall over Cade Jackson (Detroit Lakes) 45-9 (TF-1.5 4:52 (20-4))
- Semifinal - Jude Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-3 won by decision over Bryce Burkett (Watertown-Mayer) 46-4 (Dec 3-2)
- 1st Place Match - Jude Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Brandt Bombard (North Branch Area) 28-4 (SV-1 3-1)
182AA
Tate Link (34-7) placed 4th and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Tate Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-7 won by major decision over Will Nihart (South Saint Paul) 41-10 (MD 14-5)
- Quarterfinal - Tate Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-7 won by decision over Zach Willke (Grand Rapids) 35-7 (Dec 9-5)
- Semifinal - Joey Novak (New Prague) 28-1 won by tech fall over Tate Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-7 (TF-1.5 3:06 (15-0))
- Cons. Semi - Tate Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-7 won by decision over Kole Guth (St. Peter) 40-12 (Dec 11-5)
- 3rd Place Match - Kail Wynia (Kasson-Mantorville) 48-4 won by fall over Tate Link (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 34-7 (Fall 4:47)
195AA
Hayden Hoernemann (27-6) placed 4th and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Hayden Hoernemann (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 27-6 won by fall over Charles Baker (Totino-Grace) 29-20 (Fall 3:17)
- Quarterfinal - Hayden Hoernemann (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 27-6 won by decision over Corbin Knapp (Pequot Lks/Pine River-Backus) 42-6 (Dec 7-4)
- Semifinal - Bennett Berge (Kasson-Mantorville) 52-0 won by fall over Hayden Hoernemann (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 27-6 (Fall 1:00)
- Cons. Semi - Hayden Hoernemann (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 27-6 won by decision over Martin Prieto (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 47-6 (Dec 7-2)
- 3rd Place Match - Hayden VanderVoort (Hutchinson/Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart) 42-3 won by major decision over Hayden Hoernemann (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 27-6 (MD 11-2)
220AA
Spencer Henke (11-9) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Austin Staricha (Pequot Lks/Pine River-Backus) 37-4 won by fall over Spencer Henke (Dassel-Cokato-Litchfield) 11-9 (Fall 5:27)
