Worthington 285-pounder Cole Hennings came away with a fourth-place finish this weekend in the Minnesota state individual wrestling tournament.
Competing in class AA, Hennings won his first match of the day Friday by earning a 3-0 decision over Hunter Stein of Watertown-Mayer. Hennings then defeated Aaron Adekplovi of St. Paul Como Park, 4-2.
On Saturday, Hennings was defeated in a 7-2 decision by Elijah Novak of Foley in the semifinals. Moving to the wrestlebacks, Hennings defeated Jaden Drill of New Ulm Area via a win by fall in 6:52. Wrestling for third place against Gannon Rosenfeld of Mankato West, Hennings was beaten in a 7-3 decision.
Also qualifying for the individual Class A tournament were Adrian-Ellsworth wrestlers Isaac Bullerman at 152 pounds, Jaren Winselman at 195 and Cameron Wieneke at 220.
Bullerman was defeated 6-0 by Blaine Fischer of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in his first match on Friday. He then lost by decision to Hank Tellers of the United North Central Warriors, 6-2, on Saturday.
Winselman met Jojo Thompson of Deer River in his first match Friday, and Thompson won by fall in 3:20. Winselman did not have another opportunity to compete again.
Wieneke won by fall in 2:25 over Justin Slater of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Area on Friday. Jaxon Behm of Atwater-Cosmos Grove City then won by fall over Wieneke in the next round. In wrestlebacks Saturday, Wieneke captured a match against Cody Lohman of Goodhue, winning by fall in 4:47. Wieneke then lost an 8-1 decision to Bryce Holm of Royalton/Upsala to be eliminated from the tournament.
Meanwhile, Jackson County Central wrestlers Nolan Ambrose won a Class A state title at 113 pounds, Kie Anderson captured top honors at 120 pounds and Payton Handevidt earned top honors at 160 pounds.
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At the National Junior College Athletic Association National Wrestling Tournament Friday and Saturday, Minnesota West had three athletes competing. Damon Ashworth placed sixth at 165 pounds for the Bluejays and earned All-American status; he won his first three matches before being forced out of the event because of injury. Jacob Vogel, wrestling at 141 pounds, and Kyler Grems, wrestling at 149 pounds, both did not place.
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The Worthington Trojans' Section 2AAA Girls Basketball Tournament semifinal matchup at Mankato East was postponed from Saturday until Monday due to inclement weather. Tip-off time from Mankato remains at 7 p.m. The fifth-seeded Trojans enter the game with a 16-10 record; No. 1 seed Mankato East is 22-4.
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In Section 3A Boys Basketball Tournament action during Super Saturday in the Worthington High School gymnasium, it was: Southwest Minnesota Christian 79, Red Rock Central 37; Westbrook-Walnut Grove 52, Red Rock Central 47; Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 78, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 52; and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 83, Hills-Beaver Creek 67. Southwest Minnesota Christian will face Westbrook-Walnut Grove at 6 p.m. Thursday and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton meets Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at 7:30 p.m.; both games will be at Worthington High School.
In Section 3AA basketball, it was Pipestone Area 66, Windom 54; Redwood Valley 77, St. James Area 32; Jackson County Central 65, Montevideo 57; and Fairmont 51, Luverne 49, Pipestone Area will meet JCC at 6 p.m. Thursday in Windom; that game will be followed by Fairmont vs. Redwood Valley.
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On Friday night, the Worthington Trojans boys basketball team was on the road for its regular season finale and was defeated 73-66 at Blue Earth Area.
The Trojans carried a 33-24 led into the second half, but Blue Earth outscored WHS by 16 the rest of the way. Trojans sophomore Kaleb Knothe led Worthington in scoring and on the boards with 18 points and nine rebounds. Jacari Swinea contributed 17 points, Andrew Mulder had 13 and Marenono Opiew had 10.
Worthington will next compete in the Section 2AAA Boys Basketball Tournament. The Trojans are seeded eighth in the eight-team tournament and will play at top-seeded Mankato East at 8 p.m. Tuesday. That game is scheduled to be broadcast live on 104.3 The Bridge.
In Section 3AA girls basketball Friday night, Fairmont topped Luverne 53-42 at Worthington. Fairmont will next Montevideo at 8 p.m. Friday at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, with the winner heading to the state tournament.
Also Friday, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton defeated Southwest Minnesota Christian 52-36 in Section 3A girls basketball on Friday in Marshall. The Panthers will take on Minneota this Friday for a state tournament berth.
