Wrestling: Gadacz steps in, steps up with match-clinching pin for Royalton-Upsala against Sartell-St. Stephen

By PATRICK SLACK
Sports Editor
patrick.slack@mcrecord.com

With visiting Sartell-St. Stephen only ahead by one point heading into the final bout against the Royalton-Upsala, Friday, it was a winner-take-all scenario at 285 pounds for a pair of freshman reserves.

Trailing late, the Royals’ Clinton Gadacz delivered a decisive pin with only 16 seconds remaining to lift Royalton-Upsala to a 35-30 victory, its first dual win of the season.

Sophomore Joe Jensen earned a fall at 113 and freshman Brad Koll picked up a pin at 132 to keep the margin close at 15-12 despite the Sabres winning four of the first six bouts.

Senior Tyler Hegna followed with a 7-2 decision at 145 to tie the dual at 15-15, then junior Shawn Urbanski pulled out a 9-8 victory at 152 to put the Royals ahead 18-15.

Sartell bounced back to even up the score, before Royals junior Mitch Lange cruised to an 18-2 technical fall at 170 to improve to 11-0 on the season.

Sartell received consecutive forfeits in the next two weights to go ahead 30-23, but senior Cory Wensmann earned a first-period fall at 220 to set the stage for Gadacz’ match-winning victory.

Royalton-Upsala returns to action at Osakis, Jan. 8.

 

Royalton-Upsala 35, Sartell-St. Stephen 30

106: Molitor (S) 9-4, (S, 3-0)

113: Joe Jensen (RU) F 1:00, (RU, 6-3)

120: Fernholz (S) F 1:00, (S, 9-6)

126: Krauel (S) 3-2, (S, 12-6)

132: Brad Kroll (RU) F 3:00, (TIE, 12-12)

138: Motschke (S) 9-4, (S, 15-12)

145: Tyler Hegna (RU) 7-2, (TIE, 15-15)

152: Shawn Urbanski (RU) 9-8, (RU, 18-15)

160: Deuel (S) 5-3, (TIE, 18-18)

170: Mitch Lange (RU) 18-2, (RU, 23-18)

182: Vitale (S) Forfeit, (S, 24-23)

195: Nyugen (S) Forfeit, (S, 30-23)

220: Cory Wensmann (RU) F 1:00, (S, 30-29)

285: Clinton Gadacz (RU) F 5:44, (RU, 35-30)