Matousek, one-armed wrestler highlight Class 2A
Associated Press
ST. PAUL – Nate Matousek of Glencoe-Silver Lake finished his record-setting career in style with his third state championship on Saturday at the Class 2A state high school wrestling tournament.
Matousek won a 20-9 decision over Mike Schmitz of Stewartville at 160 pounds, establishing a state record with 243 career victories.
“I wasn’t coming into this year thinking, ‘Am I going to do it or not?’ “Matousek said. “I was going to do it. I had that mind-set from Day One.”
After the match, Matousek celebrated as a packed house at the Xcel Energy Center gave him the day’s second standing ovation.
“I had family spread all over Xcel, so I didn’t know where to point or where to look, “Matousek said. “I had to wave to them – they’ve been with me for all six years.”
The first ovation went to the feel-good story of the tournament, New Prague senior Justin Turek, who took a 3-2 decision over John Dvorak of Scott West for the title at 140. Turek was born without a left hand and forearm, but said he never viewed his arm as a handicap, and overcame it with, “a lot of practice – it’s all I do, wrestle year-round.”
But he had to buckle down earlier this month when he saw his goal of winning the state title slipping away. “A couple weeks ago I was slumping in school and I got beat by a kid who I never thought could beat me, “Turek said, “so I just started working even harder than I ever have.”
Sauk Centre brought home a pair of titles, as senior Brian Bielke won a 7-4 decision over defending champion Derek Pesta of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle at 112, and senior Zach Winter held off Luke Giese of Fulda/Murray County Central 1-0 at 135.
Nick Kulseth, a senior from Windom Area/Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin, won his third title with a second-period pin of Perham’s Tyler Doll at 125, running his season record to 43-0. And senior Andy Przekwas of Roseau completed a 34-0 season with a 5-4 win over Ryan Mergen of Monticello at 171.
Junior Sam Schad of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle won his first title, finishing off a 37-0 season with an 11-10 win over Beau Penk of Litchfield at 130.
St. Michael-Albertville, which sent all 14 of its wrestlers to the individual tournament, won only one title, a pin from junior Mike Thorn at 119 pounds, Thorn’s second straight state championship.
“It was much harder this year, but there are a lot of other good kids in the state tournament, “said Thorn, who won at 112 last year. “Once you get to the state tournament, you definitely have to go for it.”
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