Wrestling: Winless streak ends vs. MLLC

• Photo: Wrestling

Farmington’s Taylor Venz went 4-0 this weekend, winning via fall, decision, major decision and technical fall. He helped the Tigers beat MLLC 39-30 on Saturday.

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The Farmington wrestling team was rewarded for its effort after a grueling opening week to the dual season.

After dropping four straight duals to state-ranked teams between Friday night’s home double dual with Albert Lea and Anoka and the first two rounds of Saturday’s Prior Lake Duals, the Tigers ended their two-year losing streak with a 39-30 victory over Montgomery-Lonsdale/LeCenter.

“We were tested this weekend with some really tough competition. I told the guys in practice on Thursday, we had to grind through four tough duals and if we held it together, we would have a chance against MLLC,” Farmington coach Chad Olson said. “They responded really well. The MLLC dual was as good as we have wrestled in two years.… The wrestlers were grinning ear to ear knowing we had completed a tough weekend with a great dual.”

Before the victory, the Tigers lost to No. 6 Albert Lea 58-10, No. 7 Anoka 49-24, No. 1 Simley 53-6 and No. 11 Prior Lake 54-16.

“The wrestlers learned a lot wrestling four ranked teams in a row and made the adjustments to start to get better,” Olson said.

Taylor Venz capped off a 4-0 weekend with a pin at 106 pounds against MLLC. Jacob Gabbard, John Walz, Chris McCue and Bret Hoffman also won via fall in the dual.

Matt Rustad added an 8-3 decision at 120 pounds and Dakoda Louis-Dupay won by forfeit at 220 pounds.

Gabbard finished 3-2 with two close losses in his first action of the season.

The Tigers are back in action tonight when they travel to Apple Valley to take on Eastview. Tomorrow night the team competes in the Richfield Triangular against Richfield and Minnetonka.

Tags: sports, farmington, tigers, prep, wrestling