Wrestling: Farmington's LeDuc, Venz win titles at North

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A pair of freshmen led the Farmington wrestling team at its first meet of the season.

Jamin LeDuc and Taylor Venz each captured individual titles as the Tigers moved up three places from a year ago to place seventh out of 14 teams with 99 points at Saturday’s Lakeville North Paul Wolf Panther Invite.

Hudson (Wis.) won the team title 183-172 over runner-up Scott West. North was third with 117 points, followed by Park of Cottage Grove, Chaska/Chanhassen, Henry Sibley, Farmington, Lakeville South, New Richmond (Wis.), Woodbury, Northfield, South St. Paul, Eagan and Turtle Lake (Wis.)

LeDuc had a 4-0 day for Farmington in his varsity debut. Wrestling at 106 pounds, he scored two technical falls and a pin before defeating Lakeville North’s Wade Sullivan 8-6 in overtime in the championship.

Venz also went undefeated to capture the individual title at 113 pounds. The returning state tournament qualifier recorded two pins before edging Collin LaBrosse of Park of Cottage Grove 6-4 in the finals.

Jake Rudeen pinned his first opponent, but dropped his next two to place fourth at 152 pounds. Fellow junior Joe Hoeve also placed fourth in a talented 160-pound bracket where he won his first two matches before falling to the second-ranked 160-pounder in Class 2A and the fifth-ranked wrestler at 160 in 3A.

Kyle Benjamin wrestled back to place fifth at 132 pounds after dropping a 5-3 decision in the opening round. He battled back to win his next three matches 15-0, 15-0 and 13-0.

Also picking up wins were Matt Rustad, who went 2-2 at 138 pounds, and Chris McCue, who was 1-2 at 182 pounds.

The Tigers wrestle again this weekend at Prior Lake. Their first home meet of the season is a triangular against Eastview and Monticello next Thursday at FHS.

Tags: high school, sports, farmington, wrestling, prep, tigers