Wrestling: Hoeve, LeDuc, Venz go 3-0 at Lakeville North Invite

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Farmington only won one of its three matches Friday at the Lakeville North Invitational, but wrestled well enough to make it a relaxing night for head coach Chad Olson.

“Friday was probably the quietest I have been as a coach because the wrestlers were giving great effort and sticking to their plans,” Olson said. “It was a very enjoyable night for me.”

The Tigers opened with a 40-33 win over Eden Prairie that could move them up in the seeding in the upcoming section tournament. Jamin LeDuc, Taylor Venz, Joe Hoeve and Jamie Scavone all won by fall, as did freshman Kyle Heusbourg, who cracked the lineup by winning a wrestle-off earlier in the week. His first career varsity victory came at 170 pounds, and along with Logan Haakana’s overtime decision at 182, helped swing the dual in the Tigers’ favor.

Kyle Benjamin added a major decision in the win and Brayden Chapman won by decision.

In the second round the Tigers fell 45-22 to a Woodbury team that Olson expects to earn the No. 1 seed in their section tournament.

Haakana earned the team’s lone pin against the Wildcats. LeDuc, Venz, Benjamin and Matt Rustad all won by major decision.

The third-place match played out in similar fashion with Stewartville winning, 46-25.

Hoeve scored the team’s only pin. Hoeve, LeDuc and Venz closed out 3-0 days with lopsided wins and Rustad and Godfrey Mpetey added decisions.

Venz improved his record to 29-2 and LeDuc is now 25-1. Rustad and Hoeve also reached the 20-win mark, with Rustad improving to 21-13 and Hoeve 20-12. Chapman is right behind with a 19-2 mark and Benjamin is 14-2 since returning to the lineup.

The Tigers close out the regular season tomorrow night by traveling to Zimmerman for a triangular with Zimmerman and 12th-ranked Anoka.

“I am looking forward to seeing how we measure up against them,” Olson said.

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