BLUE EARTH– Seth Petranek took the championship at 189 pounds on Saturday, while Dustin Esplan, David Lassahn, Brandon Le Blanc and Jacob Staloch all claimed second place finishes in their weight classes as those five will represent  the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers wrestling team at the Class A state tournament this week in St. Paul.

Petranek earned a decision and a fall to secure a spot in the 189 pound championship match. Petranek then earned a 5-0 decision over Brady Thisius to claim the championship and earn a trip to state.

Esplan earned a technical fall and a decision to reach the championship bout at 119 pounds. Esplan then lost to Jesse Jaeger from Maple River that forced Esplan to wrestle in a true second place match. Esplan earned a fall in the true second match to earn a trip to the state tournament.

Lassahn earned a decision and a fall to reach the championship at 125 pounds. Lassahn lost by fall in the championship match to finish second.

Brandon Le Blanc earned a major decision and decision to earn a spot in the 135 pound championship match. Le Blance lost by fall in the championship match to finish second place.

Jacob Staloch earned a fall and a decision on the way to the championship match at 140 pounds. Staloch lost to USC’s Dustin Dylla in the finals to finish in second place.