ST. PAUL — After Day 1 of the Class A state tournament on Friday, one wrestler from NRHEG is still alive in the consolation bracket at the Xcel Center.

After losing his first-round match against Brendon Coyer of Osakis, Cordell Peterson rebounded with a 3-0

decision over Wyatt Becker of Badger/GB-MR in the first round of wrestlebacks at 120 pounds.

He will take on Ryan Killeen of Spectrum in the consolation quarterfinals.

Dillon Kubiatowicz gave NRHEG its only first-round win. He beat Wyatt Stevens of Windom/Mountain Lake with a 3-2 decision.

“They were pretty evenly matched,” said NRHEG head coach Shawn Larson. “He managed to score when he needed to.”

Larson said Peterson and Kubiatowicz qualified for the state tournament last year, and their experience made them more comfortable this year.

After dropping a 7-1 decision against Esteban Teigen of Spectrum in the quarterfinals, Kubiatowicz’s run at state ended with a loss in the first round of wrestlebacks.

Todd Erickson also competed for NRHEG and went 0-2 at 220 pounds. He lost with a 4-2 decision to Dillon Card of Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale in the first round and was pinned in his wrestleback against Zach Kennedy of Pine Island by fall in 4 minutes and 33 seconds.

“I’m proud of them,” Larson said. “They’re doing everything they can do, and that’s all I can ask of them.”