Panthers take fourth at Coon Rapids tourney

The Ellsworth wrestling team came into the Coon Rapids Invitational Saturday seeded fourth and that’s where it finished after a 1-2 run.

The second-ranked Panthers faced some of Minnesota’s top teams in White Bear Lake, St. Michael-Albertville and Coon Rapids. Ellsworth beat White Bear Lake 34-29, but fell 36-15 to St. Michael-Albertville in the semifinals and 36-23 to Coon Rapids in the third-place match.

Wrestling fans got a matchup they craved when Ellsworth’s Jens Lantz, ranked No. 2 at 113 and the defending Wisconsin Division II state champion, faced off with St. Michael-Albertville’s top-ranked Tommy Thorn, Minnesota’s Class 3A defending state champion at 103 pounds.

Lantz came out the victor with a takedown in the last 15 seconds to beat Thorn 3-1.

“It’s good for the sport,” Ellsworth head coach Chad Steldt said. “We want to see those high profile matches.”

St. Michael-Albertville went on to win the team title at the tournament after it beat Cambridge-Isanti.

Steldt said the match against St. Michael-Albertville, the second-ranked team in Class 3A, was closer than it appeared. The Knights won two overtime matches and several other closely-contested weight classes.

Ellsworth went on to fall against Coon Rapids in the third-place match where bonus points played a big role.

The Panthers gave up too many pins in the match, Steldt said.

Lantz and Parker Hines finished undefeated for the tournament.

The Panthers wrestle Thursday at Baldwin-Woodville.

Tags: sports, prep, wrestling, ellsworth