Detroit Lakes needed a win by one of the state's best heavyweight wrestlers to defeat the Park Rapids wrestling team Thursday night.
Jon Tolbert, who is rated No. 6 in the latest state Class AA poll, recorded a pin in the final match to give the Lakers a 35-31 win at the Century School gym.
This Mid-State Conference dual meet went back-and-forth until the end.
Kevin Just opened the meet with a second-period pin to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead. Just trailed 2-1 after the first period before a takedown set up a pin at the 3:15 mark.
Detroit Lakes won the next four matches by major decisions to claim a 16-6 advantage.
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Derek Werner's 10-1 major decision at 135 pounds, Colter Uscola's first-period pin at 145, Jared Nash's 3-2 minor decision at 152 and Matt Weaver's first-period pin at 160 gave Park Rapids a 25-16 lead.
Werner used a takedown and nearfall in the first period to build a 5-0 lead, an escape and takedown in the second period for an 8-0 advantage and a takedown in the third period to seal the win. Uscola led 5-0 before recording his fall at the 1:05 mark. Nash trailed 2-0 before an escape in the first period and an escape in the second period tied the match. Nash prevailed when Josh Tweeton was penalized a point for his second stalling warning with :05 remaining. Weaver used a quick takedown to set up his pin only 39 seconds into his match.
The Lakers responded with a pin at 160, a major decision at 171 and a minor decision at 189 to reclaim a 29-25 edge.
Lee Branstrom's second-period pin put the Panthers back in front. A takedown, reversal and nearfall led to a 7-2 lead after the first period before a takedown set up his pin at the 3:04 mark to give Park Rapids a 31-29 advantage.
Kyle Blanchard battled Tolbert in the final match. After a scoreless first period, Tolbert received a stalling point and used a takedown to claim a 3-0 lead. An escape and takedown in the third period set up Tolbert's pin at the 5:42 mark to give the Lakers the win.
The loss dropped Park Rapids to 13-9 in dual meets while the Lakers improved to 7-5.
The Panthers travel to Perham Thursday night to wrestle the state's No. 1-ranked Class AA team.
Detroit Lakes 35, Park Rapids 31
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103: Kevin Just, PR, pinned Matt Morris 3:15. 112: Brandon Baker, DL, major decision over Adam Branstrom 10-1. 119: Mike Bellfeuille, DL, major decision over Zach Steffen 10-1. 125: Justin Tweeton, DL, major decision over Ryan Moos 10-0. 130: Casey Fonder, DL, major decision over Forest Drury 12-3. 135: Derek Werner, PR, major decision over Adam Holzgrove 10-1. 140: Colter Uscola, PR, pinned Jake Hoefs 1:05. 145: Jared Nash, PR, minor decision over Josh Tweeton 3-2. 152: Matt Weaver, PR, pinned Rob Anderson :39. 160: Alex Feldt, DL, pinned John Drury 4:31. 171: Kenny Rogers, DL, major decision over Andy Boos 14-5. 189: Brandon Johnson, DL, minor decision over Matt Offerdahl 6-1. 215: Lee Branstrom, PR, pinned Ryan Jenson 3:04. Hwt.: Jon Tolbert, DL, pinned Kyle Blanchard 5:42.
