Ortloff, Thompson, Wamre into state semifinals
Isaiah Thompson is one of two Lakers, along with teammate Braydon Ortloff, who advanced to the state Class AA semifinals. Both wrestlers are two wins away from becoming Detroit Lakes' first-ever state champion. Robert Williams / TribuneDetroit Lakes Braydon Ortloff and Isaiah Thompson, along with United Clay Becker’s Sam Wamre, advanced the the state Class AA wrestling semifinals Friday afternoon at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Wamre had the tightest match of the three defeating Kaleb Haase of Redwood-River Valley 4-3 to clinch a spot in the final four of the 220-pound weight class. Wamre will face Steven Hajas of Delano in the next round.
Thompson broke open his 170-pound match against Hayden Strain of Cannon Falls-Randolph late after trailing 2-1 and tying the match 2-2 with an escape after two periods. Thompson scored five points in the third to move on with a 7-2 decision. He will face Dylan Lentz of Columbia Heights in the semis.
Ortloff cruised to the semis with a 15-5 major decision over Brett Kirchner of St. Cloud Apollo. Ortloff led 4-1 and 10-3 after the second period in a dominating performance.
He faces Dawson-Boyd/Lac-qui-Parle’s Peyton Mortenson in the semis. Thief River Falls’ Josh Bernier is into the other semifinal creating a potential big rematch for Ortloff. Bernier handed Ortloff his only loss of the season in the Section 8AA final.
At 113 pounds, Detroit Lakes’ Brody Ullyott was defeated by Jaxson Frohman of Fairmont-Martin County West 15-5. Ullyott will compete in wrestlebacks Friday night against Bryce Erkenbrack of Totino-Grace.
Fabyon Greer will also be in wrestlebacks at 138-pounds against South St. Paul’s Quinn Christoffersen.
Austin Baker faces South St. Paul’s Gavin Christoffersen in 152-pound wrestlebacks.
Blake Weber was eliminated from contention after Robby Hotsman of Kasson-Mantorville was defeated 20-8 by the top-seeded 120-pounder Jake Svihel of Totino-Grace.
Happenings