DePestel, Scholten champs at MNGWL regions

Alex DePestel and Hudson Scholten were each champions at 138 and 189 pounds, respectively, at the MNGWL Region 2 individual wrestling tournament Saturday in Redwood Falls.

DePestel, an eighth-grader, and Scholten, a freshman, qualified for the MNGWL (Minnesota Ninth Grade and Under Wrestling League) State Tournament Feb. 1 at Champlin Park High School. DePestel was seeded No. 5 in his weight class and won all four of his matches.

He pinned Joe Jensen of Springfield in :27 in his opening match, then won a 15-0 technical fall against, an 8-6 decision over Jaiden Zimmerman of Benson, an 8-6 decision over Charlie Millhausen of Redwood Valley, and an 11-4 win in the championship against Mason McDougal of Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle Valley/Montevideo. Scholten, the No. 2 seed at 189, went 3-0 on the day.

After receiving a first-round bye, Scholten pinned Lane Evans of Redwood Valley in 3:22, pinned Brock Marty of MAHACA in 2:34, and edged Jayden Hoss of Pipestone area 3-2 in the final.

Other Minneota wrestlers and their results were:

88 - Chase Johnson (2-2)

94 - Destin Fier (0-2)

106 - Logan Myhre (1-2)

113 - Noah Gorecki (0-2) 120 - Ezequel Monzon (0-2)

126 - Eli Gruenes (2-2)

145 - Kyler Lozinski (1-2)