NUA’s Chase Wilson started the dual with a 8-4 decision over Johnny Salas, but NUA never led after that as Simley took home its seventh state wrestling title in the last eight years.

“Just a fun group of wrestlers,” NUA head coach Kevin Briggs said. “It helps to have seniors — obviously we sent juniors to the state tournament on the individual side — so just a bunch of good wrestlers and a competitive wrestling room, and a belief from day one. I told them this would be the best team they’ve ever been on. They believed it, and they proved it, and they just kept fighting.”

Despite the loss, this season remains one of the most successful seasons in NUA wrestling history as the team finishes as state runners-up, the highest team finish in school history. The team’s 26 wins on the year was also a program record.

“I think it means a lot,” coach Briggs said. “Based on the turnout that we had. Our fans are a part of this, the community is a part of this, and the support was awesome. Despite the loss tonight, it’s been a great week and a great weekend. Just proud of the New Ulm wrestling family.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Area’s Lane Ruch works against Brenden Watts at 189 during the Class AA State Team Wrestling Championship Thursday at Grand Casino Arena.

Wilson, Candon Briggs (160) and Lane Ruch (189) were named to the all-tournament team for NUA.

After a scoreless first period, Wilson got out of a single-leg takedown attempt and turned it into a takedown for himself for a 3-0 lead. Johnny Salas escaped, but another Wilson takedown made it 6-1 going into the third period. Johnny Salas managed to score a 2-point near fall in the third after starting up, but Wilson got the points back with a reversal, and an escape from Johnny Salas wasn’t enough to erase the lead as Wilson earned the decision.

At 114, Simley’s Jacob Kranz got a quick takedown on Regan Johnson and earned a 3-point near fall, a 2-point near fall and another takedown, but Regan Johnson avoided the technical fall, allowing just 3 points to Kranz in the third period to get away with a 14-2 major decision. Simley’s Adrian Mincey earned a 19-3 technical fall over Brayden Miller in 4:20 to give Simley a 9-3 lead, and NUA’s Alex Portner suffered a late takedown to Damir Sfronov for a 5-4 decision and a 12-3 Simley lead. Simley’s Darryl Jackson added a 10-4 decision over NUA’s Kane Johnson for a 15-3 lead, but Elijah Rieser got NUA back on the scoreboard at 133. Rieser scored six takedowns and added two points for stalling and another for an escape for a 21-4 technical fall on Simley’s Drezden Short in 5:44 to cut the lead to 15-8. However, Tegan Kral was unable to seize the momentum for NUA as he lost by fall in 3:48 to Simely’s Jake Kos at 145. Braxton Kiecker lost another close match for NUA at 152, with Aiden Mincey earning a takedown in the third for a 11-9 decision and a 24-8 Simely lead.

Candon Briggs stayed undefeated in the state tournament with a 4-1 decision at 160, taking down Simley’s Preston Harms in the third and taking another point for stalling for the decision, but a 21-5 technical fall by Amilio Salas over NUA’s Dirk Haynes made it a 29-10 Simley match.

Ruch matched up with Simley’s Brenden Watts at 189, and while Watts had the early advantage with a takedown in the first, Ruch evened the score with a takedown in the second. Watts escaped for a 5-4 lead going into the third, but Ruch opened the third with a reversal to take the lead. Watts escaped again to tie the score at 6, but Ruch scored one final takedown, and despite an escape from Watts, Ruch avoided a late takedown attempt to win the 9-7 decision. Smiley wrapped up the dual with a 7-4 decision by Vicente Elustondo over Tilken Fruhwirth and a win by fall by Gregorio Duron Contreras over Emerson Johnson in 2:59 for the 38-13 win.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey The New Ulm Area wrestling team and fans cheer during the Class AA State Team Wrestling Championship Thursday at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday.

NUA celebrates the achievements of its nine senior team wrestlers — Candon Briggs, Spencer Drill, Fruhwirth, Haynes, Emerson Johnson, Kiecker, Kral, Miller and Rieser — for their contributions to the team.

“It just means a lot that they stuck together,” coach Briggs said. “There was rocky roads, there was times to quit, but the group stayed together and committed to the sport, and the sport gave back.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Area’s Chase Wilson grabs Simley’s Johnny Salas’s leg at 114 during the Class AA State Team Wrestling Championship at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Area’s Candon Briggs wrestles with Simley’s Preston Harms at 160 during the Class AA State Team Wrestling Championship Thursday at Grand Casino Arena.