Robb, Moen take home state titles for Owatonna

It was a successful weekend for the Owatonna wrestling team at the state tournament over the weekend as Peyton Robb earned his second state individual championship and Brandon Moen won his first for the Huskies.
Robb’s title, which came in at 120 pounds after winning at 106 a year ago, got off to a rocky start as he was able to defeat Apple Valley’s Sebas Swiggum, but only by a 2-0 decision in the first round. The sophomore was able to get into a rhythm in his quarterfinal match by earning a 12-0 major decision over Bret Wilson of Rogers.
As Robb cruised into the semi-finals, he received a stiff challenge from Prior Lake’s Zach Smith, but ultimately advanced by a 5-3 decision. In the final, it would be a matchup of the top seeded Rylee Molitor (Sartell-St. Stephen) and the second-seeded Robb. It would be an anticipated matchup that would lead to Robb winning his second state title with a 3-1 decision
Meanwhile, Moen was looking to take a step forward after finishing third at 152 pounds in last year’s tournament. Competing at 195 pounds this year, the junior had a strong opening performance against Jackson Dunnell of Lakeville North in a 12-6 decision. He would advance to face Fairbault’s Felipe Ramirez in the quarterfinals and was able to pick up another 5-3 decision to earn a spot in the semi-finals.
From there, Moen defeated St. Michael-Albertville’s Evan Ronsen in a 3-1 decision and then pulled out a 5-4 win in the final over Moorhead’s Samuel Grove to win his first state championship.
Tanner Cole would also place third for the Huskies at 138 pounds when he won via disqualification over Woodbury’s Austin Braun. 
Steele County’s success continued when New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG)’s Wyatt Fitterer placed second in the 285-pound bracket in Class A. The senior had a dominant path to the final as he pinned David Skiba in the opening round at 3:30 and then picked up a 10-3 decision over Frazee’s Tanner Tappe in the quarterfinal. 
The lack of resistance would continue in the semi-finals as well when Fitterer pinned Minneota’s Trent Esping at 1:02, but the finals presented a challenge in top-seeded Tanner Welsh of Dover-Eyota. While Fitterer was valiant, he fell in a 2-0 decision.
NRHEG was also represented by Cordell Peterson in the 126-pound bracket in Class A. The senior would have an entertaining opening match with Jadon Bentjer of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville, but would ultimately fall in a 13-11 decision to end his tournament run.
Willie Von Ruden was the lone representative for Medford as he picked up a 6-2 decision in his first round match against Atkin’s Silas Berg at 120 pounds. From there, he’d run into top seeded Noah Bauer in the quarterfinals and fall in a 9-0 major decision. The eighth grader would draw Austin DeVlaeminck of Minneota in the consolation bracket, but fall to him in a 9-5 decision.