James, Melchert pick up multiple wins for Grizzlies

Two WEM/JWP juniors had the top performances for the Grizzly wrestling team last week.

Jaxson James and Brant Melchert each won multiple matches during the week.

James won both of his matches during duals with Glencoe-Silver Lake (GSL) and Mankato East Thursday, Jan. 3.

He pinned Muhammed McMahon of Mankato East in 3:03 at 160 pounds. He won by a 9-0 major decision at 160 pounds over Carter Ziegler of GSL.

Melchert picked up a pair of wins at the NYA Central Invitational Saturday, Jan. 5 in Norwood.

He was the No. 4 seed in the 220 pound weight class at Norwood. In the opening round, Melchert pinned sophomore Brady Poppler of NYA in 39 seconds. In the semifinals, Melchert knocked off No. 1 seed, Mankato West junior Mason Theissen in 1:28. In the championship, Waseca junior Jacob Hertzog, who is 12-1 this season, pinned Melchert in 3:05.

Two other wrestlers competed at the NYA Invitational.

Senior Dalton Klampe placed sixth at 152 pounds. He lost three matches by fall.

Senior Don Carlson was pinned twice at 195 pounds and did not place.

The Grizzlies placed 9th in the 10-team tourney.

Hastings won the team title with 215.5 points, followed by Mankato West (182.5), Waseca (161.5), Hibbing (141.5), New Ulm Area (119), Robbinsdale Armstrong (79), NYA (68), Sibley East (67.5), WEM/JWP (23), and Madelia-Truman/Martin Luther (17).

Winning titles were.....

To see more on this story pick up the January 10, 2019 print edition of the Life or Enterprise papers.