Austin Packers wrestling team competes at Cannon Falls Invitational Saturday
January 9, 2023 1:09PM CST
The Austin Packers wrestling team took part in the 16-team Cannon Falls Invitational Saturday, and it was the Packers finishing in 10th place with 61 team points. The host Bombers were first in their own invitational with 188.5 points, followed by Pine Island in second with 156 points, then came Rosemount close behind in third with 154.5 points, Ellsworth was fourth with 149 points and Byron rounded out the top five with 148.5 points.
Sam Winkels, who is currently ranked 7th in the state at 220 pounds in Class AAA, won his second tournament of the season, the other being at Monticello, by beating Rochester Century’s Byron Callies, a state entrant last year in the finals by a score of 5-2 in the finals. Winkels was also the only Austin wrestler to place at the 36-team Rogers Matness tournament earlier this season by taking fourth, and with the win on Saturday, Winkels is 14-3 on the season.
Other high finishers for Austin in Cannon Falls on Saturday included junior Garrin Wilson, who took third at 160 with a 6-3 decision over Chace Kobs of St. Charles to boost his record to 13-6, and senior Sam Oelfke took fifth for the Packers at 170 by pinning Jaeden Barid of Cannon Falls at 2:55 to give him a 9-5 record on the season.
Austin will return to action Thursday night at Mankato West High School for a Big 9 Conference triangular with the host Scarlets and Albert Lea, with the action scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.
