Sam Winkels competes in State Class AA Individual Wrestling Tournament for Austin Packers wrestling team

Sam Winkels, a junior with the Austin Packers wrestling team competed in the 285 lb. weight class in the State Class AA Individual Wrestling Tournament Friday and Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Winkels, who came into the tournament with a record of 45-1 defeated Nathan Klatt from Annandale/Maple Lake in the first round by a 7-4 decision, but he was then pinned in the first round of the winner’s bracket by Brady Rhode of Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle Valley at 2:58.   The loss dropped Winkels into the wrestlebacks where he defeated Clayton Danielson of Grand Rapids by a score of 10-4, and he then downed Ian Larrabee of Hibbing by a 9-1 major decision in the second round to advance to meet Evan Thompson, a senior from New Ulm Area, who he defeated by a score of 6-2 to advance to the third place match, where he met Rhode for the second time in the tournament, and it was Rhode winning by a score of 5-0 to claim third place, with Winkels wrestling his way back to a fourth-place finish.

Winkels, who qualified for last year’s State Class AAA Individual Wrestling Tournament at 220 lbs., finishes a fantastic season with a record of 49-1.