Kuball conquers all at state tournament

After going 2-2 and not placing a year ago at the state tournament, WEM-JWP wrestler Keegan Kuball returned home a state champion.

Kuball, a sophomore wrestling at 285 pounds, defeated Cameron Scholten of Jackson County Central in the final match of the state tournament Saturday, March 4 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. He finished the season with a win-loss record of 31-4.

“It’s amazing,” Kuball said after the championship match. “I won’t believe it for a few days yet. This is crazy. 

“After last year… not placing, I knew I had to be mentally prepared,” Kuball continued. “This year I was used to the lights, used to the crowd. I was ready for it. This year I knew I could take it. Knew I could take this bracket."

Joining Kuball at the capital were Grizzlies freshman Brady Murphy and senior Jack Cahill. 

Murphy lost in heartbreaking fashion, coming in fourth, with both of his losses coming to Elijah Greenwaldt of Staples Motley. Cahill went 1-2 and was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket. 

Kuball sailed to wins in his first two rounds, winning by fall against Grant Ness of Caledonia-Houston, and an 8-0 victory over Braden Shamp of Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie. His first real test came in the semifinals againstlast year’s state runner-up, senior Makota Misgen of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva. 

In their third bout in as many weeks, Kuball outlasted Misgen, earning an escape in the second period to take the early advantage. Misgen answered with an escape of his own in the third period. In overtime, Kuball rode to victory. Misgen was in the down position to start, but was unable to score and in the third, and final overtime, Kuball was able to score on an escape, sending him to the title match. 

Facing off with Scholten, Kuball  butted heads for a scoreless first period. Kuball scored first on a reversal, but was nearly pinned as Scholten earned a reversal and near fall to go up 4-3 after two periods. 

“I think maybe after that roll, I had some people kind of nervous, but I knew I could pull away with it in the end, if I got on top,” Kuball said of the near-pin. “I knew that I was gonna have to really dig in the third period. Then he chose down. I knew I could turn him, so I got him over in the half, just stayed there the whole period and was able to finish with the win.”

Kuball earned two near falls and a state title with a 9-4 decision. 

“All throughout this, even going through sections, going through state today I had a lot of gutsy matches, and I had a lot of close wins,” Kuball said. “The first thing I’m gonna do now is walk up there, see my family, have a lot of hugs and pictures. It’s gonna be a lot of fun… And then I’ll drive home tonight, and sleep in for a long time tomorrow.” 

Murphy pinned his way to an opening-match, opening-period win over Roman Roberg from Paynesville Area before running into his first and only roadblock of the tournament, Greenwaldt. Murphy scored first, but Greenwaldt got the last laugh, winning by fall in the third period. 

After a dominant first two periods, Murphy won easily pinning Connor Carlson from Kimball Area in the first round of the consolation bracket. Murphy jumped out to a 5-0 lead in a dominant second “blood” round, defeating Cash Osterman of Frazee by an 11-6 decision. 

After nearly pinning his opponent, Miles Wildman of Minnewaska Area, in the consolation semifinals, Murphy almost lost. With a 5-0 lead after the first period, Wildman came roaring back, scoring an escape and two takedowns. Two escapes from Murphy helped him emerge with a 7-5 decision. 

And in the rematch of Murphy’s second-round match from Friday, it was Greenwaldt who again played spoiler. 

Greenwaldt jumped out to a lead with a takedown, but a takedown and near fall by Murphy put him ahead 4-2. The final minute of the third period is where things fell apart. After another takedown, Greenwaldt wiggled out, earned a reversal, nearly won by fall, and ultimately sent Murphy home in fourth place with an 8-6 decision. 

Wrestling as a Grizzly for the final time was Cahill, a senior who lost 7-0 in the opening round to fourth-place finisher Bryce Holm of Royalton-Upsala. 

An exciting, come-from-behind win in the consolation bracket earned Cahill his only victory, 4-2, over Colton Long of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted. Cahill fell behind 2-0 on a first-period takedown, but came roaring back in the third, scoring first on an escape, followed by penalty points and a match-clinching takedown. 

Cahill’s season and career came to an end against sixth-place finisher Tyler Mix of Dover-Eyota. After scoring first on a takedown, Mix got the better of Cahill in the second period, winning by fall at 2:18.