Jacks defeat Willmar in nailbiter to capture 1st Section 8-3A team championship since 2020

Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 boys wrestlers huddle to the mat to hoist this year鈥檚 Section 8-3A championship trophy at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.

By Alex Faber

February 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM

BUFFALO 鈥� The Lumberjacks trailed Willmar 29-20 with just two matches left. The Section 8-3A team championship was hanging in the balance, waiting for the Cardinals to reclaim their crown.

But head coach Greg Skerik was confident.

The Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 boys wrestling team is well acquainted with nailbiting matches against the Cardinals with a section title on the line. The Cardinals entered Friday night鈥檚 finals at Buffalo High 歪歪漫画 with four-straight title wins over the Jacks under their belt.

As this year鈥檚 title bout came to a close, only Ben Desrosier and Nehemiah Schwinghammer stood in the way of a fifth straight for the Cardinals.

When Bemidji took on Willmar back on Jan. 30 during the regular season, the Cardinals came away with a 30-28 win. However, Desrosier and Schwinghammer both picked up individual victories in the loss, giving Skerik some faith in the last two members of the lineup in Friday鈥檚 postseason rematch.

鈥淚 was very confident in those two,鈥� Skerik said. 鈥淭hat was part of the plan, we had to keep it within reach in the last two matches.鈥�

Desrosier collected six points with a win by fall in 1:57 over Levi Swanson, drawing the Jacks within three points at 29-26. It was up to Schwinghammer to earn a triumphant result.

He delivered.

IMG_1401 (1).jpeg — Bemidji High 歪歪漫画's Nehemiah Schwinghammer raises his arm following his 7-2 decision in his heavyweight match with Willmar鈥檚 Finley Donelan. Schwinghammer鈥檚 win tied the score 29-29, which ultimately ended with the Lumberjacks winning the match based on criteria of a 7-6 edge in match wins in the dual.

Bemidji鈥檚 heavyweight picked up a 7-2 win by decision over Finley Donelan, ending the dual in a 29-29 tie. However, with a 7-6 edge in match victories, the Section 8-3A championship 鈥� and a bid to the state tournament 鈥� belonged to Bemidji in a win by criteria.

鈥淚t felt amazing,鈥� Skerik said. 鈥淲e knew they鈥檝e been the king of the section for the last few years, we knew it was going to go through them. We鈥檝e talked about it from day one in practice that (winning it) was the goal, and we needed a full team effort in order to get it. That was just an unbelievable effort from everybody on our team.鈥�

In just his second year at the helm, Skerik helped guide the Lumberjacks to their first section title since 2020.

鈥淚鈥檝e been part of section championship teams as a wrestler for Bemidji, I was part of a section championship team as an assistant coach,鈥� Skerik said. 鈥淪o to have myself to be part of them this way, it鈥檚 so special. It鈥檚 such a great group of guys, I just keep going back to them, it was their effort that did it. They bought into it.鈥�

Just as essential as those final two matches were the eleven that preceded it. Ozzie Hanks (107 pounds) took down Landon Kassel by a 12-2 major decision and Casey Sisneros (121) eked out a 1-0 win by decision over Logan Fagerlie. Gabe Morin (127) and Gavin Osborn (133) each tallied victories by technical fall, winning 21-6 and 15-0, respectively.

Nick Strand (139) picked up a huge 12-5 win by decision over Cavin Carlson, the No. 3-ranked wrestler in the weight class.

Nick Strand gave Bemidji a 20-6 lead in the title match with a 12-5 decision at 139 pounds over Willmar鈥檚 Cavin Carlson. Strand was ranked No. 4 in Class AAA. Carlson was ranked No. 3.

鈥淥n paper, we had to win a toss-up match, we had to get one of their big dogs and beat them,鈥� Skerik said. 鈥淲e did that, Nick went out and beat Cavin Carlson tonight. But on top of that, we had many guys go out and save team points and battle and wrestle a full six minutes.

鈥淵ou get in tight matches like that, as much as it comes down to the seven wins, it鈥檚 how you lose the six matches as well, giving up less bonus points and saving as many team points as you can. That鈥檚 how you win in tight matches.鈥�

BHS punched its ticket to an eighth-consecutive section championship game against Willmar by defeating Brainerd 40-19 in the semifinals.

Hanks (107) kicked off the night by besting William Dircks with a 14-3 major decision and Lincoln Schmitt (145) collected a big win in the middle of the lineup, earning a 11-7 decision over Lukas Lind.

Sisneros (121) and Morin (127) each grabbed wins by decisions over the Warriors. Gavin Osborn (133) and Nick Strand (139) kept the victories coming with a pair of technical falls. Desrosier and Schwinghammer finished off the semifinal contest by pinning their opponents in less than a minute.

Bemidji will head to state for the 18th time in program history on Feb. 27. It鈥檚 the Lumberjacks' first trip to the Class 3A state team tournament since 2020. Seedings will be revealed after the conclusion of section tournaments before BHS heads to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Bemidji 40, Brainerd 19

107: Ozzie Hanks (BHS) over William Dircks, MD 14-3

114: Crew Dahlheimer (BRD) over Levi Mellema, TF 15-0

121: Casey Sisneros (BHS) over Cole Berhow, Dec 15-9

127: Gabe Morin (BHS) over Jackson Berhow, Dec 4-1

133: Gavin Osborn (BHS) over Nolan Jukish, TF 22-5

139: Nick Strand (BHS) over Cale Ostrowski, TF 20-3

145: Lincoln Schmitt (BHS) over Lukas Lind, Dec 11-7

152: Easton Dircks (BRD) over Trenten Fredriksen-Holm, TF 17-2

160: Alec Newby (BHS) over Nicodemus Young, TF 22-2

172: Tyce Faber (BRD) over Tanner Littler, Fall 2:42

189: Shane Carlson (BRD) over Kohen Donat, Dec 8-7

215: Ben Desrosier (BHS) over Levi Becker, Fall 0:40

285: Nehemiah Schwinghammer (BHS) over Lucas Cline, Fall 0:50

Bemidji 29, Willmar 29

107: Ozzie Hanks (BHS) over Landon Kassel, MD 12-2

114: Caiden Kassel (WHS) over Levi Mellema, Fall 1:42

121: Casey Sisneros (BHS) over Logan Fagerlie, Dec 1-0

127: Gabe Morin (BHS) over Tommy Quinn, TF 21-6

133: Gavin Osborn (BHS) over Chase Hyatt, TF 15-0

139: Nick Strand (BHS) over Cavin Carlson, Dec 12-5

145: Sulley Anez (WHS) over Lincoln Schmitt, TF 21-5

152: Conlan Carlson (WHS) over Trenten Fredriksen-Holm, Fall 0:42

160: Cameren Champagne (WHS) over Alec Newby, Dec 9-5

172: Steven Cruze (WHS) over Tanner Littler, Fall 5:05

189: Lawson Anez (WHS) over Kohen Donat, Dec 8-3

215: Ben Desrosier (BHS) over Levi Swanson, Fall 1:57

285: Nehemiah Schwinghammer (BHS) over Finley Donelan, Dec 7-2

By Alex Faber

Alex Faber is a sports reporter for the Bemidji Pioneer. A Michigan transplant, he graduated from Michigan State University in 2024 with a degree in journalism and minors in history and environmental studies.