Sam Winkels claims Heavyweight title for Austin Packers wrestling team at Rogers Holiday Matness Invitational

The Austin Packers wrestling team traveled to Rogers High School Thursday to take part in the 32-team Rogers Holiday Matness Invitational, and Samuel Winkels took 1^st place at the invitational, defeating a number of tough wrestlers to claim the title.  Winkels came into the invitational 13-1 and ranked 5^th at 215 pounds in Class AA, but Head Coach Jacob Nelson stated that Winkels decided to jump up to Heavyweight for the competition. Winkels was seeded 3^rd going in and rattled off five wins to outwrestle his seed and claim 1^st place.

Winkels defeated Trey Burgardt of Foley by technical fall 17-2 in the first round of action, he then won in the second round by major decision 16-3 over Mitchell Kelvie of Lakeville South, and Winkels then downed Evan Becker of St. Michael-Albertville in a 3-1 sudden victory in the quarterfinals.  Winkels then downed Cole Will of Egan by a score of 7-2 in the semifinals, and he then claimed the championship with a 5-1 win over Carson Schoenbauer of Scottt West, who is currently ranked No. 8 in the state at Heavyweight in Class AA.

Winkels currently sits at 62 career varsity wins, and Austin returns to action next Tuesday in Rochester versus the defending Section 1AAA Mayo Spartans in a Big 9 Conference dual, with the action scheduled to start at 7 p.m. that evening.