Sibling competition can play vital roles in development

There was a familiar face watching Bloomington Kennedy 119-pounder Dylan Ness pin his first-round opponent. Ness's brother, Jayson, was a two-time state champion at Kennedy and currently wrestles for the University of Minnesota, where he ranked No. 1 in the nation at 125 pounds by TheMat.com.

"He's a great student and a great athlete," said Dylan, who is a sophomore. "He's just a great person to learn from."

Jayson admits it feels strange to watch rather than compete.

"I think I get more nervous watching him than I do when I'm wrestling."

• Still unsatisfied: Minnetonka's Andrew Hanske had just finished pinning his first-round opponent, Apple Valley's Brennan McKeag, but Hanske, a 215-pounder, was not pleased.

In running his record to 29-0, Hanske gave up something for the first time all year: the lead.

No wrestler had led Hanske all season until McKeag got the first two points with a takedown.

"I got sloppy," Hanske said. "That shouldn't happen."

Hanske, who is also a member of the U.S. Rugby Under-19 National Team, controlled the remainder of the match, pinning McKeag at 3:00.

"I've got a rugby trip next week" he said, "but for these few days, it's all wrestling."

Kasson-Mantorville junior Shelby Deno got a takedown with a single-leg sweep with 44 seconds left in the third period, lifting him to a 7-6 upset of Mic Berg of Simley at 160 pounds. Berg entered the match as the Guillotine's No. 1-ranked wrestler at 171 pounds but qualified for the state meet at 160.

"After my first takedown, I knew I could get to him," Deno said. "I was nervous at first, but after that I felt pretty confident."

• Sibling rivalry: The last name Thorn has been synonymous with state championships in recent years. Mike Thorn won three titles for St. Michael-Albertville from 2004 to 2006. Younger brother David, a junior, already has two under his belt, at 103 pounds in 2006 and 112 last year.

David, who is ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds and easily won his first-round match, beating Mike Jindra of Montgomery-Lonsdale/Le Center 17-6, has a chance to win four individual titles, something he's well aware of.

"Yeah, my brother and I compete a little bit," Thorn said. "He wants me to win, of course, but we go back and forth. I know he's already won three. He knows I could win four."

Matt Benson made a choice: a chance at retribution or another state championship.

The senior from Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley/Chokio-Alberta chose the latter.

Benson, who won the 112-pound title last year and is ranked No. 1 by the Guillotine this year, improved his record this season to 33-1 with a first-round victory. Benson's only loss? To Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale's Ethan Kern.

That match took place at 119 pounds, where Kern is ranked No. 1 and Benson wrestled for much of the year. "He's kind of my arch-rival," Benson said.

Benson could have stayed at 119, but he would have had to face Kern in the Section 6 meet. So, he cut weight instead, opting to try for his second 112-pound title.

"I'd like another chance to beat him, but this is my best weight," Benson said.

• Three of four isn't bad: It was not a perfect day for the Lexvold family of Kenyon-Wanamingo, but it was certainly a very good one. Four Lexvold brothers competed as individuals Wednesday; three of them won. Mitchel won at 103 pounds, Chad at 112 and Nathan, who improved his record to 39-0, at 135. The only loss was by Drew, who was pinned in his match at 119 pounds.