Minnesotans stumble in Greco-Roman Olympic wrestling trials
By RaCHEL BLOUNT, Star Tribune April 3, 2021 8:13pm Text size Copy shortlink:
Some of the toughest matches of Pat Smith s career have come in consolation bouts. The Chaska wrestler was reminded of that Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, when he had to shake off the disappointment of Friday s semifinal loss at the Olympic wrestling trials and try to forge ahead.
Smith made it to the consolation finals of the Greco-Roman 77-kilogram class, but he dropped a 4-0 decision to RaVaughn Perkins to finish in fourth place. Two other Minnesotans also wrestled for third place in the Greco-Roman division Saturday. Leslie Fuenffinger, a Hibbing native and two-time NCAA champ at Augsburg, pinned Sam Jones in the 60 kg class, while heavyweight Donny Longendyke, an Augsburg alumnus from Vadnais Heights, fell 3-1 to Jacob Mitchell.