Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Velva junior Nick Hodges tangles with Des Lacs-Burlington junior Jordan Robbins during Thursday night's match in Des Lacs. Velva won the contest by a score of 45-30.

DES LACS — When the Velva wrestling team needed a spark in Thursday’s Region 3 contest against Des Lacs-Burlington, some young Aggies stepped up to the challenge.

Velva (1-0) sophomores Colin Dean and Shayden Schiele earned two quick pins in the Aggies’ 45-30 dual victory over the Lakers (1-2). Those two wins at the respective 106 and 113 weight classes helped the Aggies gain an early 12-0 lead.

“That was huge for us,” Velva head coach Chad Barstad said. “We wanted to get off to a quick start. In a close dual like this, we needed all 12 of those points right away. That was very big for us. We need those younger guys to step up at those lower weights and they did today.”

After DLB’s Harrison Schwarz defeated Velva’s Elizabeth Massine in the 120 contest, Gunnar Mogen regained Velva’s momentum with a 38-second pin over Skylor DeRosse at 126.

DLB’s Kaden Eaton won by forfeit at the 132 spot, granting the Lakers six points. From there, DLB’s middleweights applied pressure.

At 138, Grayson Pease earned five points with his technical fall win over Velva’s Triton Kaercher. Cade Ibach’s 57-second pin of Lucas Seibhur gave the Lakers six additional points at 145.

“We’re spreading out weight classes and coming together as a team,” DLB head coach Kellan Zietz said. “Some of our younger guys are stepping up a little bit and taking a bigger role on varsity. Our older guys are showing some really good leadership, which I think we knew would happen.”

Walter Winkler pinned Kelson Mascol at 152, but DLB’s win streak ended there. Velva’s Michael Thomas breathed much-needed life into the Aggies’ total, picking up a 4-1 decision over Weston Wahus at 160.

After Thomas’ hard-earned victory over Wahus, DLB mustered four more points in the match. The Aggies offered words of praise and encouragement to Thomas as the senior returned to their bench.

“It’s always a great time,” Thomas said. “We’re really close throughout the entire team. Seventh grade through twelfth, it’s a family. It’s awesome teaching those little kids and seeing them progress throughout the year.”

Bransyn Yanish pinned Brenden Hedges in 1:25 at 170, giving Velva six crucial points. Bryce Selzler won by forfeit at 182.

“The main goal is to just stay together,” Yanish said. “Wrestling is a hard sport. Seeing each other every day, we’re very physical with each other. Sometimes, we can be upset at each other. But it’s just sticking together as a family.”

Coy Spooner snatched four points with his major decision win over Velva’s Wyatt Hanson at 195, but the damage was done. Velva’s Gabe Ladouk took a forfeit victory at 220 before Nick Hodges pinned DLB’s Jordan Robbins in the 285 matchup.

Both teams will participate in today’s Kenmare Tournament.

“Both DLB and Velva wrestled really tough tonight,” Barstad said. “It was a great dual. Hopefully, we see a bunch of these close duals in Region 3 this year. All the respect in the world to DLB. They wrestled a great match.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.