CLASS A PREVIEW
By Roger Mischke
MAT RATS PREVIEW (2022-2023)
SECTION 2A
FAVORITES: MEDFORD TIGERS and the BLUE EARTH BUCCANEERS
DARK HORSES: MAPLE RIVER/USC and LCWM KNIGHTS
MAPLE RIVER/USC
C0-Head Coaches: Eric Wagner
Gopher Conference: 6-0
Overall: 23-6
The Coop had a great season with a section and conference championship, they earned fourteen section place winners, including seven state qualifiers. They posted good dual meet numbers for the season of 23-6. They defeated St. Clair/Mankato Loyola 69-7, Medford 42-22 and Blue Earth 37-28 for their section championship. they dropped their quarterfinal state dual to the Class A champions JCC 52-9 and to Kimball in the consolation dual 39-23. They did graduate a great bunch of seniors including four state qualifiers, but look for overall young team to continue to improve after their state tourney experience. They should challenge their dual numbers and for both conference and section honor this season. Their key leaders should include: Cooper Ochsendorf (44-6), Wyatt Walters (37-14), Braxton Simon (33-20), Byron Getchell (26-16), Noah Zielger (21-21) and Laken Ivie (16-15).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Cooper Ochsendorf 12th 44-6 2nd Section/AC
Wyatt Walters 10th 37-14 2nd Section
Braxton Simon 11th 33-20 2nd Section
Byron Getchell 10th 26-16 3rd Section
Noah Zielger 12th 21-21 5th Section
Kolt Bullerman 9th 17-29 6th Section
Laken Ivie 11th 16-15 3rd Section
Isaiah Gonzalez 10th 12-12
Graduates:
Boden Simon 45-6 1st Section/AC/167-69 Career
Ethan Evenson 41-8 1st Section/AC/151-75 Career
Konner Harpestad 37-14 2nd Section/86-62 Career
Thayne Decker 35-11 3rd Section/AC/95-71 Career
Ethan Elvebak 29-16 2nd Section/106-70 Career
Collin VanCleave 15-23 3rd Section
Colten Berkner 9-23 6th Section
BLUE EARTH AREA BUCCANEERS
Head Coach: Dan Eckhart
Big South East Conference: 4-2
Overall: 13-13
The Buccaneers defeated New Richland-Ellendale-Geneva 40-28 and they were defeated in the section final by Maple River/USC 37-28. They had twelve section place winners, including three state qualifiers. They graduated five, including two state qualifiers. They will have returning seven section place winners including one state qualifiers and three others with varsity experience. Look for the Buccaneers to challenge those dual meet numbers from last season and possibly move up on the conference standings. They should make a challenge for the finals of what could be a pretty balanced dual meet campaign. Their key leaders should include: Carson Sturtz (26-14), Cooper Peterson (26-15), Parker Meyers (24-19), Caleb Langager (21-16), Cory Kitchel (19-15) and Kade Gaydon (17-16).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Carson Sturtz 12th 26-14 4th Section
Cooper Peterson 11th 26-15 4th Section
Parker Meyers 12th 24-19 4th Section
Caleb Langager 11th 21-16 5th Section
Cory Kitchel 11th 19-15 2nd Section
Kade Gaydon 11th 17-16 3rd Section
Blair Lunz 12th 10-24 6th Section
Timmy Nagel 9th 9-26
Ethan Oppedal 11th 6-25
Karen Sunken 12th 5-9
Zach Benson 12th 5-15 5th Section
Ben Anderson 11th 5-11 6th Section
Graduates:
Adam Schavery 33-10 1st Section/AC/70-34 Career
Kean Hicks 31-8 2nd Section/AC/75-51 Career
Kale Frank 19-18 5th Section/22-15 Career
Nick Lawrence 6-6
Elijah Sanchez 4-5
MEDFORD TIGERS
Head Coach: Dennis Whitman
Gopher Conference: 6-1
Overall: 14-3
The Tigers were defeated in the section finals by MR/USC 42-22 after a pair of wins over Lake Crystal 39-24 and WEM/JWP 42-22. The Tigers had a young team and they did have to deal with some injury issues. This team if they stay healthy should continue to make strides of improvement. They posted very good dual meet marks last season, look for them to make a strong challenge for both section and conference honors. The Tigers had nine section place winners back, including six state qualifiers. Three Tigers earned state medals last year including a state championship and they have three others back with experience. They will have nine twenty plus match winners back this season. Their key leaders should include Tommy Elwood (38-9), Tate Hermes (38-8), Dylan Heiderscheidt (31-11), Luis Lopez (29-16), Evan Schweisthal (25-15), Garron Hoffman (25-10), Jack Meyer (24-15), Charlie Elwood (21-1) and Kaden Harfmann (20-21).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Tate Hermes 12th 38-8 1st Sec./2nd State/AC
Tommy Elwood 10th 38-9 1st Sec./5th State/AC
Dylan Heiderscheidt 12th 31-11 2nd Section
Luis Lopez 11th 29-16 1st Section
Garron Hoffman 12th 25-10 1st Section
Evan Schweisthal 11th 25-15 3rd Section
Jack Meyer 12th 24-15 3rd Section
Charlie Elwood 12th 21-1 1st Sec./State Champion
Kaden Harfmann10th20-21
Kantola Gonzalex 12th 14-10
Mason Degrood 10th 6-11 3rd Section
Connor Wilson 9th 5-7
WESTFIELD RAZORBACKS
Co-Head Coaches: David Lassahn/Shane Masching
Gopher Conference: 3-3
Overall: 14-12
The Razorbacks had a very young team last year, they were defeated in the prelim dual by LCWMl 37-36. This group had eleven section place winners, of which three were state qualifiers. They have back nine section place winners, two were state qualifiers and seven with double figure wins. Look for a great deal of improvement in this team, they should challenge their dual meet marks. Their key leaders should include: Bo Zwiemer (32-6), Kevin Hodge (24-14), Hunter Simonson (26-12), Cade Christianson (24-15), Sam Pirkl (17-12) and Ty Bronson (15-14).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Bo Zuiener 10th 32-6 1st Section
Hunter Simonson 10th 26-12 5th Section
Cade Christainson 11th 24-15 2nd Section
Kevin Hodge 11th 24-14 3rd Section
Sam Pirkl 12th 17-12 4th Section
Ty Bronson 11th 15-14 4th Section
Brody Johnson 11th 11-19 4th Section
Vincent Hernandez 10th 7-22 4th Section
Grant Magnuson 9th 3-22 5th Section
Graduates:
Tyler Archer 31-8 1st Section
Sam Skillestad 15-16 5th Section
LAKE CRYSTAL-WELCOME MEMORIAL AREA KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Nate Meixell
Valley Conference: 2-1
Overall: 14-12
The Knights defeated Westfield in their section dual 37-36 and they were defeated by Medford 39-34. The Knights had twelve section place winners, this young team had one state qualifier and they did graduate two last spring, both were section place winners. They will return ten section place winners, including one state qualifier. They will have ten back with double figure wins and three others with experience. If they stay healthy and continue to improve that should challenge their dual meet marks from last season. Their key leaders should include: Nick Slater (33-17), Justin Slater (31-15), Logan Quade (28-13, Carson Othoudt (23-15), Grffin Gimenez (19-9), Talan Osborne (19-17) and Jermaine Arrington (19-14).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Nick Slater 10th 33-17 4th Section
Justin Slater 12th 31-15 1st Section
Logan Quade 10th 28-13 5th Section/AC
Carson Othoudt 8th 23-15 3rd Section/AC
Griffin Gimenez 11th 19-9 4th Section
Talan Osborne 9th 19-17 4th Section
Jermaine Arrinton 11th 19-14 5th Section
Zach Palmer 9th 16-18 5th Section
Ryder McMichael 10th 13-24 5th Section
Noah Godeman 11th 8-20 5th Section
Dietrich Rosin 9th 8-25
Ryan Palmer 10th 5-0 Injured
Graduates:
Alex Harnitz 27-16 4th Section/49-58 Career
Ean Gilman 16-26 6th Section/42-73 Career
NEW RICHLAND-HEARTLAND/ELLENDALE-GENEVA PANTHERS
Head Coach: Shawn Larson
Gopher Conference: 2-4
Overall: 13-17
The Panthers were defeated in their section quarterfinal dual by Blue Earth Area 40-28. They did earn nine section place winners, including four state qualifiers, they have back six section placers and two state qualifiers. They will also have ten others with varsity experience. Looks for this young team to challenge both their dual meet numbers and to possibly move up in the conference. Their key leaders should include: Makota Misgen (42-7), George Roesler (21-7), Ben Hagen (15-12) and Devan Parpart (17-15)
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Makota Misgen 12th 42-7 2nd Sec./2nd State
George Roesler 11th 21-7 3rd Section
Annabelle Petsinger 11th 18-20
Ben Hagen 10th 15-12 3rd Section/Transfered)
Devan Parpart 9th 17-15 6th Section
Ryan Schlaak 8th 9-10 4th Section
Harbor Cromwell 11th 8-16 6th Section
Aiden Schlaak 10th11-22
Aden Berg 12th 10-17
Jacob Karl 9th 7-13
Seth Staloch 10th 5-23
Parker Bunn 11th 3-3
Graduates:
Ralph Roesler 45-3 1st Sec./2nd State/AC/118-57 Career
Nikolas Petsinger 39-9 2nd Section/AC/100-71 Career
Clay Stenzel 27-20 3rd Section/68-87 Career
WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN/JANESVILLE-WALDORF-PEMPERTON
Head Coach: Adam Roesler
Gopher Conference: 1-6
Overall: 6-19
They were defeated by Medford in their quarterfinal dual 47-33. They had a very young team, that earned Section section medals, including one state qualifier that earned a state medal, along with four others with experience. They have seven back with fifteen wins plus, look for this young team to improve on their dual meet marks from last season. Their key leaders should include: Keegan Kuball (37-4), Carson Petry (25-6), Lucas Morsching (24-22), Gavin Kruse (22-21) and JackCahill (19-20).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Keegan Kuball 10th 37-4 1st Section
Carson Petry 10th 25-6 2nd Sec./6th State
Lucas Morsching 10th 24-22 3rd Section
Gavin Krause 11th 22-21 4th Section
Jack Cahill 12th 19-20 5th Section
Sam Carlson 12th 15-18 6th Section
Maddox Moreno 10th 7-26 6th Section
Patrick Adams 11th 7-25
Zach Quast 9th 5-24
Charles Adams 9th 3-19
ST. CLAIR/MANKATO LOYALA CYCLONES
Head Coach: Giovanni Alvarado
Valley Conference:
Overall: 5-19
The Cyclones had six section place winners last season, of which five will be returning, including one state qualifier and four others with experience. Their key leaders should include: Simon Kruse (47-6), Eli Kruse (42-8), Lucas Vaughan (28-21) and Chase Bade (22-28).
RETURNING WRESTERS:
Simon Kruse 12th 47-6 1st Section/AC
Eli Kruse 11th 42-8 3rd Section/AC
Lucas Vaughan 9th 28-21 2nd Section
Chase Bade 10th 22-28 5th Section
Brody McClinton 8th 9-22 6th Section
Parker Osmanson 9th 7-24
Jacob Schimak 10th 6-0
Mason Adams 9th 3-5
Graduate:
Ben Walechka 8-25 6th Section
MADELIA-TRUMAN/MARTIN LUTHER JAY HAWKS
Head Coach:
Valley Conference:
Overall:
The Jay Hawks will have two section place winners returning along with two with experience. Look for them to fill in with some junior varsity wrestlers, they should make some improvement. Noel Davila and Carlos Flores-Lemus should be their key leaders thru out the season.
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Noel Davila 9th 22-8 4th Section
Carlos Flores-Lemus 9th 7-19 6th Section
Blayne Wilde 9th 3-22
Conner Rathman 10th 2-17
