CLASS A PREVIEW
By Roger Mischke
MAT RATS PREVIEW (2022-2023)
SECTION 6A
FAVORITES: WEST CENTRAL AREA/BRANDON-EVANSVILLE KNIGHTS and the BORDER WEST BUCCANEERS
DARK HORSES: BERTHA-HEWITT/VERNDALE/PARKERS PRAIRIE RAIDERS and the OSAKIS SILVERSTREAKS
WEST CENTRAL AREA/ASHBY/BRANDON-EVANSVILLE KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Brandon Gruchow
Park Region Conference: 6-0
Overall: 25-5
The Knights earned third place State Class A honors, with a huge win over Kimball in the quarters 34-33. They were defeated by the state champion JCC 41-27 and they defeated the Section 1A champion Dover-Eyota 35-31 for third place. They defeated three Section 6A rivals; Wadena/DC 76-0/NYM 66-12 and BHV/PP 51-21. They earned fourteen section medals, they had eight state qualifiers and two state medal winners. Back from that team are eleven section place winners, six state qualifiers and two state place winners. They will have nine with 27 plus wins and also seven with experience. Look for the Knights to make a very strong challenge to defend their state and conference honors and possibly challenge those excellent dual meet marks. If they spread out in their weights and stay healthy they could challenge for a state title. Their key leaders should include: Anthony Sykora (47-5), Hunter Gruchow (45-14), Solomon Wales (37-12), Adam Lohse (36-14), Owen Gruchow (36-17), Beau Robinson (30-16), Will Rustan (30-18), Justin Blascyk (30-16), Carter Lohse (27-16), Gavin Flint (18-12) and Logan Long (19-11).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Anthony Sykora 12th 47-5 1st Sec./State Champ./AC
Hunter Gruchow 10th 45-14 1st Sec./6th State/AC
Solomon Wales 11th 37-12 1st Section
Adam Lohse 11th 36-14 4th Section
Owen Gruchow 8th 36-17 3rd Section
Beau Robinson 12th 30-16 2nd Section/AC
Will Rustan 11th 30-18 2nd Section
Justin Blascyk 12th 30-16 2nd Section
Carter Lohse 11th 27-16 5th Section
Logan Long 9th 19-11
Gavin Flint 10th 18-12
Ezekiel Sieckert 9th 17-23 5th Section
Mason Richter 11th 12-21 5th Section
Jeremy Blascyk 10th 8-3
Sam Olson 9th 8-9
Tyler Stone 12th 6-5
Dierk Goeden 12th 3-5
Jacob Schaffran 11th 1-1
Graduates:
Colton Lindquist 40-11 2nd Section/AC/125-58 Career
Rueben Swanson 44-10 2nd Section/AC/95-52 Career
Ashton Danner 30-12 2nd Section/78-80 Career
Shad Swanson 2-4
BERTHA HEWIIT/VERNDALE/PARKERS PRAIRE RAIDERS
Head Coach: Bill Wagner
Park Region Conference: 4-3
Overall: 11-20
The Raiders defeated Pelican Rapids 69-8 and Border West 41-35, in the finals they were defeated by West Central 51-21. The Raiders had eleven section place winners, five state qualifiers and one state medal winner. Back from the team are nine section place winners, including four state qualifiers. They will have back seven with sixteen plus wins. If the Raiders stay healthy and spread out in their weights, they should make a big improvement on their dual meet marks in the conference and overall. Look for the Raiders to make a challenge for one of the final spots in what should be a balanced Section 6A dual meet campaign. Their key leaders should include: David Revering (36-13), Deagen Captain (34-16), Justin Olson (30-21), Bennett Arceneau (25-15), Preston Captain (17-25) and Justin Olson (30-21).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
David Revering 11th 36-13 2nd Section/AC
Deagen Captain 12th 34-16 2nd Section
Justin Olson 9th 30-21 2nd Section
Bennett Arceneau 12th 25-15 2nd Section
Preston Captain 9th 17-25 3rd Section
Justin Koehn 12th 16-30 5th Section
Hunter Strom 10th 16-16 4th Section
Holden Truax 11th 12-25 5th Section
Braden Shamp 10th 11-30 5th Section
Blake Sumstad 12th 7-22
Cayden Kimber 10th 4-11
Graduates:
Gideon Ervasti 21-2 1st Sec./2nd State/AC/135-53 Career
Reese Thompson 39-12 4th Section/AC/110-79
BORDER WEST BUCCANEERS
Head Coach: Paul Frisch
Overall: 12-12
The Buccaneers defeated OTC 45-31 in their Section 6A quarterfinal and they were defeated by BHV/PP 41-35 in the semifinals. The will have back from last season, ten section place winners, three state qualifiers of which two were state medal winners. They will have seven back with twenty wins plus and four with experience. The Buccaneers should make a strong challenge to improve on those dual meet marks from last season. Look for them to make a strong challenge for a potential section final spot in what should be a pretty balanced section. Their key leaders should include: Cole Sykora (40-6), Jude Olson (39-10), Eli Larson (35-3), Peyton Forcier (33-13), Brody Nachbor (26-17) and Andrew Hennessy (25-20).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Cole Sykora 12th 40-6 1st Sec./5th State
Jude Olson 10th 39-10 3rd Section
Eli Larson 12th 35-3 1st Sec./3rd State
Peyton Forcier 10th 33-13 4th Section
Patrick Forcier 11th 30-14 2nd Section
Brody Nachbor 10th 26-17 4th Section
Andrew Hennessy 12th 25-20 4th Section
Gunner Hennessy 9th 13-25 4th Section
Dylan Przymaus 10th 8-14
Noah Adelman 11th 9-22 3rd Section
Ben Peterson 10th 10-21
Kevin Casper 11th 3-6 5th Section
Drew Sykora 9th 3-4
OSAKIS SILVERSTREAKS
Head Coach; Douglas Johnson
Park Region Conference: 1-6
Overall: 7-19
The Silverstreaks were defeated in their first dual by New York Mills 42-25. They will have back nine section place winners, including two state qualifiers, with five of them with twenty-three plus wins. Look for this young team to make strides of improvement during the course of the season. They should make a big improvement on their conference and overall dual records. If they spread out in their weights and stay healthy, they could challenge for a top four spot in this balanced section dual campaign. Their key leaders should include: Reggie George (39-10), Jacob Tapten (36-8), Kale Drevlow (34-13), Gavin Cimbura (27-20) and Tyson Hagedon (23-16).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Reggie George 10th 39-10 1st Section/AC
Jacob Tapten 11th 36-8 1st Section/AC
Kale Drevlow 12th 34-13 3rd Section
Gavin Cimbura 11th 27-20 3rd Section
Tyson Hagedon 12th 23-16 6th Section
Christian Nathe 9th 16-24 4th Section
Kaleb Helberg 10th 12-19 4th Section
Simon Jacobson 9th 8-28
Conner Koep 8th 8-10 4th Section
Preston Kunkel 9th 6-8 6th Section
Lucas Duchene 10th 3-21
Graduates:
Carsten Jacobson
Hunter Sell
NEW YORK MILLS EAGLES
Head Coach: Eric Niemi
Park Region Conference: 3-3
Overall: 12-8
The Eagles defeated Osakis in their opening Section 6A dual 42-25 and they were defeated by WCA 66-12. The Eagles had twelve section place winners and four state qualifiers. Back from that team are seven section place winners and one state qualifier, this includes five with double figure wins. They did lose five section place winners, including three state qualifiers thru graduation. But look for this young team to make strides of improvement, they should challenge their dual meet marks both in the conference and overall. Their key leaders should include: Simon Snyder (38-7), Blake Unger (18-19), Jay Mindermann (15-14) and Creed Mursu (15-22).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Simon Snyder 12th 38-7 1st Section
Blake Unger 10th 18-19 3rd Section
Jay Mindermann 9th 15-14 3rd Section
Creed Mursu 8th 15-22 6th Section
Austin Geiser 10th 13-24 6th Section
Elijah Geiser 9th 9-15 6th Section
Glade Doll 9th 8-15 6th Section
Brandt Malone 10th 3-8 5th Section
Graduates:
Dane Niemi 36-10 1st Section/AC
Bren Salo 31-5 1st Section/AC
Hunter Rust 22-20 5th Section
Sawyer Wedde 14-18 2nd Section
Braeden Peterson 18-17 3rd Section
OTTERTAIL CENTRAL BULLDOGS
Head Coach: Jason Rogers
Park Region Conference: 1-6
Overall: 3-15
The Bulldogs were defeated by Border West 45-36 in their quarter final Section 6A dual. They did earn seven section place winners, including four state qualifiers. Back from that team are three section place winners, including a state qualifier and five with experience. Look for this young team to fill in with some young grapplers to fill out their weights. The Bulldogs should make big improvement on their dual meet numbers from last year and possibly move up in the conference. Their key leaders should include: Kale Rich (26-18), Tayden Soma (11-31), Mason Christianson (9-23) and Connor Nelson (6-18).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Kale Rich 11th 26-18 1st Section
Tayden Soma 9th 11-31
Mason Christianson 8th 9-23 5th Section
Conner Nelson 12th 6-18 5th Section
Jonny Fielding 12th 5-14
Carson Roehl 12th 4-6
Gabe Hanson 12th 2-14
Graduates:
Logan Schleske 28-17 2nd Section/100-54 Career
Brien Poser 35-6 3rd Section/AC/98-46 Career
Jaxon Rich 30-14 1st Sec./AC/53-31 Career
Tristan Evavold 7-2 1st Section/46-33 Career
Xavier Reineke 1-9
PELICAN RAPIDS VIKINGS
Head Coach: Cole Witzig
Heart of Lakes Conference: 1-2
Overall: 5-10
The Vikings were defeated in their quarterfinal dual by BHV/PP 69-8. They didn’t any have any one graduate last spring. They will return nine section place winners and one with experience. They will have eight grapplers back with double figure wins. Look for this young team to improve on their over dual meet marks from last season. Their key leaders should include: Jack Kapenga (36-13), Jed Carlson (23-23), Carter Johnson (22-11), Jackson Peasley (23-15), Mark Kapenga (19-28) Oakley Carlson (19-24), Kaden Holt (16-17 and Danny Salazar (18-18).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Jack Kapenga 10th 36-13 3rd Section
Jed Carlson 12th 23-23 3rd Section
Carter Johnson 12th 22-11 4th Section/AC
Jackson Peasley 9th 23-15 4th Section
Mark Kapenga 10th 19-28 6th Section
Oakley Carlson 12th 19-24
Danny Salazar 9th 18-18 5th Section
Kaden Holt 11th 16-17 3rd Section
Philip Dykhoff 12th 5-9 6th Section
Anthony Check De Souza 11th 4-15 6th Section
WADENA-DEER CREEK WOLVERINES
Head Coach: Brad Wollum
Park Region Conference: 0-6
Overall: 1-18
The Wolverines were defeated in their first Section 6A dual by WCA. They did not have anyone graduate, they will have seven section place winners returning, including a pair of state qualifiers and two with experience. Look for this young team to improve on their dual meet marks from last season. Their key leaders leaders should include: Koby Endres (25-8) and Mason Brauch (19-17).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Koby Endres 12th 25-8 2nd Section/AC
Mason Brauch 10th 19-17 2nd Section
Matthew Wegscheid 10th 10-17 5th Section
Brandon Wheeler 12th 9-22 4th Section
Seth Stroeing 11th 8-9 4th Section
Eli Benning 11th 8-27 6th Section
Grant Sealhammer 11th 7-19 6th Section
James Seelhamer 9th 7-22
Kash Stoecker 10th 3-16
