CLASS AAA PREVIEW
By Roger Mischke
MAT RATS PREVIEW (2023-2024)
SECTION 8AAA
FAVORITES: WILLMAR CARDINALS and the BEMIDJI LUMBERJACKS
DARK HORSES: BRAINERD WARRIORS and the MOORHEAD SPUDS
WILLMAR CARDINALS
Head Coach: Ed Oehlers
Central Lakes Conference: 7-0
Overall Duals: 25-8 (Section 8AAA Champions/5th State)
The Cardinals will have back nine section place winners, of which four were state qualifiers and two earned a state medal. They did graduate threw seniors last spring, all section place winners, including one state medal winner. The Cardinals will have nine back with a wide range of experience. Look for them to make strong challenge of their dual meet marks and to defend their conference and section honors.
Returning Wrestlers:
Conlan Carlson 11th 44-5 1st Sec./3rd State/AC
Cavin Carlson 10th 41-5 1st Sec./AC
Sulley Anez 11th 36-12 2nd Sec./6th State/AC
Ivan Mares 12th 32-12 4th Sec./AC
Cameren Champagne 10th 29-16 3rd Sec./AC
Steven Cruze 11th 28-12 2nd Sec.
Eli Heinen 11th 23-7
Lawson Anez 9th 22-18 3rd Sec./AC
Romero Trevino 12th 18-8
Daunte Castellano 12th 17-11 4th Sec./AC
Tommy Quinn 9th 17-6
Wyatt Cruze 9th 14-27 4th Sec.
Carson Eichorst 12th 11-11
Marvin Hernandez 10th 3-10
Will Chavez 12th 2-5
Riley Laumer 12th 1-5
Finley Donelan 11th 1-14
Graduates:
Braeden Erickson 41-8 1st Sec./5th State//AC (148-44 Career)
Zander Miska 23-21 2nd Sec./AC
Mattix Swanson 18-12 3rd Sec.
BEMIDJI LUMBERJACKS
Head Coach: Greg Skyrim
Overall Duals; 30-4
Second Section 8AAA
The Lumberjacks will have back seven section place winners, including four state qualifiers. They did graduate seven seniors last spring, including five section place winners, of which four were state qualifiers and one earned a state medal. Look for the Lumberjacks to make a challenge for one of those top four spots in what overall could be a pretty balanced Section 8AAA dual meet campaign.
Returning Wrestlers:
Nick Strand 10th 45-7 1st Sec.
Gabriel Morin 10th 40-9 1st Sec.
Alex Newby 11th 32-13 4th Sec.
Brody Castonguay 12th 31-14 4th Sec.
Parker Orvick 12th 20-8 2nd Sec.
Gavin Osborn 11th 17-12 2nd Sec.
Spencer Ness 12th 17-18 6th Sec.
Talen Fairbanks 12th 5-23
Kohen Donat 11th 1-8
Graduates:
Dan Jorgensen 49-4 1st Sec./6th Sec. (144-47 Career)
Seth Newby 44-6 1st Sec. (198-56 Career)
Coy Olsen 36-17 2nd Sec. (104-90 Career)
Hunter Heim 28-11 1st Sec. (71-46 Career)
Barrick Nelson 14-8 (64-25 Career)
Thomas Paquette 26-24 5th Sec. (31-33 Career)
Jack Solum 4-6
BRAINERD WARRIORS
Head Coach: Mikkel White
Central Lakes Conference: 5-2
Overall Duals: 13-16
The Warriors will have back seven section place winners, including two state qualifiers, of which one earned a state medal. They did graduate five seniors last spring, including four section place winners of which three were state qualifiers. The Warriors should improve on their dual meet marks from last season. Look for them to make a challenge for a top four spot in what should be a balanced Section 8AAA dual meet campaign.
Returning Wrestlers:
Easton Dircks 10th 44-5 1st Sec./5th State/AC
Shane Carlson 11th 40-8 1st Sec./AC
Cade Ostrowksi 12th 29-13 2nd Sec.
Jackson Berhow 9th 24-24 6th Sec.
Dossidy Fleischacker 9th 18-25
Gabe Jukish 12th 17-20 5th Sec.
Jaxson Derosier 11th 15-19 3rd Sec.
Ethan Kosloski 11th 15-25 6th Sec.
Carson Faehnrich 11th 8-23
Graduates:
Isaiah Jillson 44-4 1st Sec./AC (169-58 Career)
Isaiah Germann 29-7 2nd Sec./AC (115-53 Career)
Eli Wiskow25-91st Sec./AC
Damion Bentho 12-9 4th Sec. (66-70 Career)
Gus Wagner 2-3
MOORHEAD SPUDS
Head Coach: Gerald Fugleberg
Overall Duals: 7-16
The Spuds will have back twelve section place winners, including three state qualifiers and a pair with experience. With no one graduating last spring they should make an improvement of those dual marks from last season. The Spuds should make a strong challenge for one of those top four spots in this very balanced section 8AAA dual meet campaign.
Returning Wrestlers:
Dane Ellingsberg 10th 33-16 2nd Sec.
Michael Jenkins 11th 29-14 2nd Sec.
Dalton Humeniuk 9th 28-19 6th Sec.
Lee Ellingsberg 12th 27-24 4th Sec.
Jake Erdmann 12th 23-11 2nd Sec.
Bridger Mongeau 12th 18-20 4th Sec.
David Krabbenhoft 12th 18-14 5th Sec.
Jack Olstad 11th 17-22 5th Sec.
Ashton Spiecker 11th 17-22 5th Sec.
Croix Mongeau 9th 14-26 6th Sec.
Ron Addo 12th 14-27 6th Sec.
Azhar Salih 9th 8-28 5th Sec.
Draeden Prosby 12th 8-30
Will Borud 11th 8-23
ST. CLOUD CRUSH
Co-Head Coaches: Robert Boeck/Aaron Fredericksen
Central Lakes Conference: 2-5
Overall Duals: 9-19
The Crush will have back seven section place winners back, including one state qualifier and four with experience. They did graduate six seniors last spring including one state medal winner. The Crush dealt with injury issues the whole season, never did have their entire lineup in any event. If they stay healthy and spread out in their weights, look for them to surely challenge those dual meet marks from last season. They should make a strong challenge for a top four spot in this balanced Section 8AAA dual meet campaign.
Returning Wrestlers:
Tanner Hugg 10th 24-16 5th Sec.
Jaden Dombrowski 12th 23-17 6th Sec./AC
Kendall Booker 11th 23-13 5th Sec./AC
Noah Neuman 10th 18-13 5th Sec.
Sam Long 12th 17-11 4th Sec./AC
Jaxon Kenning 12th 13-6 2nd Sec.
Jack Hamak 10th 12-9 4th Sec.
Logan Lanceford 12th 8-18
Sutton Kenning 10th 7-1 Injured
Batuo Teboh 11th 4-11
Mustard Abshir 11th 1-9
Graduates:
Tucker Hugg 40-5 1st State/5th State/AC (128-31 Career)
Aidian Orth 21-8 AC (73-65 Career)
Koda Nelson Injured
Mohamed Abullaki 1-7
MONTICELLO MAGIC
Head Coach: Jason Thompson
Mississippi 8 Conference: 2-5
Overall Duals: 11-11
The Magic will have back five section place winners and twelve with a wide range of experience. The Magic did graduate six seniors last spring, including a pair of section place winners. Look for the Magic to challenge their dual meet marks from last season. They could make a challenge to a top four spot if they spread out their weights and stay healthy.
Returning Wrestlers:
Ben Bauer 12th 26-13 3rd Sec./AC
Caleb Kalenbach 11th 20-21
Joseph Gleason 12th 17-24 5th Sec.
Christopher Perez 12th 14-19 4th Sec.
Mason Brown 12th 14-18
Nicholas Friedrichs 10th 13-19
Evan Gehrke 10th 11-14
Bryce Schoen 12th 9-18
Keegan Ellis 12th 8-5
Peyton Ruzicka 10th 7-9 6th Sec.
Brock Holthaus 11th 6-5
Rafe Brown 10th 6-22 6th Sec.
Keegan Elfstrom 10th 5-22
Anthony Perez 11th 4-4
Dylan Jansen 12th 4-3
Vinny Alm 11th 2-2
Trey Swanson 11th 1-1
Graduates:
Griffin Fiedseth 35-7 3rd Sec./AC (72-40 Career)
Wyatt Witschen 25-16 4th Sec. (50-44 Career)
Mason Bauer 22-11 (49-27 Career)
Mason Smith 19-16
Nasir Jones 6-4
Aiden Tadych 5-5
SARTELL/ST. STEPHEN SABRES
Head Coach: Cody Olson
Central Lakes Conference: 2-5
Overall Duals: 6-12
The Sabres will have six section place winners back and ten with a wide range of experience. They did graduate three seniors, including section place winners. Look for the Sabres to challenge those dual meet marks, if they can stay healthy and spread out in their weights.
Returning Wrestlers:
Peyton Allen 10th 16-20 3rd Sec.
Alex Hendrickson 10th 16-16 5th Sec.
Aiden Halverson 12th 10-29 6th Sec.
Jack Hendrickson 9th 14-15
Theo Brown 12th 9-14 5th Sec.
Tyler Plumski 8th 8-11
Parker Peichel 12th 7-28 6th Sec.
Cyrus Post 11th 7-22
Jack Pesta 12th 6-25 6th Sec.
Zach Anderson 12th 6-13
Julian Morris 9th 6-28
Jordan Gulden 11th 4-6
Chris Nelson 11th 3-6
Gage Klasen 12th 1-8
Camden Lund 10th 1-20
Graduates:
Kaden Brooks 35-12 6th Sec./AC (64-43 Career)
Donovan Lund 18-15 3rd Sec (29-33 Career)
Tucker Mugg 17-13 6th Sec./AC (28-41 Career)
BUFFALO BISON
Head Coach: Trullinger
Lake Conference: 2-4
Overall Duals: 10-17
The Bison will have back three section place winners, including one state qualifier and six with some experience. They did graduate six seniors last spring, including one state qualifier. If the Bison can fill in with some younger JV and they stay healthy, they possibly could challenge those dual meet marks.
Returning Wrestlers:
Matthew Carlson 12th 31-13 5th Sec.
Aiden Herbst 10th 28-12 2nd Sec.
Gabe Roehl 9th 27-15 3rd Sec.
Jacobee Scherber 12th 20-11
Dylan Keeler 8th 13-9
Aaron Radtke 11th 4-14
Max Carter 10th 3-0
Marcus Kirth 11th 1-1
Marcus Boeckers 11th 1-1
Graduates:
Jonah Anderson 26-19 2nd Sec.
Carter Walker 22-14 3rd Sec.
Jacob Cremers 21-22 4th Sec.
Hunter Spike 12-8 4th Sec.
August Kaiser 12-31 5th Sec.
Matthew Scherber 5-11