MAT RATS SECTION 7AAA PREVIEW 2022-2023
By ROGER MISCHKE
FAVORITES: ANOKA TORNADOES and the FOREST LAKE RANGERS
DARK HORSES: CAMBRIDGE-ISANTI BLUEJACKETS and the ANDOVER HUSKIES
ANOKA TORNADOES
Head Coach: Todd Springer
Northwest Suburban Conference: 6-0
Overall Duals: 24-6
The Tornadoes defeated Hastings 41-27 and they were defeated by Shakopee 37-31 in their state AAA duals. They did earn fourteen section place winners, including eight state qualifiers and one medal winner. Back from that team are eight section place winners and three state qualifiers. They will have six back with twenty-one wins plus. Look for this young team to make strides of improvement threw out the season. If they stay spread on their weights, stay healthy and can fill in with some junior varsity, they could challenge those great dual marks for last season. They could make a strong challenge to defend their conference honors. They should make a challenge to be a top four team in this section dual meet campaign. They make a very strong challenge to defend the section honors too. Their key leaders should include: Elijah Paulson (52-4), Noah Torgerson (41-11), Gabrielle Bragg (26-24) Austin West (24-21), Cayden Ban (23-20) and Garrett Wittek (21-18).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Elijah Paulson 12th 52-4 1st Sec./2nd State/AC
Noah Torgerson 11th 41-11 1st Sec./5th State/AC
Gabrielle Bragg 10th 26-24 2nd Section
Austin West 10th 24-21 4th Section
Cayden Ban 9th 23-20 5th Section/AC
Garrett Wittek 9th 21-18 4th Section/AC
Grant Chapman 12th 12-9 5th Section
Logan Ray-Malikowski 12th 10-18 5th Section/AC
Graduates:
Carter Ban 51-7 2nd Sec./5th State/AC/127-26 Career
Brendan Howes 48-6 1st Section/AC/186-43 Career
Jaden Burandt 45-10 1st Sec./4th State/AC/90-43 Career
Jacob Whitaker 36-6 2nd Sec./2nd State/AC/85-26 Career
Sean Jordan 26-19 4th Section/34-31 Career
Logan Jungling 25-12 1st Section/AC/29-18 Career
FOREST LAKE RANGERS:
Head Coach: Joe Kunshier
Suburban East Conference: 7-2
Overall Duals: 24-6
The Rangers defeated Coon Rapids 70-6 and Cambridge-Isanti 50-22 and they were defeated by Anoka 41-30 for section honors. They earn did earn thirteen section place winners, six state qualifiers and four earned state medals. Back from that team they will have seven section place winners, four state qualifiers, including a pair of state medal winners. They will have seven back with twenty-three wins plus along with five others with a great deal of varsity experience. This crew if they spread out their weights should make a strong challenge to improve on their overall dual marks and possibly to move up in the conference. They should make a strong challenge for section honors, if they stay healthy. Their key leaders should include: Mark Rendl (39-12), Jacob Aho (36-6), Parker Lynden (34-10), Grant Mark (33-6), Cullen Christenson (26-12), Jackson Mark (23-14) and Hunter Grula (19-17).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Mark Rendl 11th 39-12 1st Sec./3rd State/AC
Jacob Aho 12th 36-6 1st Sec./4th State/AC
Parker Lynden 11th 34-10 2nd Sec./5th State/AC
Grant Marr 10th 33-6 2nd Section/AC
Cullen Christenson 9th 26-12 5th Section/AC
Jackson Marr 10th 23-14 3rd Section
Hunter Grula 11th 19-17 5th Section
Dayton Dale 9th 13-7
Trenton Frericks 10th 8-15
Ethan Lincoln 12th 7-6
Aspen Blasko 11th 7-9
Jimmy Morgan 12th 6-15
Graduates:
Daniel VanAcker 45-4 1st Sec./State Champ/AC/141-43 Career
Andrew LeMire 29-12 3rd Section/AC
Alex Lofgren 23-10 3rd Section/AC/47-20 Career
Colin McGeary 22-20 1st Section
Peyton Christenson 22-18 3rd Section/43-42 Career
Brian Bordenave 21-18 AC
Jordan Silbera 20-17 3rd Section
ANDOVER HUSKIES
Head Coach: Richard Schlofeldt
Northwest Suburban Conference: 4-2
Overall Duals: 10-6
The Huskies defeated Blaine 47-24 and they were defeated by Anoka 66-12 in their Section 7AAA duals. They earned twelve section place winners, four state qualifiers and one state medal. Back from the team area ten section place winners, three state qualifiers including a state medal winner. They will have six with nineteen plus wins and three with a great deal of varsity experience. The Huskies should make a strong challenge to improve on those dual meet marks and to move up in the conference. If they spread out in their weights and stay healthy they make strong challenge for a top four spot in what should be a balanced Section 7AAA dual meet campaign. The Huskies key leaders should include: Brandon Board (41-2), Nolan Israelson (33-8), Tramaine Davis (26-16), Elias Howle (20-17), Bryson Swenson (19-17) and Garrett Nelson (19-24).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Brandon Board 11th 41-2 1st Sec./4th State/AC
Nolan Israelson 12th 33-8 2nd Section/AC
Tramaine Davis 10th 26-16 2nd Section/AC
Elias Howle 10th 20-17 3rd Section
Bryson Swenson 11th 19-17 5th Section
Garrett Nelson 12th 19-24 5th Section
George Johnson 11th 16-18 6th Section
Jackson Armour 12th 13-16 4th Section
Brandon Seburg 10th 12-13 5th Section
Ben Hyland 11th 10-29 6th Section
RJ Walker 12th 12-18
Tyler Bertram 11th 8-10
Levi Honzik 9th 5-4
Graduates:
Nate Beberg 38-3 1st Section/3rd State/AC/97-44 Career
Cole Borg 30-12 4th Setion/60-40 Career
CAMBRIDGE-ISANTI BLUEJACKETS
Head Coach: Neil Jennissen
Mississippi 8 Conference: 4-3
Overall Duals; 24-14
The Bluejackets defeated Elk River 45-27 and they were defeated by Forest Lake 50-22. They did earn eleven section place winners, three state qualifiers and one medal winner. They have back nine section place winners, two state qualifiers of which one earned a medal. They will have seven back with nineteen plus wins and eight with a great deal of varsity experience. Look for the Bluejackets to challenge those dual meet marks from last season and to likely move up in the conference standings. They should continue to improve thru out the season, look for the Bluejackets to make a strong challenge not only for a top four in this balanced section dual meet campaign, but maybe section 7AAA honors. Their key leaders should include: Leo Edblad (43-4), Treyton Byers (35-12), Jacob Henderson (28-24), Blaine Wald (27-19), Darren Spencer (24-22), Maverick Henderson (21-22), Brock Brown (20-15 and Jarred Goodman (22-12).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Leo Edblad 11th 43-4 1st Sec./3rd State/AC
Treyton Byers 12th 35-12 2nd Section/AC
Jacob Henderson 10th 28-24 3rd Section
Blaine Wald 12th 27-19 3rd Section
Darren Spencer 12th 24-22 3rd Section
Maverick Henderson 11th 21-22 5th Section
Brock Brown 9th 20-15
Shawn Henderson 9th 19-27 3rd Section
Jarred Goodman 10th 22-12
James Peterson 11th 17-18
Brandy Anderson 10th 26-12
Quinton Harcey 10th 26-21
Carter Wothe 10th 21-10
Sam Rodriquez 11th 14-19
Caleb Sacks 12th 12-24 5th Section
Keith Hout 11th 9-27
Dillon Sommerfeld 10th 4-10 6th Section
Graduates:
Scott Simpson 37-14 2nd Section/AC/60-43 Career
Sam Rodriguez 14-19 5th Section
BLAINE BENGALS
Head Coach: Josh Prokosch
Northwest Suburban Conference: 5-1
Overall Duals: 19-8
The Bengals were defeated by Andover 47-24 in their only Section 7AAA dual. They did earn eleven section place winners, three state qualifiers and two state medals. Back from the team are seven section place winners, four with twenty-three wins plus. If the Bengals can fill in with some junior varsity wrestlers they could possible challenge those pretty good dual meet marks from last season. If they get spread out in weight and stay healthy, they could surprise some foes thru the course of the season. Their key leaders should include: Bryce Young (30-11), Landen Larch (26-14), Zachary Johnson (25-18) and Mitchell Babineau (23-11).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Bryce Young 12th 30-11 3rd Section/AC
Landen Larch 10th 26-14 3rd Section/AC
Zackary Johnson 10th 25-18 6th Section/AC
Mitchell Babineau 11th 23-11 4th Section/AC
Shaker Husein 12th 8-17
Elijah Louwagie 11th 9-17 6th Section
Tenzing Sonam 11th 8-17
Jake Heggestad 11th 2-4 6th Section
Graduates:
Luke Studer 38-3 1st Sec./State Champ./AC/167 Career
Cooper Larson 36-9 2nd Sec./5th State/AC/118 Career Wins
Jordyn Greseth-Clenden 34-11 2nd Sec./AC/136 Career Wins
Thomas Meitz 15-21 6th Section
Alex Carik 9-18
COON RAPIDS CARDINALS
Head Coach: Bob Adams
Northwest Suburban Conference: 3-3
Overall Duals: 18-12
The Cardinals did have nine section place winners last season, backed from that team are two section place winners, including two with eighteen plus wins. If the Cardinals can get spread out in their weights, stay healthy and fill in with junior varsity the could challenge their dual marks from last season. The Cardinals had three of their top wrestlers transfer. They could challenge their conference standings too. Their key leaders should include: Hunter Allen (20-18) and Jack Bridenstine (18-14).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Hunter Allen 12th 20-18 5th Section
Jack Bridenstine 9th 18-14 4th Section
Tyler Herr 12th 17-15
Gilbert Hostuck 10th 6-12
Kevin Chariira Meneely 11th 6-9
Jaden Caffey 12th 5-28
Krar Al-Hussainaur 12th 5-1
Graduates:
Octavian Podubnu 21-8 5th Section
Josh Dubois 17-11 4th Section
David Geebli 14-11 4th Section
Tim Horst 8-12 6th Section
ELK RIVER ELKS
Head Coach: Paul Nelson
Northwest Suburban Conference: 3-3
Overall Duals: 9-9
The Elks were defeated by Cambridge-Isanti 45-27 in their section 7AAA dual. They did earn nine section place winners, four state qualifiers and two earned medals. Back from that team are six section place winners, two state qualifiers, including a state medal winner. They will have five with fifteen wins plus back. The Elks have some good experience back, if they can fill in with some junior varsity wrestlers and spread in their weights they should challenge last years dual marks. The Elks key leaders should include: Alex Ahtmann (28-13), Daunte Gasse-Doering (22-10), Daniel Greenberg (17-23) and Brayden Hillary (16-13).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Alex Artmann 12th 28-13 2nd Section
Daunte Gasse-Doering 11th 22-10 2nd Sec./6th State
Daniel Greenberg 12th 17-23 6th Section
Brayden Hilyar 10th 16-13 4th Section
Carter Lessard 10th 15-15 6th Section
Ian Lessard 9th 9-4 6th Section
Graduates:
Gavin Hilyar 38-6 1st Sec./4th State
Brady Thompson 27-14 2nd Section
Benson Kozitka 19-16 4th Section
Jack Flahaven 5-7
Cameron Lehmann 4-15
CHAMPLIN PARK REBELS
Head Coach: Bill Maresch
Northwest Suburban Conference: 0-7
Overall Duals: 8-20
The Rebels will have back two section place winners and seven with a great deal of varsity experience. Look for the Rebels to challenge last years dual marks and possible move up in the conference. They should continue to improve thru the course of the season. Their key leaders should include: Haynes Ortiz (12-21), Zach Mayo (10-22), Magnus Wright (9-5 and Diego Connell (9-7).
RETURNING WRESTLERS:
Heynek Ortiz12th12-21
Zach Mayo 11th 10-22
Magnus Wright 12th 9-5 3rd Section
Diego Connell 11th 9-7 5th Section
Nikabu Bagana 11th 9-18
Matt Mayo 9th 8-9
Victor Ortiz 12th 8-16
Malachi Xiong 10th 8-13
Mitch Knight 11th 6-24
Graduate:
AJ Nabozny 13-15 6th Secion