WRIGHT COUNTY CONFERENCE 2022-2023 PREVIEW
By Roger Mischke
WATERTOWN-MAYER ROYALS
Co-Head Coach: Kurt Becker/Bill McDonald
Weighty County Conference: 8-1
Overall: 23-5
The Royals defeated Fairmont/Martin County West 31-30 in the state quarterfinals. They were defeated by Simley 51-10 and Becker 29-28. They did defeat Mankato West 58-10, Scott West 42-30 and for section honors New Prague 31-30. They did earn twelve section place winners, six state qualifiers and two state medals. Back from that team are seven section place winners, three state qualifiers and one state medalist. They will have seven back with eighteen wins plus along with six others with a great deal of varsity experience. The Royals should challenge for Conference honors a talented bunch. They could challenge those good overall dual marks from last season. If they spread out in their weights and stay healthy they should make a challenge to defend their section honors in what should be a very balanced section dual meet campaign. The Royals key leaders should include: Bryce Burkett (46-4), Titan Friederichs (40-3), Jonah Hamberger (27-11), Parker Jackson (26-13), Jack Entinger (25-17) and Patrick Duske (24-17).
HUTCHINSON/BUFFALO LAKE-HECTOR TIGERS
Head Coach: Todd Card
Wright County Conference: 7-2
Overall: 18-7
The Tigers defeated New Ulm 36-27 and they were defeated by Fairmont/Martin County West 32-26 for the Section 3AA section honors. They earned eleven section place winners, including five state qualifiers and two medal winners. Back from that team are nine section medal winners, four state qualifiers of which two earned state medals. The Huskies have back eight with twenty-seven plus wins and two others with a great deal of varsity experience. Look for the Huskies to challenge for Conference honors and to challenge those overall dual meet marks from last season. They should make a strong challenge for Section 3AA honors and potentially for state honors. The key wrestlers should include: Hayden Vandervoort (42-3), Logan Schwanz (41-7), Treyton Card (33-9), Brad Anderson (31-17), Luke Haag (31-10), Jay Rickertsen (29-19), Max Martin (27-14 and Radon Bipes (27-17).
ANNANDALE/MAPLE LAKE LIGHTNING
Head Coach: Ben Youngs
Wright County Conference: 9-0
Overall: 25-9
The Lightning defeated St. Francis in their quarterfinal section dual 51-16 and they were defeated in the semifinals by Big Lake 56-22. They had ten section place winners and two state qualifiers. Back from that team are seven section place winners and one state qualifier. This includes seven with twenty wins plus and five with experience. Look for the Lighting to make a challenge to defend their conference honors. If they spread out in their weights and stay healthy they should be a strong challenge in what should be a very balanced section dual meet campaign for a top four spot. They should challenge those very good dual meet marks from last season. The Lightning key leaders should include: Noah Gindele (38-6), Mitchell Koss (33-7), Riley Hall (30-10), Xavier Jones (28-12), Cole LaFave (22-11) and Carson Cooper (22-16).
HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY/WINSTED LAKERS
Head Coach: Joe Puncochar
Wright County Conference: 4-5
Overall: 12-15
The Lakers earned second place honors in Section 4A last season with big wins over Trinity School at Rivers Ridge 84-0 and Sibley East 62-15. They were defeated by Kimball in the championship 55-8. They had eleven section place winners, including six state qualifiers and four state place winners. Back this season for the Lakers are ten section place winners, five state qualifiers and three state place winners. They will have ten back with a great deal of experience, with of ten with thirteen wins over more. The Lakers should challenge their dual meet marks in both the conference and overall. If they stay healthy and spread out in their weights should make a challenge for section honors. Their key wrestlers should include: Collin Boese (42-10), Mitchell Mallak (35-13), Radeon Graham (31-15), Colton Long (30-18), Tony Baumann (24-22), Tegan Miller (21-18), Gabriel Michels (21-8) and Caleb Boese (17-8).
DASSEL COKATO LITCHFIELD
Co-Head Coaches: Bryan Clemen/Dan Buker
Wright County Conference: 6-3
Overall: 12-9
The Coop defeated Foley in their section quarterfinal dual 44-25 and they were defeated by Becker in the semifinals 45-14. They did earn nine section place winners, four state qualifiers and they had three state medal winners. Back from that team area four section place winners, two state qualifiers and one medal winner. They will have five others with a good deal of varsity experience. Look for the Coop to possibly move up in the conference and to improve on their dual numbers overall. They could make a challenge for a possible four spot in this very though section dual meet campaign. Their key leaders should include: Victor Franco (37-6), Tate Link (34-6), Gabe Nelson (29-18) and Shelby Fischer-Lund (20-12).
GLENCOE-SILVER LAKE PANTHERS
Head Coach: Lance Wurm
Wright County Conference: 4-5
Overall: 15-13
The Panthers defeated Orono 76-6 and they were beat by Scott West 48-21 in their section duals. They did earn seven section place winners, back from that team are five section place winners, eight with double figure with and four others with varsity experience. The Panthers should make strides of improvement thru out the season. If they can spread in their weights, stay healthy and fill in with junior varsity they should challenge their dual marks from last season. Their key leaders should be: Jace Cacka (36-7), Aaron Higgins (31-11), Brody Ruschmeier (25-15) and Mason Schilling (21-15).
NEW LONDON-SPICER WILDCATS
Head Coach: Joe Brown
Wright County Conference: 4-5
Overall: 11-15
The Wildcats defeated Quad County 55-15 and they were defeated by Hutchinson in their Section 3AA duals. They earned seven section place winners, including two state qualifiers. Back from that team are six section place winners, one qualifier, in which earned a state medal. They will have seven back with eighteen plus wins. They will also have seven back with a great deal of varsity experience. The Wildcats should move up in the conference and look for them to improve on last years overall dual meet marks. The Wildcats will be a young but experienced team, if they fill in with some of their other experienced wrestlers they could make a challenge for a top four stop in what should be a pretty balance section in this dual meet campaign. The key Wildcat leaders should include: Isaiah Nelson (40-12), Holton Hanson (36-16), Marshal Johnson (36-16), Adam Sandau (21-27), Luke Knudsen (19-6) and Reid Holmquist (19-23).
MOUND-WESTONKA WHITE HAWKS
Head Coach: Todd Munsterteiger
Wright County Conference: 2-7
Overall: 13-12
The White Hawks were defeated by Mankato East 51-30 in their Section 2AA dual. Back from that four section place winners, four state qualifiers and one state medalist. They will have six with nineteen plus wins and five additional wrestlers with varsity experience. For the White Hawks to challenge those dual meet marks and to possibly move up in the conference. Their key leaders should include: Jack Nelson (45-3), Sam Diopzehly (43-8), Cooper Rowe (39-4) and Cole Munsterteiger (36-7).
DELANO TIGERS
Head Coach: Jeff Olson
Wright County Conference: 1-8
Overall: 3-20
The Tigers will have back three section place winners, including a state qualifier and six others with some varsity experience. Look for this young team to make steady improvement thru out the course of the season. they should challenge their dual marks from last season. If they spread in weights and fill in with junior varsity. Their key leaders should include: Cael Olson (35-10), Tate Olson (19-12), Holton Vandelinde (15-13) and Landon Hinchcliff (15-14).
ROCKFORD ROCKETS
Head Coach: Paul Starika
Wright County County Conference:
Overall:
The Rockets will have back six with varsity experience, the key leaders include: Patrick Andry (23-10), Bradley Graunke (11-15), Hunter Hannegrefs (9-18) and Ethan Scarbrough (7-18).