WILLMAR - Going on four months, the Ridgewater wrestlers have toiled in the rectangular wrestling room with its low ceiling and red mats to get to their Super Bowl.
Now, it's here.
"I tell the guys that it doesn't matter what you do all season," said Warriors' coach Jesse Nelson. "All that people will remember is what you do at the national tournament."
Success at the NJCAA meet is what can get you a framed photo on the hallway of the athletics wing. Thousands of students and sports fans pass through every month - literally a Hall of Fame.
The tournament starts Friday at Rochester. Champions and All-Americas (top eight) will be determined in 10 weight classes. The 32-man brackets are determined by a blind draw.
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Last year, Ridgewater had four place-winners (top eight) on its way to winning the program's first national championship. Three return from that team; All-America Ethan Vogt, plus Dusty Myers and Clay Hoeck.
"Overall, I think we can do pretty well," said Nelson. "We can compete at this level if the young guys step up like they did last year. The important thing is to stay focused. A lot of teams are ready for the season to be done and if that's your attitude, bad things can happen."
Five Tribune area wrestlers are in the lineup for nationals: Cody Pahan of Minnewaska Area; Chris Sogge, Paynesville; Kyle Koehntop, Morris/Hancock; Myers, Redwood Valley and Ben Thonvold, Willmar.
Wrestlers from 48 junior colleges will compete over two days starting at 10 a.m. Friday at the Rochester Regional Sports Center.
The tournament combines both scholarship and non-scholarship schools for individual results, but a first-place trophy is awarded to the leading team in both Division I and Division III.
Warriors' lineup
Key: weight, name, record, home town
125: Brian Beilke (16-11), Sauk Centre
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133: Michael Barrie (20-11), Adrian
141: Justin Turek (18-14), New Prague
149: Clay Hoeck (11-6), Milaca
157: Dusty Myers (16-11), Redwood Falls
165: Kyle Koehntop (14-16), Morris
174: Cody Pahan (23-16), Glenwood
184: Chris Sogge (16-17), Paynesville
197: Ethan Vogt (25-9), Sauk Centre
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Hwt: Ben Thonvold (14-20), Willmar
(Friday schedule: Sessions at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday schedule: Sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.)
