Wrestling: Here's a look at west central Minnesota teams for the 2022-23 season

Here's a comprehensive look at the area's high school wrestling teams as we head into the 2022-23 season.

Coach: Mike Amsden

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 30-7; lost to BBE in the section championship.

Conference Record: 3-3 Central Minnesota.

At State: Six state qualifiers, two placewinners.

Key Graduates: Jaxon Behm (41-5, third at state at 220, section champion, all-conference); Brady Holien (47-5, state entrant at 145, section runner-up, all-conference); Cole Holien (42-11, fifth at state at 132, section runner-up); Jake Mortensen (34-10, state entrant at 170, section runner-up); Mason Studemann (37-10, third in section at 152); Logan Straumann (32-6, third in section at 182).

Key Returners: Jevon Williams, jr. (36-11, third in section at 138); Terrell Renne, sr. (34-13, state entrant at 285, section runner-up); Edwyn Gonzalez, so. (33-14, third in section at 126); Isaiah Renne, jr. (32-17, state entrant at 195, section runner-up).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: Lean and Mean (Class A).

Individuals: Isaiah Renne (seventh, 182); Terrell Renne (sixth, 285).

Coach: Jordan Fester

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 19-3; Section team champion.

Conference Record: 6-0 Central Minnesota.

At State: Went 0-2 as team entrant in Class A; six state qualifiers, one state champion, five placewinners.

Key Graduates: Walker Bents (46-1, state champion at 132, section champion, all-conference, wrestling collegiately at North Dakota State); Blaine Fischer (43-5, fifth in state at 152, 2021 state champion, section champion, all-conference); Tyler Jensen (17-10, fourth in section at 138); Bryce Feuerhake (27-20, fourth in section at 285).

Key Returners: Ryan Jensen, jr. (46-4, state runner-up at 126, section champion, all-conference); Maximus Hanson, jr. (40-10, fifth in state at 160; section runner-up); Carson Gilbert, so. (37-11, state entrant at 182, section runner-up); Ethan Spanier, sr. (35-11, fifth in state at 220, section runner-up); Brett DeRoo, so. (33-10, third in section at 113, all-conference); Wyatt Engen, sr. (27-9 at 126/132/138).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: Fourth (Class A)

Individuals: Ryan Jensen (third, 138); Maximus Hanson (first, 170); Carson Gilbert (fourth, 195); Ethan Spanier (fifth, 220).

Coach: Scott Thompson

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 12-14

Conference Record: 2-3 West Central

At State: One state qualifier, one state champion

Key Graduates: Nathan Bolduc (35-8, fourth in section at 182, all-conference).

Key Returners: Thomas Dineen, sr. (47-0, state champion at 195, section champion, all-conference, on an 86-match win streak); Preston McGee, sr. (27-23, fourth in section at 160; all-conference); Nick Bolduc, jr. (23-19, all-conference at 152).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class A).

Individuals: Thomas Dineen (first, 195).

Coach: Matt Zupke

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 0-22

Conference Record: 0-5 West Central.

At State: Two state qualifiers, one state placewinner.

Key Graduates: Connor Plumley (28-16, third in section at 170).

Key Returners: Austin Kiecker, jr. (45-3, third in state at 138; section champion, all-conference); Brady Kiecker, so. (34-15, state entrant at 120, section runner-up, all-conference).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class A).

Individuals: Brady Kiecker (10th, 132); Austin Kiecker (second, 152).

Coaches: Dan Buker and Bryan Clemen

Section: 6AA

2021-22 Record: 12-9

Conference Record: 6-3 Wright County.

At State: Four state qualifiers, one state champion, two state placewinners.

Key Graduates: Jude Link (35-3, state champion at 160, section runner-up, all-conference, wrestling collegiately at Iowa); Hayden Hoernemann (26-5, fourth in state at 195, section champion); Brendan Rokala (26-14, third in section at 285, all-conference); Sam Marx (26-12, fifth in section at 170); Devin Steinhaus (23-11, fourth in section at 145).

Key Returners: Victor Franco, sr. (37-6, third in section at 120, all-conference); Tate Link, sr. (34-6, fourth in state at 182, section champion, all-conference); Gabe Nelson, sr. (29-18, third in section at 126); Shelby Fischer Lund, sr. (20-12 at 152); Spencer Henke, so. (state entrant at 220, section runner-up).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class AA).

Individuals: Victor Franco (sixth, 126); Tate Link (third, 195).

Coach: Hank Ireland

Section: 3AA

2021-22 Record: 21-5

Conference Record: 5-0 West Central.

At State: Five state qualifiers, two placewinners.

Key Graduates: Keaton Haas (36-10, state entrant at 220, section runner-up, all-conference); Avery Wittnebel (33-12, state entrant at 160, section runner-up, all-conference); Dain Mortenson (16-8, sixth in state at 152, section runner-up).

Key Returners: Daniel Gunlogson, jr. (50-3, third in state at 113, section champion, all-conference); Zander Clausen, sr. (43-8, state entrant at 120, section runner-up, all-conference); Holt Larson, sr. (28-15, fifth in section at 170); Ben Gunlogson, fr. (24-16 at 106), Zach DeBeer, jr. (25-11 at 220/285); Parker Bothun, jr. (15-13, fourth in section at 195).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class AA).

Individuals: Daniel Gunlogson (third, 126); Zander Clausen (seventh, 132).

Coach: Craig Johnson/Trevor Mahlum

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 10-10

Conference Record: N/A

At State: Two state qualifiers, one state champion, two state placewinners.

Key Graduates: Coy Gunderson (47-4, third in state at 160, section champion, wrestling collegiately at Augustana); Eli Johnson (26-20, fourth in section at 152).

Key Returners: Trey Gunderson, fr. (48-1, state champion at 106; section champion); Jett Olson, so. (33-17, fourth in section at 145); Masyn Olson, sr. (31-17, fifth in section at 195); Jason Jones, sr. (29-19, third in section at 285); Noah Johnson, sr. (25-11, fourth in section at 120), Chase Magaard, sr. (returning from injury, 44-5 in 2020-21).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class A)

Individuals: Colton Noble (ninth, 106); Trey Gunderson (second, 126); Chase Magaard (fourth, 160).

Coach: Chip Rankin

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 17-6

Conference Record: 3-2 West Central

At State: Two state qualifiers.

Key Graduates: Easton McCrory (23-8, third in section at 132, all-conference); Jacob Blair (31-8, state entrant at 152, section runner-up, all-conference); Nathan Rankin (23-15, third in section at 195, all-conference); Dalton Friedrichs (23-9, sixth in section at 170).

Key Returners: Chase Smith, so. (32-6, state entrant at 113, section champion, all-conference); Nick Ankeny, sr. (31-8, third in section at 120, all-conference); Torii Johnson, sr. (26-10, fourth in section at 106, all-conference); Mason Schiffler, jr. (25-15, sixth in section at 138); Chase Boelke, sr. (23-14, sixth in section at 182, all-conference); Jayce Kovarik, jr. (16-10, fourth in section at 126).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: Lean and Mean (Class A).

Individuals: Miles Wildman (sixth, 106); Torii Johnson (fifth, 113); Chase Smith (third, 120).

Coach: Joey Brown

Section: 3AA

2021-22 Record: 11-15

Conference Record: 4-5 Wright County.

At State: Two state qualifiers, one state placewinner.

Key Graduates: Luke Ruter (38-8, state entrant at 126, section runner-up, all-conference).

Key Returners: Isaiah Nelson, so., (40-12, state qualifier at 106, section runner-up); Holton Hanson, fr. (36-16, fifth in section at 113); Marshel Johnson, jr. (36-16, fifth in section at 285); Luke Knudsen, jr. (19-6 at 138, all-conference); Brody Duke, jr. (18-6, sixth in section at 170).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class AA)

Individuals: Isaiah Nelson (fifth, 120); Luke Knudsen (third, 152).

Coach: Jeremy Reiter

Section: 5A

2021-22 Record: 8-22

Conference Record: 0-6 Central Minnesota.

At State: One state qualifier.

Key Graduates: None.

Key Returners: Peyton Hemmesch, so. (32-7, state entrant at 182, section champion); Spencer Eisenbraun, sr. (34-7, third in section at 220); Brandon Hess, jr. (24-21, fourth in section at 132); Mason McNab, so, (23-16, fourth in section at 113); Aaron Mages, sr. (20-19, fourth in section at 170).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class A)

Individuals: Peyton Hemmesch (eighth, 182); Spencer Eisenbraun (ninth, 285).

Coach: Lucas Damm

Section: 3AA

2021-22 Record: N/A

Conference Record: N/A

At State: No state qualifiers.

Key Graduates: Javier Jackson (28-12, fifth in section at 145).

Key Returners: Austin Sweep, sr. (19-10, fourth in section at 285); Jasen Jansen, jr. (15-15, sixth in section at 182).

Preseason Rankings: 

Team: N/A (Class A)

Individuals: N/A

Editor’s note: Capsule information provided by Roger Mischke