MAT RATS CLASS 2A PREVIEW 2010-2011

FAVORITES: JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL HUSKIES and BLUE EARTH AREA BUCCANEERS

The Huskies of Jackson County Central bring back a great bunch of wrestlers from their 22-3 campaign that include a state championship, section championship and Southwest Conference championship. They will have back a total of eighteen wrestlers; which includes eight section place winners and four state place winners. Despite the graduation of eight seniors including four state place winners; look for the Huskies a make a major challenge to defend those championships of 2009-2010. State Champions Bronson Steuber and Cooper Moore, State place winners Darick Vancura and Jordan Phibbs to be their key leaders.

The Buccanners of Blue Earth bring back from their outstanding 2009-2010 season of 24-4 and a section runner up, South Central Conference championship team eleven with a great deal of experience. This includes eight section place winners, of which two were state tourney experience. So despite the graduation of six seniors including five section place winners; look for the Buccanners to challenge for section and conference honors. Jake Wirtjes (state place winner), Travis Hagedorn, Joe Franta and Carter Hanson should be their key leaders.



DARK HORES: MAPLE RIVER EAGLES and the NEW RICHLAND HEARTLAND ELLENDALE GENEVA PANTHERS

The Eagles of Maples River bring back from their 11-8 campaign eleven wrestlers with a great deal of experience. They will return eight section place winners, including one state place winner. The Eagles did graduate two very good seniors; two of which were section place winners, but look for the Eagles to make a strong challenge for top honors in this year section dual meet campaign. Zach Kuhns (State Placer), Jesse Jaeger, Scott Schoneck and Seth Barkosky to be their key leaders this season.
The Panthers of New Richland Heartland Ellendale Geneva from their last year's campaign return one state qualifier, five section place winners and four others with a great deal of experience. Despite the graduation of three very good seniors; including a state place winner and one section place winner, look for the Panthers to make a strong challenge for the top four honors in this seasons dual meet campaign. David Lassahn and Dustin Esplan to be their key leaders.

Look for the United South Central Rebels and Martin County West Mavericks to challenge for top four spots in this tough section. There are eight state medal winners back from last season that includes: Bronson Steuber and Cooper Moore of Jackson County Central and Curt Maas of Medford are returning state champions, Jordan Phibbs and Darrick Vancura of Jackson County Central, Jake Wirtjes of Blue Earth Area, Zack Kuhns of Maple River and Brad Maas of Medford. There are a total of eleven returning state qualifiers from last year's state tourney action. Those not mentioned above are: Dylan Herman of United South Central.

Look for the following wrestlers: Partirck Hanson, Kyle Edlin, Spencer Johnson and Elliot Jurries of Jack County Central, Josh Johnson of Blue Earth Area, Dustin Dylla and Tony Willette of United South Central, Jacob Staloch of New Richland-Heartland-Ellendale-Geneva, Payten Crosby, Levi Ringnell and Trevor Schultz of Martin County West, Tyler Olson of Maple River, Ryan Sieberg, Chance Oftedahl and Badger Flowers of St. Clair and Seth Johnson and Adam Driessen of Blooming Prairie to challenge for medals at the end of the season.

JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL HUSKIES
Head Coach: Randy Baker
Enrollment: 319
22-3 Overall
6-0 Southwest Conference Champions
Class A State Champions
Section 2A Champions
Thirteen Section Placers/Six State Place Winners
Final Guillotine Rating: No. 4
First Place WEM/JWP "Mike Fasnacht" Memorial Tourney: 213 Points (12 Placers)
Second Place Blue Earth "Dick Maher" Tournament: 176 Points (12 Placers)
First Place Jackson County Central "Pizza Ranch" Tourney: 226.5 Points (11 Placers)
Fifth Place Minnesota Christmas Tourney: 132 Points (5 Placers)
12th Place Fargo "Rumble on Red" Tourney: 108 Points (4 Placers)
Third Place Kasson-Mantorville "Swalla" Duals: (3-1)
Third Place Minnewaska "Lakers" Duals: (2-1)

Returning Wrestlers:
Bronson Steuber 12th 42-3 1st Section/State Champ/AC
Cooper Moore 11th 45-2 1st Section/State Champ/AC
Jordan Phibbs 12th 33-11 1st Section/3rd State/AC
Darick Vancura 10th 39-10 2nd Section/3rd State/AC
Patrick Hanson 11th 22-19 3rd Section
Kyle Edlin 10th 23-19 4th Section/AC
Spencer Johnson 10th 18-9
Paden Moore 8th 20-23 4th Section
Alex Tewes 11th 17-27 4th Section
Dylan Riggle 10th 12-25 5th Section
Taylor Freeman 11th 6-11 6th Section
Brandon Pygman 12th 7-7 5th Section
Elliot Jurries 10th 24-16 4th Section (Transfer from MCW)
Tanner Menke 10th 10-11
Alex Cleberg 12th 5-5
Garrett Ramstad 12th 7-16
Jordan Biehm 9th 3-3
Cameron Henning 10th 3-2

Graduates:
Taylor Menke 37-11 2nd Section/6th State/AC
Jessie Regalado 36-15 2nd Section/4th State/AC
Tucker Freeman 26-5

BLUE EARTH BUCCANEERS
Head Coach: Randy Wirtjes
Enrollment: 355
24-4 Overall
5-0 South Central Conference Champions

Section 2A Runner Up
Thirteen Section Place Winners/Four State Qualifiers
Final Guillotine Rating: Lean and Mean
Fifth Place Blue Earth Area "Dick Maher" Tourney: 154 Points (9 Placers)
Second Place South Central Conference Tourney: 202.5 Points (10 Placers)
First Place Park "Wolf Pack" Duals: (4-0)
Second Place WEM/JWP "Grizzly" Duals" (2-1)
Second Place Martin County West "Subway " Tourney: 163 Points (10 Placers)

Returning Wrestlers:
Jake Wirtjes 12th 33-12 2nd Section/6th State
Carter Hanson 10th 32-10 2nd Section
Joe Franta 12th 36-4 3rd Section
Travis Hagedorn 12th 27-13 3rd Section
Josh Johnson 11th 20-12
David Franta 9th 19-23 5th Section
Jesse Alleven 10th 12-26 6th Section
Mitch Heronimus 11th 8-27 4th Section
Matt Dulas 12th 14-20
Devon Jahnke 12th 5-6 5th Section
Chris Ramos 10th 2-2

Graduates:
Daniel Eckhardt 33-6 1st Section (Career 126-71)
Cody Eckhardt 24-7 2nd Section (Career 77-76)
D. J. Gronewald 34-8 3rd Section (Career 85-59)
Taylor Andrews 23-9 5th Section (Career 68-74)
Jason Mertens 7-10 3rd Section
Abi Vasquez 12-20

UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL REBELS
HEAD COACH: Marcus Eytcheson
Enrollment: 239

Overall Record
Gopher Conference Duals
Final Four Section 2A
Nine Section Place Winners
Final Guillotine Rating: Lean and Mean
Fourth Place Blue Earth "Dick Maher" Tourney: 168.5 points (10 Placers)
First Place Montgomery "Coyote" Tourney: 244 Points (14 Placers)
Fifth Place Hayfield "Vikings" Tourney: 145 Points (10 Placers)
Third Place Martin County West "Subway" Tourney: 127 Points (7 Placers)

Returning Wrestlers:
Dylan Herman 9th 32-6 1st Section
Dustin Dylla 12th 32-6 3rd Section
Tony Willette 12th 22-13 6th Section
Brady Thisius 11th 17-13
Jake Gonsalez 10th 10-13
Jordan Beyer 12th 8-24 6th Section
Ben Johnson 9th 7-29 6th Section
Cole Wenzel 12th 5-8
Colton Carlson 9th 5-3
Nate Roberts 8th 4-7

Graduates:
Alex Dreyer 28-6 2nd Section/5th State
Preston Staloch 31-7 3rd Section
Dylan Thisuis 32-8 2nd Section
Matt Wood 20-10 5th Section
Zach Wigern 7-5

MEDFORD/EL SHADDAI TIGERS
Head Coach: Dennis Whitman
Enrollment: 184

Overall
Gopher Conference Champions
Final Four Section 2A
Eight Section Place Winners
Final Guillotine Rating: Lean and Mean
Third Place Osseo "Ken Droegemueller" Tourney: 163 Points (9 Placers)
Third Place Maple River "Eagle" Tourney: 145 Points (8 Placers)
First Place Le Center "Bezdichek" Tourney: 183.5 Points (10 Placers)
Second Place Lake City "Tigers" Tourney: 194 Points (13 Placers)
Second Place Howard Lake "Laker" Duals: (2-1)

Returning Wrestlers:
Curt Maas 11th 37-2 1st Section/State Champ/AC
Brad Maas 11th 35-8 2nd Section/6th State/AC
Andrew Keller 11th 13-22 6th Section
Tyler Keller 9th 5-12
David Deneur 12th 5-14
West Ohnstad 9th 5-12
Tate Colwell 11th 2-18

Graduates:
Zach Keller 34-2 1st Section/3rd State/AC (Career 113-18)
Cole Kavitz 27-6 2nd Section/3rd State/AC (Career 108-56)
Brad Keller 40-3 1st Section/2nd State/AC (Career 103-22)
Zach Kanzenbach 20-7 1st Section (Career 132-56)
Adam Utzinger 13-12

NEW RICHLAND HEARTLAND ELLENDALE GENEVA PANTHERS
Head Coach: Paul Cyr
Enrollment: 280

Overall
Gopher Conference
Final Four Section 2A
Eight Section Place Winners
Second Place Pine Island "Panther" Tourney: 149 Points (10 Placers)
Fourth Place St. James "Saints Classic" Tourney: 105 Points (11 Placers)
Sixth Place Stewartville "Tigers" Tourney: 123 Points (8 Placers)
Fifth Place Hutchinson "Tigers" Tourney: 122.5 Points (12 Placers)

Returning Wrestlers:
David Lassahn 11th 24-12 2nd Section
Dustin Esplan 11th 18-9 3rd Section
Jacob Staloch 11th 20-19 5th Section
Seth Patranek 11th 13-13 5th Section
Brandon Leblanc 11th 19-17
Cody Ripka 10th 9-18
Tyler Logan 9th 10-20
Dustin Burshem 10th 7-23 6th Section
Matt Dahle 11th 6-24 6th Section
Mitch Akermann 11th 7-27

Graduates:
David Lindell 38-3 1st Section/3rd State/AC (Career 131-47)
Matt Tomsche 18-14 3rd Section/AC (Career 45-48)
Tyrell Olsen 13-17
Seth Hanson 0-1

MARTIN COUNTY WEST MAVERICKS
Head Coach: Curtis Smith
Enrollment: 253

5-8 Overall
2-4 Valley Conference Duals
Eight Section Place Winners/Two State Qualifiers
Third Place Valley Conference Tourney: 152.5 Points (10 Placers)
Third Place Blue Earth Area "Dick Maher" Tourney: 169.5 Points (12 Placers)
Seventh Place Jackson County Central "Pizza Ranch" Tourney: 111 Points (6 Placers)
Fourth Place Maple River "Eagles" Tourney: 99.5 Points (7 Placers)
Fifth Place Martin County West "Subway" Tourney: 107 Points (7 Placers)
Thirty-Fourth Place Fargo "Rumble on Red" Tourney: 56.5 Points (1 Placer)

Returning Wrestlers:
Bryan Andrews 11th 20-10 1st Section
Payten Crosby 12th 24-11 3rd Section
Levi Ringnell 12th 17-16 4th Section
Trevor Schultz 10th 25-10 5th Section
Tanner Lange 8th 5-19
Lance Brolsma 11th 1-1 (18-20 2 Yrs. Ago)

Graduates:
Alex Anderson 39-2 1st Section/2nd State/AC (Career 158-30)
Nick Dorschner 26-16 2nd Section/6th State (Career 96-80)
Cam Hanson 18-19 5th Section
Aaron Griese 9-24
Caleb Krusemark 7-10

MAPLE RIVER EAGLES
Head Coach: Jeff Soma
Enrollment: 322

11-8 Overall
1-5 Valley Conference
Ten Section Placer Winners
Fifth Place Norwood Young America "Raiders" Tourney: 97 Points (11 Placers)
Third Place Northfield "Raiders" Tourney: 124 Points (12 Placers)
Fifth Place Valley Conference Tourney: 141.5 Points (11 Placers)
Sixth Place Maple River "Eagles" Tourney: 77 Points (4 Placers)
Ninth Place Blue Earth Area "Dick Maher" Tourney: 81 Points (5 Placers)

Returning Wrestlers:
Zack Kuhns 10th 32-8 2nd Section/5th State/AC
Jesse Jaeger 12th 26-9 3rd Section
Scott Schoneck 12th 24-14 4th Section
Seth Barkowsky 11th 24-14 4th Section
Tyler Olson 9th 19-17 4th Section
Dylan Dietz 12th 13-22 5th Section
Jerimiah Ennen 10th 15-23 5th Section
Bryce Woitas 10th 7-9 6th Section
Aaron Wittrock 11th 9-20
Nick Kruger 12th 5-13
Brandon Doering 12th 3-17

Graduates:
Charlie Sieberg 14-9 5th Section
Jacob Nienow 15-11 4th Section

SAINT CLAIR CYCLONES
Head Coach: Troy Stehr
Enrollment: 162

11-10 Overall
4-2 Valley Conference
Seven Section Place Winners/ Two State Qualifiers
Third Place Montgomery "Coyote" Tourney: 166 Points (14 Placers)
Third Place Rochester Century "Panthers" Tourney: 167 Points (8 Placers)
Fourth Place Valley Conference Tourney: 148 Points (11 Placers)
Seventh Place Glencoe/SL "Don Hall" tourney: 86 Points (7 Placers)
Seventh Place WEM/JWP "Mike Fasnacht Memorial" Tourney: 87.5 Points (6 Placers)

Returning Wrestlers:
Ryan Sieberg 12th 35-6 3rd Section/AC
Chance Oftedahl 9th 26-13 6th Section
Badger Flowers 12th 24-17 5th Section
Derek Kruse 12th 21-15
Ben Johnson 11th 14-16
Dylan Boettcher 9th 6-6
Casey Ek 11th 8-21
Charlie Ward 9th 4-2
John Goebel 9th 6-9

Graduates:
Chase Levos 41-2 1st Section/4th State/AC (Career 164-44)
Ray Johnson 33-8 2nd Section/AC (Career 74-76)
David Trahms 21-19 3rd Section
Adam Garnter 16-23 4th Section
Ben Goebel 3-23

BLOOMING PRAIRIE BLOSSOMS
Head Coach: Kevin Driessen
Enrollment: 203

4-8 Overall
0-4 Gopher Conference
Six Section Place Winners
Fifth Place Montgomery "Coyote" Tourney: 109 Points (9 Placers)
Eighth Place Shakopee Tourney: 73 Points (4 Placers)
Seventh Place Hayfield "Vikings" Tourney: 100 Points (10 Placers)
Eighth Place Kenyon-Wanamingo "Knights" Tourney: 55 Points (5 Placers)
12th Place Faribault "Dick Shiels" Tourney: 38 Points (2 Placers)

Returning Wrestlers:
Seth Johnson 12th 19-8 4th Section
Adam Driessen 11th 20-14 6th Section
Tom Shawback 10th 13-18
Jarrod Grunklee 10th 10-20
Riley Young 12th 5-19 6th Section
Blake Arett 10th 9-18 6th Section
Tim Decker 10th 2-11

Graduates:
Aaron Niles 20-8 4th Section/AC (Career 71-32)
Pat Hjelmen 6-6 4th Section
Jake Zak 3-17