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Friday, December 5, 2008

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How area teams shape up

WRESTLING

Aitkin Gobblers

Coaches: Dan Stifter

Returning letterwinners: Keith Wasserzieher (119-125, senior), Craig Leathers (125-130, senior), Taylor-Thomas Bitker (152, senior), Jordan Chouanard (112-119, freshman), Jeff Moe (130-135, senior), Ryan Skinner (135-140, senior), Levi Stifter (189-215, junior), Travis Tuenge (152-160, senior), Joe Elvecrog (112-119, junior), Dalton Stevens (119-125, sophomore), Kevin Handt (145-152, sophomore), Ryan Smith (125-130, sophomore), Doug Kommer (189-215, senior), T.J. Landrus (130-135, senior), Isaac Novak (135-140, eighth grade)

Remaining roster: Justin Demars (152-160, senior), Timmy Grapp (189-215, senior), Kane Magness (135-140, sophomore), Levi Worley (140-145, sophomore), Chris Baker (145-152, freshman), Cooper Blau (285, freshman), Andrew Johnson (215-285, freshman), Mike Stafford (103-112, freshman, Colton Laplante (103, freshman), Logan Anderson (119-125, senior), Estevan Cortinas (171-189, junior), Tanner Bare (125-130, sophomore), Lucas Anderson (130-135, freshman), Travis Bare (103, freshman), Adam Jackson (135-140, freshman), Shawn Phillip (125-130, freshman), Coty Teal (130-135, freshman)

Prognosis: "We graduated a good group of kids from last year's team that won 20 dual meets," said Stifter. "They also won the Great River Conference and the Skip Nalan tournament in Grand Rapids. We finished fourth at the Rick Lee Tournament in Bemidji and placed second in the Osakis Duals and the Big Bear Tournament in Cass Lake. We do return some solid kids, three of them with state tournament experience. These young men will have to be our leaders."

Great River Conference/Section 7-1A favorites: "We feel that we can contend for the Great River Conference title and we believe we will be in the mix of things as we battle through the sections. Pierz, Crosby-Ironton, Trinity and Royalton return some very good kids. I believe our conference and our section will be up in the air this year."

Crosby-Ironton Rangers

Coaches: Champ Hesch

Returning letterwinners: Andrew Kayfes (senior, 17-6 last year), David Booth (junior, 15-18), Chris Rothstein (junior, 13-22), Cody Vogt (junior, 5-17), Hayden Zillmer (sophomore, 34-6), Sam Srock (sophomore, 28-10), Nate Adams (freshman, 6-2)

Remaining roster: Johnny Melenich (sophomore), Levi Becker (sophomore), Jesse Scott (sophomore), Jeremy Hamman (sophomore), Ryan Smith (sophomore), Joe Kort (eighth grade), Sam Adams (seventh grade), Joe Sura (seventh grade)

Prognosis: The Rangers are coming off the best season in school history. They placed second in the Section 7-1A tournament and finished with a 13-6 dual meet record. Returning with state meet experience are sophomores Hayden Zillmer and Sam Srock.

Little Falls Flyers

Coaches: Mike Hendrickson

Returning letterwinners: Cody Bue (junior, 31-12), Dillon Kifer (freshman, 34-10), Sam Marcus (senior, 24-13), Charlie Wilczek (senior, 29-13), Derik Jendro (junior, 12-12), Bryant Bue (sophomore, 11-8), Brandon Hiemenz (junior, 11-16), Aaron Gastecki (senior, 16-18), Joe Juholski (sophomore, 11-16), Zack Clark (junior 8-24)

Remaining roster: Frank Wilczek (freshman), Joe Tuholsky (sophomore), Reid Olson (senior), Eric Hegna (junior), Collin Swanson (junior)

Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus Road Crew

Coaches: Tom Demars

Returning letterwinners: Nic Harrison (135-pound, senior, 32-4 last year), Dustin Campbell (152, senior, 30-13), Zach Humphrey (125-130, senior, 15-19), Chris Harrison (152-160, sophomore, 22-14), Darian Rubner (125-130, freshman, 19-7), Drey Loge (119, eighth grade, 7-7), Cody Schrupp (130, junior, 19-12), Levi Allen (140, junior, 15-18)

Remaining roster: Blake Fossen (112, freshman), Kyle Jordan (112, eighth grade), Andy Knutson (119, senior), Peter Harrison (125, freshman), Derek Sonenstahl (135, freshman), Aaron Schrupp (145, senior), Gene Walters (171, sophomore), Teddy Devore (215, senior), Kendall Swenson (275, junior)

Prognosis: "We'll start the year with a couple open weights, but have some tough kids through the middle weights," said Demars. "Getting kids through the section is tough, but we do have some previous state entrants that have their eye on placing and getting on the podium if they can get back to the state tournament."

Section 8-2A/Mid-State Conference favorites: "Perham returns most of last year's state runner-up team and is the clear favorite in the section," said Demars. "Thief River Falls is not far behind. I think Wadena-Deer Creek returns a good nucleus and should be the favorite in the Mid State."

Pierz Pioneers

Coaches: Simon Waltman

Returning letterwinners: Tanner Tetrick (145, senior), Shane Smallfield (189, senior), Kyle Jones (119, junior), Jeremy Kapsner (125, senior), John Omann (152, junior), David Eden (140, junior), Dan Rauch (152, junior), Clint Poster (125, sophomore), Mitchell Boser (125, sophomore), Sean Huls (160, sophomore), Brett Brausen (125, sophomore), Nathan Tomala (140, freshman), Dustin Waytashek (152, freshman), Brad Meyer (103, eighth grade), Josh Lanners (112, eighth grade), Cody Weiss (152, eighth grade)

Remaining roster: Dylan Peterson (285, junior), Jake Zwack (215, junior), Louie Wimmer (160, sophomore), Alex Julich (130, freshman), Brett Stumpf (135, freshman)

Prognosis: "Our team will be very competitive if we can stay healthy," said Waltman. "We lack a little depth in the upper weights so we can't afford too many injuries."

Section 6-1A favorites: "I think Aitkin is still the team to beat in our section," said Waltman. "They are two-time defending section champs so their kids know what it takes to win. I also look for Royalton and Trinity School at River Ridge to be strong. These two schools should have good balance and depth."

Staples-Motley Cardinals

Coaches: Gordy Thompson

Returning letterwinners: Jordan Bendson (junior, 38-8), Trent Carlson (senior, 25-10), Devin Becker (senior, 27-16), Nick Trout (senior, 24-19), Dylan Shequen (junior, 25-18), Ryan Detloff (junior, 21-22), Andrew Robben (senior, 13-16), Tyler Odden (junior, 9-17), Chandler Trout (sophomore, 4-2), Taylor Bendson (freshman, 13-5), Brandon Flickinger (freshman, 7-10), Jordan Heldman (eighth grader, 6-15)

Remaining roster: Robert Jares, Anthony Jenkins, Sam Duberowski, Gavin Kadlec, Brady Killian, Blake Petritch, Brandon Sterriker, Brent Lisson, David Hobson

Prognosis: "We have a really solid bunch of wrestlers on varsity, B squad and junior high," said Thompson. "We should be fairly successful at all levels this year. If we stay out of injuries we could have an opportunity to become a top four team in the Section 6-1A tournament. That should make our wrestlers hungry all season and should be their focus. We will have a lot of individuals that will be looking forward to placing at sections and maybe qualifying for state."

Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders

Coaches: Mike Barthel

Returning letterwinners: Matt Moenkedick (senior, 26-6), Wade Moenkedick (senior, 34-9), Amos Schmidt (junior, 28-9), Jake Braaten (junior, 31-11), Trent Bertram (sophomore, 18-21), Nathan Wiese (junior, 16-22), Kody Graba (sophomore, 19-21), Dakota Aeling (junior, 5-17), Justin Kern (junior, 6-14), Colin Turchin (freshman, 12-20), Trent Peterson (sophomore, 5-11), Colby Schmidt (junior, 5-11), Jon Kohlhase (junior, 5-9)

Remaining roster: Bert McGrath (senior), Mike Stout (senior), Blake Yungbauer (junior), Joe Lustila (sophomore), Dustin Elgin (sophomore), Dylan Koppendrayer (freshman), Raymond Demars (freshman)

Prognosis: "I think that we are contenders to win the conference and section," said Barthel. "We will have a lot of youth in the lower weights, but we will be solid from 130-pounds and up."

Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines

Coaches: Norm Gallant

Returning letterwinners: Mitch Steffens (freshman, 29-8), Jordan Rentz (sophomore, 23-14), Derrick Rude (17-19), Jared Wegscheid (sophomore, 28-12), Jacob Wegscheid (sophomore, 16-17), Matt Hagen (senior, 24-11), Eric Monson (senior, 1-21), Aaron Uselman (junior, 5-18), Tyler Savaloja (senior, 7-19), Isaac Lustila (sophomore, 10-21), Josh Sweere (senior, 17-15), Eddie Lustila (senior, 20-17), Tyler Wohlwend (junior, 5-4), Jacob Ludovissie (freshman, 0-5), Tony Ruerink (eighth grade, 0-9), Zack Bernu (sophomore, 0-4)

Remaining roster: Sam Waln (eighth grade), Levi Willis (freshman), Dylan Anderson (sophomore), Mason Lohmiller (freshman), Josh Lawson (eighth grade), Colby Knutson (eighth grade).

Prognosis: "We are coming off a 15-5 season where we finished second in Section 6-1A to New York Mills," said Gallant. "We have 12 of 14 starters returning. Tony Wegscheid and Trey VanOrsdel both graduated, leaving a couple of big holes to fill. This is also the first time in recent memory that we do not have a state entrant returning. I believe we will be very balanced. We return a lot of young kids with two or three years of varsity experience. We still have some growing to do. The kids that return are pinners and with pinners you are always in dual meets."

Mid-State Conference favorites: "I see Staples-Motley being tough in the conference," said Gallant. "Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus won the conference the last two years and will have some very tough wrestlers again and Crosby-Ironton also will have some very good wrestlers in its lineup."


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