Morrison County Record’s All-Area Wrestling Team

106 pounds

Zach Scott, freshman, Holdingford

Scott was the catalyst for the Huskers this season, going 35-12 at the opening weight class. Scott excelled even more as the season went along, rolling through the competition at the Section 7A tournament. At state, Scott won three matches, including a 3-2 decision in the consolation semifinals that led to a sixth-place finish.

 

113 pounds

Evan Woitalla, sophomore, Pierz

When Woitalla took the mat this winter, there was a good chance the Pioneers were about to earn six points, as the sophomore led the team with 20 pins. Woitalla finished with a 32-12 record and earned a trip to state by winning a section title.

 

120 pounds

Frank Wilczek, senior, Little Falls

Wilczek dominated his competition throughout the season, racking up 30 pins in 44 matches. He pinned his first opponent at the state tournament in less than a minute, only to suffer an injury in the quarterfinals and be forced to default. He also helped the Flyers place sixth at state as a team with two pins and a 4-2 decision.

 

126 pounds

Andy Poster, senior, Royalton-Upsala

Poster entered the state tournament with an undefeated 34-0 record and advanced to the semifinals, eventually placing sixth. He finished with 122 career wins, second in program history, and was selected as the most valuable wrestler at the Bemidji Rick Lee Invite, Jan. 14.

 

132 pounds

Connor Scherping, junior, Little Falls

Scherping was one of three individual state qualifiers for Little Falls this season and also helped the Flyers earn the Section 8AAA team championship. Scherping finished with a 36-12 record, earned All-Granite Ridge Conference distinction and won his first round consolation match at state.

 

138 pounds

Dillon Kifer, senior, Little Falls

Kifer, the Morrison County Record Wrestler of the Year, rounded out his career with a fifth-place finish in his fifth year competing at state, ending with an exciting 10-8 win. Kifer finished with a record of 43-5, including 29 pins, and holds the school’s career wins record.

 

145 pounds

Mike Jarnot, senior, Holdingford

It didn’t matter which weight Holdingford needed Jarnot to wrestle at this season, as Jarnot earned wins from 138 through 160. The senior standout finished with a 45-1 record and placed third at state at 138 pounds, finishing with 182 career victories.

 

152 pounds

Brad Meyer, junior, Pierz

Meyer was a fixture in the heart of the Pierz section championship team, going 33-11 and claiming second place at the Section 7A individual tournament. He also achieved his 100th win during the season with an 8-3 decision at home, Jan. 24.

 

160 pounds

Mitch Lange, sophomore, Royalton-Upsala

Lange, who went 36-4, earned his third trip to state by dominating the Section 7A tournament. At state he won a pair of matches, falling just short of the placing round. Only a sophomore, Lange has already accumulated 122 career wins.

 

170 pounds

Nathan Tomala, senior, Pierz

Tomala’s sheer strength forced many teams to simply forfeit to him this season. Those who did go up against him usually got pinned anyway, as Tomala went 39-6 with 14 falls. He also claimed a section title and went on to place fifth at the state tournament.

 

182 pounds

Adam Grams, senior, Little Falls

Grams helped anchor the Flyers’ upper weights this season, going 29-16 and earning All-Granite Ridge Conference honorable mention honors. Grams’ fall in the Section 8AAA team finals was the first of four in a row for Little Falls to clinch a trip to state.

 

195 pounds

Dustin Waytashek, senior, Pierz

Waytashek wrapped up his Pierz career in fine fashion, finishing as one of the top eight wrestlers in his weight class at state with a 13-4 major decision in the first round of consolation action. Waytashek also avenged an earlier loss with an 11-4 win in the section team finals and compiled a record of 30-15.

 

220 pounds

Cory Wensmann, junior, Royalton-Upsala

Wensmann teamed up with Poster and Lange to form a punishing trio for the Royals that went 102-15 on the season, with Wensmann going 30-8. He also earned a section title to earn his second trip to state and was an individual champion at the Elk River tournament, Jan. 21.

 

285 pounds

Conor Swanson, junior, Little Falls

Injuries derailed the beginning and end of the season for Swanson. But when the junior was on the mat, he was an imposing force, going 17-3 with 12 pins, including a fall in just 26 seconds that capped Little Falls’ Section 8AAA team championship win over St. Cloud Apollo.

 

Honorable mention