Kane Johnson, 8th.,

NUA, 106

Johnson’s first year on varsity was eventful and impactful as he ended up with 36 victories. Called a “spark plug for the Eagles” by head coach Kevin Briggs for getting the team on the scoreboard first in duals, Johnson also went 3-0 at the Ninth Grade League Team State Competition. He also finished second at the Glencoe Invite, fourth at the Redwood Riot, second at the Buffalo Invite, third at the Big South Conference tournament, second at the High Water Ethanol Tournament and was fifth at sections. The All-Conference wrestler was 36-11 on the season.

Kaysen Harms, So.,

Wabasso, 113

Harms finished his sophomore year with his first trip to the state individual tournament. Harms also wrestled at 106 this season and finished his sophomore year at 113 with a 39-10 record and 27 pins. He was second at the Section 3A meet at 113 and also finished first at both the Paynesville and Wabasso tournaments. He was third at the MAHACA tourney, fourth at the Kimball tourney and sixth at the Redwood Riot.

Zach Skoblik, Fr.,

Wabasso, 113

Skoblik finished his freshman season with a 24-9 record. The promising freshman finished third in the Paynesville, Wabasso, Kimball and MAHACA tourneys this season. Skoblik also had 13 pins.

Benito Diaz, So.,

Sibley East, 120

Diaz wrapped up his second state tournament appearance with a Class A fifth-place medal at 120 pounds, pinning Minnewaska Area’s Chase Smith in 1:34 to do so. He finished his season with a 41-5 record, 68 takedowns, 21 pins and 199 team points. He was also a conference champ this season and has a career record of 109-17.

Wyatt Schmidt, Sr., Springfield, 126

Schmidt wrapped up a strong senior year with a 36-12 record and 21 pins. He was third in Section 3A and finished his career with 104 victories.

Josh Sotelo, Sr.,

Sibley East, 126

In his final season of wrestling with the Sibley East Wolverines, Sotelo made it count with a trip to the state individual tourney. He finished the season with a 34-14 record, recording 107 takedowns and 150 team points. The state entrant was also a conference champ and finished his career with 92 wins.

Natalie Diaz, Sr.,

Sibley East, 132

Diaz wrapped up her senior year with the Wolverines with a fourth-place finish in the State Girls Wrestling Tournament. She had an overall record of 11-9 and finished with 18 takedowns, six pins and 42 team points. She had a career mark of 18-7.

Logan Lee, Jr., NUA, 138

Lee, a team captain for the Eagles, was turning in another strong season before injury cut his junior year short. He finished 16-7 overall, going third at the Glencoe-Silver Lake tourney and fourth at the Buffalo tournament. Despite not being able to wrestle in the Big South Conference tourney, coaches voted Lee an All-Conference wrestler.

Ryan Palmer, So., LCWMA, 138

Palmer finished his sophomore campaign with Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Area with a trip to the state tournament and a 36-12 record. He was also a Valley All-Conference wrestler and pushed his career record to 66-36 this season.

Winsten Nienhaus, Jr., NUA, 145

Nienhaus’ standout junior campaign was cut short ahead of the Section 3AA tourney this year due to injury, but his leadership and success couldn’t be overlooked. The team captain finished the year with a 33-9 record and led the team in takedowns for the second consecutive season. He was second at the Glencoe-Silver Lake tourney, second at the conference tourney, fourth at the Buffalo Invite, fourth at the Redwood Riot and first at the High Water Ethanol Tournament.

Ellie Dake, Fr., NUA, 152

For the second year in a row, Dake won her section and advanced to the State Girls Wrestling Tournament at Xcel Energy Center. And for the second year in a row, she took home a medal from state. After last year’s second-place finish in a four-person bracket, the girls brackets were bumped up to eight wrestlers this season and Dake finished fourth. Still just a freshman, Dake’s strong season saw her finish 18-3. Dake was also a key contributor to the Ninth Grade League Team that qualified for state this year.

Ashtin Johnson, Sr., Springfield, 160

Johnson, a state qualifier last season, came up just short of making a return trip this year as he finished third at the Section 3A tournament. The senior, who also wrestled at 170 this year, still turned in a dominant season, finishing with a 39-5 record and 21 pins. Johnson finishes with 119 career victories.

Chase Irlbeck, Sr.,

Wabasso, 170

Irlbeck advanced to the state tournament this season at 182 pounds with a second-place finish at the Section 3A tourney, but he also spent time competing at 170 pounds. Irlbeck earned a win at state and finished his senior year with a 33-16 record. Irlbeck finished the year with 22 pins and also took second at the Redwood Riot, second in the Paynesville tourney and was third in the Wabasso, Kimball and MAHACA tourneys.

Ty Frederick, Jr.,

NUA, 182

Frederick capped off his junior year of wrestling strong, tying the team for second most pins on the season and making his first state tournament appearance. Frederick also upset the No. 1 seed in the Section 3AA tournament in Hutchinson’s Brady Andersen and finished second overall. The team captain also finished third at the High Water Ethanol Tournament and sixth at the Buffalo tourney.

Nick Slater, So.,

LCWMA, 182

Slater finished his sophomore season by joining his brother Justin with a trip to the state tournament. He was 37-12 on the year and also was a Valley All-Conference wrestler. The Nicollet sophomore picked up a win at the state tournament, beating Kail Schott of Chatfield in the opening round.

Sam Rummel, Jr.,

Springfield, 195

Rummel finished his junior campaign with a 32-10 record. The 195-pounder also had 22 pins and finished fourth at the Section 4A tourney.

Justin Slater, Sr.,

LCWMA, 220

Slater finished his senior year with his second trip to the state tournament and a 14-10 record. The Nicollet High School senior had a 50-31 career record and 31 career pins.

Evan Thompson, Jr.,

NUA, 285

Thompson wrapped up his junior year — and first full season as New Ulm Area’s varsity heavyweight — with a sixth-place medal at the state tournament. Thompson also set the NUA record for most wins and pins in a season, finishing with a 46-7 record and 31 pins. He also led the team in team points and placed in every tournament he competed in this season, finishing first at the Glencoe Invite, fifth at the Redwood Riot, second at Buffalo, first at the Big South tourney, second at the High Water Ethanol tourney and second at the Section 3AA tourney.

Honorable Mention

120 — Carson Outhoudt, 8th, LCWMA (30-14, State Qualifier)

145 — Adryen Tietz, Sr., Wabasso (28-19, 21 pins, 3rd in 3A)

152 — Jamisen Frederickson, So., NUA (23-13, 2nd on team in pins)

160 — Jathen Mendoza, Sr., Sibley East (30-20, 15 pins, 75 takedowns)

160 — Wyatt Pollard, So., NUA (28-20)