GRAPPLING TRADITION — The 2024-25 NRHEG High School wrestling team. Back row from left: Cooper Cords, Kailin Hudson, Hunter McMann, Aidan Schlaak, Cole Hutchens, Ryan, Schlaak and Noah Weller. Middle row: Wyatt Larson, Harbor Cromwell, Logan Schiell, Chase Johannsen, Devlin Hudson, Khaiden Madson, Dakota Schlaak, and Zoe Wilson. Front row: Wyatt Hendrickson, Jacob Klaras, Eli Hendrickson, Charles Tufte, Owen Schlaak, Riften Jacobson, Tucker Flatness, Gram Jacobson, and Adrian Naser. Multiple wrestlers not pictured.
High hopes
NRHEG grapplers return a dozen letterwinners
NRHEG grapplers return a dozen letterwinners
Thu, 11/28/2024 - 12:00am
For the NRHEG High School wrestling team, some things never seem to change.
The Panthers are again optimistic.
"We are expecting to make a strong attempt at regaining a top-three finish in the conference," said coach Shaun Larson. "We are hoping to learn from our setbacks last season, and have a winning season this year."
Larson, in his 12th season since Paul Cyr retired as head coach, guided the Panthers to a record of 5-16 overall and 0-6 in the Gopher Conference last season. Larson, who's assisted by Nate Jensen and Erik Olson, has a career win-loss mark of 84-124. Jensen is entering his 27th year with the program and Olson, his second.
The Panthers' best finish in recent years was in 2022-23, when they lost to Lake Crystal - Wellcome Memorial in the section semifinals.
NRHEG graduated some very talented wrestlers a year ago: Parker Bunn, Annabelle Petsinger, George Roesle, and Reese Routh.
“Parker was a help for us last season at 133, where he finished 4th in the section,” Larson stated. “We will miss his experience in the lower weights.
“Annabelle was a pioneer in our program,” Larson continued. “Annabelle was a 6-year varsity wrestler, the first girl to compete at NRHEG, a three-time state entrant, a two-time place winner, one of which was a state championship (first champion for Coach Larson.) Annabelle amassed over 50 falls for our program, and will be sorely missed.
“George Roesler was statistically the most valuable wrestler for NRHEG last season,” Larson reported. “George competed at the State Tournament, and was a consistent leader and point-getter for the Panthers in 23-24.
“Reese was a tough out for the Panthers in the last two seasons in the middle of the lineup,” Larson concluded. “Reese also will leave us with State Tournament experience from 2022, which is not always easy to replace.”
Wrestling at the collegiate level still are NRHEG Graduates Makota MIsgen (MN State Mankato); Petsinger (Iowa Central Community College). Nikolas Petsinger wrestled the last two seasons with Rochester Community and Technical College.
This year’s Panther squad welcomes no less than 12 returning letterwinners.
They are seniors Harbor Cromwell 172; Cole Hutchens 215; Jace Ihrke 285; Aidan Schlaak 160; Seth Staloch 139. Juniors: Devlin Hudson 215; Wyatt Larson 189. Sophomore Ryan Schlaak 189 (STATE ENTRANT 2024). Freshman: Dakota Schlaak 127; Charles Tufte 114/121; Noah Weller 160. 8th grader Eli Hendrickson 145.
Several wrestlers participated in off-season competition and 13 attended a team camp in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Larson likes the Panthers strength in the larger weight classes.
“We have solid wrestlers with several years of experience at the top end of our line up,” he said. “We have a group of athletes that work well together, and if we work together we will be strong. Our weaknesses come from lack of experience in the lighter weights. These younger wrestlers have been working hard however, and we are thinking they open some eyes in the area.”
Larson is also hoping wrestlers compete for the entire match.
“Last season our downfall was giving up too many bonus points,” he continued. “If we can eliminate that we will be much more competitive. Also taking risks to score points in situations where we have been tentative in the recent past. If we focus on scoring instead of the winning and losing, the wins should come as a result.”
Larson looks for Kenyon-Wanamingo to be the team to beat in the Gopher Conference and Lake Crystal - Wellcome Memorial in Section 2A.
2024-25 NRHEG Wrestling
Dec. 5 at United South Central, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 at St. James Area Invitational, 9:45 a.m.
Dec. 12 at LeSueur-Henderson, 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Lakeville South, TBD
Dec. 19 at Blue Earth Area, 6 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Redwood Valley, 4 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Redwood palley, 9 a.m.
Jan. 9 at Westfield (Blooming Prairie), 7 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Stewartville Invitational, 8 a.m.
Jan. 17 vs. Medford, St. Clair/Loyola, 5 p.m.
Jan. 23 Quad at St. James Area, 5 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Triton, 5 p.m.
Jan. 30 at WEM/JWP, 7 p.m.
Feb. 1 at Maple River Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 6 vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7 p.m.
Feb. 13 Section tournament, TBD
Feb. 15 Section championship, 2 p.m.
Feb. 22 Section individual finals at Blue Earth Area, 10 a.m.