The county wrestling scene starts with a change. GMLOKS is no longer. GMLOS now exists. With Kingsland out of the cooperative (they’ve had just a single wrestler the past few years), the Journal Sports will no longer cover the Bulldogs. The move allows GMLOS to compete in Class A versus AA. The LARP Screamin’ Eagles went 8-13 in duals last year, falling to Albert Lea in a Section 1AA quarter. Coaches Tim Tekautz and Dave Riebel return 11 of their 14 section meet competitors including a nice senior fivesome. The coach’s son, two-time state entrant, last year’s section runner-up and 4th place finisher in Class AA at 152, McCoy Tekautz, heads the cast. Tekautz went 12-4 in an injury shortened year. He starts the year ranked #1. Classmates Justin Mueller (145, 18-3, 3rd at sections), Josh Doerr (113, 16-7, 4th at sections, All-TRC pick), Cody Rain (220), and Xavier Riser (126) help the S-Eagle cause. Juniors Sam Puetz (160, 17-13), Logan Schindeldecker (285), and sophomore Dominick Jenkins (126, 18-20, 5th at sections) placed fourth, fourth, and fifth at sections. Reece Riebel (junior 120), Sam Schwendinger (junior 113), Ethan Sense (sophomore 145), Colton Mart (sophomore 285), and Carter Weidemann (sophomore 145) bring more experience to a 27-man LARP roster.
Chatfield wrestling begins year two under Travis Bartels. The Gophers went 3-15 last year, losing in a 1A wrestle-in match. Team Chosen Valley has its outstanding grappler in Jake Mandt. The junior (32-4) spent much of last year ranked #1 at 138 in Class A. The All-TRC pick was section runner-up and took third at state. He was the only Gopher to finish in the top four at sections. Seth Goetzinger (106, 8th grade), Chase Ketterhagen (120, sophomore), Lincoln Salisbury (152, sophomore), Davontae Goldsmith (152 sophomore), and Ben Ihrke (152, junior) were section competitors. Nathan Goldsmith (138, sophomore), Alex Pagel (160, senior), and Carter Fishbaugher (junior, 170) returns after injuries. They are among Chatfield’s 19-man, one senior varsity.
FCLMC wrestling will begin another year short on numbers. The Wolves went 0-12 last year, falling to W-K in a Section 1A wrestle-in match. Head Coach Joe Cullen does have good seniors in Treyten Chiglo, Walker Ward, and Jacob Thomas. Chiglo (113, 20-11) and Thomas (285, 18-9) each finished fifth at sections last year. Thomas was All-TRC. Ward (220, 6-4) missed sections per injury. Eric Kunz (152, junior) also is back. Twins Cale and Caden Anderson are 8th graders on varsity. They are the younger brothers of former FCLMC state champion Niko Anderson. The Wolves have 16 listed on their mshsl.org roster.