The All-Decade wrestling team. Athletes from Chatfield, FCLMC, LARP, and GMLOKS/GMLOS are all included (given the Journal once covered the later). Individuals who graduated in 2010 are less regarded. Rankings are based off state placing, times made state, coaches ranking, career longevity, records, and team success. Said rankings are very much subject to debate! Thanks to coaches Tim Tekautz, Randy Smith, Joe Cullen, and Travis Bartels, former coaches Joel Viss and Jim Richardson for their assistance.
All-Decade Wrestling Top 20
#1) Hank Friederichs (103/106/120/138/145, Chatfield, 2010-2015): Mr. 200 wins, Friederichs had a four-year run where he topped 40 wins thrice and placed at state each year. As a frosh (106), he finished fifth (41-5). As a sophomore (120), he won his first section title and took third in St. Paul (47-2). As a junior, he repeated as section champ and won his first state title at 138-pounds (42-2). As a senior, he threepeated as section champ and repeated as state champ but at 145 (43-1). He was also huge part of the Gophers 2013 state third place team (31-2), their 2014 state title team (27-1). He is Chatfield’s all-time leader in wins (200-22). Former Coach Viss: “(Hank) was real team leader both by example and his interactions with the rest. Very motivated.”
#2) Jake Mandt (126/132/138/145, Chatfield, 2013-2018): Mandt had five 30-win seasons and four seasons of four or less losses. He notched a trio of section titles and placed the four times he made state. As a frosh he took fifth (42-4), as a sophomore third (32-4). He won the Class A 145-pound title (31-2) as a junior. He suffered just one loss as a senior, in state final, as he finished 145-pound runner-up (38-1). Mandt is third in Chatfield history in wins (173-25). He went 18-6 this past season as a redshirt freshman at St. Cloud State. Coach Bartels: “Jake could wrestle from every position or situation. His technique and power is top-notch.”
#3) Harvey Friederichs (103/119/126/132/152, Chatfield, 2009-2014): Briefly the Gophers all-time leader in wins (brother Hank overtook him), Harvey was twice section champ and twice made St. Paul. He made the state finals junior and senior years, finishing as state runner-up at 132 (44-3) and then at 152 (41-2). He went 30-12, 29-11, and 34-7 the previous three years. As a junior, he was key on the Gophers state third place team (31-2), as a senior their state title team (27-1). Harvey is second in Chatfield history in wins (184-40). Former Coach Viss: “(Harvey) had a pretty awesome cross-face-cradle that was next to impossible to get out of.”
#4) Jackson Hale (106/120/132, GMLOKS/GMLOS, 2014-2019): A three time section champ/state qualifier at three different weights. As a sophomore (106), he took third in St. Paul (36-4). As a junior (120), he made the state semis before taking fourth (34-5). As a senior, he won the Class A state champion at 132-pounds (41-3). Hale racked up 159 wins over a five-year span. Coach Smith: “Had a college like style that most high school wrestlers can’t learn. (He) could score from almost any position on his feet and was very quick off the bottom.”
#5) Niko Anderson (140/152/160/170/182, FCLMC, 2008-2014): The Wolves top wrestler this decade, as a senior Anderson took home the Class A 182-pound state title (37-1). That came after a junior year where he was 170-pound state runner-up (37-2). Anderson won section titles those two seasons, had a trio of 30 win campaigns, and finished 128-44. He later wrestled at Augsburg. Coach Cullen: “Niko had the ability to take down everybody he wrestled with his powerful and fast double leg. He piled up 111 take downs his senior year.”
#6) Jordan Theede (103/119/130/145/160, LARP, 2008-2014): A four-time state entrant, twice each in Classes A and AA. He’s the only guy on the list to go as a 7th grader. He was twice section champ and twice placed at state. He took fifth as a frosh (26-4) in Class A and was 160-pound state runner-up as a junior (28-2) in AA. He went 149-27 for his career, missing his senior campaign to injuries (concussions). Coach Tekautz: “Probably the most complete wrestler I have ever coached. If he hadn’t lost his senior year to injury, he would have walked through the state tourney. He was dominant on his feet, rarely gave up a point, and controlled everything on the mat.”
#7) Christopher Bain (160/170/182/195, GMLOKS/GMLOS, 2013-2017): Bain’s sophomore (31-7, 4th at sections) and junior years (27-3, third at sections) were respectable. However, he is the only guy on this list to go undefeated and win a state title in his only appearance. Bain went 31-0 as a senior and took home the Class A 195-pound championship. Had 96 wins his last three years. Coach Smith: “Hands down the hardest worker I have ever coached. He would not stop in the practice room and that proved a benefit to him in his matches.”
#8) Jared Goldsmith (106/113/120, Chatfield, 2012-2015): Thrice made state and twice placed highly. As a junior, he didn’t lose until his state title match, as he was Class A 113-pound runner-up (31-1). As a senior, he finished third on the big stage (43-4). Another member of Chatfield’s back-to-back state teams in 2013 and 2014. Goldsmith finished with a record of 122-14. He went on to wrestle collegiately as MSU-Moorhead. Former coach Viss: “Real self-critical and always trying to get better.”
#9) Seth Goetzinger (106/126/145, Chatfield, 2016-present): Will enter his senior year in 2020-2021 already having amassed three section titles/state berths. He has twice placed. He took third as a freshman (34-8) and was Class 145-pound state runner-up this past season (39-6). He is 130-62 with a year left. Coach Bartels: “Never count Seth out of a match! He seems to find a way to win the big matches with little time left on the clock. He improves every year because of his work ethic in season and off-season.”
#10) Wyatt Richardson (160/170/182/195, GMLOK/GMLOKS, 2010-2015): Won two different Section titles (2A, 1AA) at 195-pounds. Both times, junior (28-5) and senior years (37-1), he went on to take third at state. His only loss as a senior came in the state semis. He had two 30-win seasons and amassed 131 wins over a five-year period. Richardson wrestled at Augsburg for four years and was part of a National Champion team. Coach Smith: “Was the hardest Bulldog to score on. He always stayed in great position and was very strong.”
#11) McCoy Tekautz (106/126/152, LARP, 2012-2017): Thrice made the state stage, all three times as section runner-up. His last two years, he placed in St. Paul. Tekautz took fourth as a junior (12-4) and third as a senior (32-9) in Class AA. His state miss as a sophomore (16-5), he lost in overtime in a true second match. Tekautz went 113-35, and had multiple injury-shortened seasons. Coach Tekautz (dad): “I know he may be my kid, but McCoy was probably the most talented kid I’ve ever coached. He may have the best hips that I have ever seen.”
#12) Brenn Olson (106/120/132/138, GMLOK/GMLOKS/GMLOS, 2012-2017): A two-time state placer in two different classes (1AA, 1A). Olson was twice section runner-up, but was excellent at state. He took fifth as a junior (34-8) and was Class A 138-pound state runner-up as a senior (32-5). Over his five-year career, Olson compiled 126 wins. He also twice took third at sections (freshman, sophomore). Coach Smith: “(Brenn) could have been the poster child for the slogan ‘Eat, Sleep, Breathe wrestling.’ He was born into wrestling and loved the sport.”
#13) Cael Bartels (107/120/113, Chatfield, 2014-2020): A six-year varsity guy, Bartels finished a two-time section champion at 113 pounds. Each time at state, he placed. He took fifth as a junior (34-10) and third as a senior (38-4). Posted a 119-69 career record. Coach Bartels (dad): “(Cael) took a beating in 7th and 8th grade, but that forced him to get tough. (He) found his move…fireman’s…and evolved as a wrestler every year.”
#14) Justin Viss (160/171/195, Chatfield, 2009-2013): A back-to-back 195-pound section 1A champ. At state, he placed both times, taking sixth (35-12) and fifth (36-9). Viss went 105-56 for his career. A key member of the Gophers 2013 state third place team. Former coach Viss (dad): “Would wrestle the weight that gave the team the best chance to win. Wrestled heavyweight in the state team tourney and cut some weight to wrestle 195 in the individual tourney the next day.”
#15) Alex Haffner (103/112/132/138/160, Chatfield, 2008-2014): A six-year guy, Haffner just missed state three times (took third) and made it twice (one-time section champ). Had five 20-win seasons, finishing with a 172-68 record. Another key member of Chatfield’s 2013 and 2014 state teams. Former Coach Viss: “(Alex) had great wrestling technique. Really made our team tough by wrestling up a weight class much of the time.”
#16) Lucas Roe (125/135/152, GMLOK/GMLOKS, 2008-2013): A two-time section champ at 152. Roe wrestled four matches his first trip to St. Paul as a junior (35-6). A year later as a senior, he finished sixth on the state stage (40-5). Racked up a 150-50 record. Former coach Richardson: “One of the scrappiest wrestlers to come out of the program, who was very explosive with a cage fighter like attitude while on the mat.”
#17) A.J. Riley (119/125/120/126/145, Chatfield, 2009-2014): Another key member of back-to-back Gopher state qualifying teams. Riley made state as a junior (43-5). He was section champ and took fifth at state (36-5) as a senior. Went 142-38 for career. Former coach Viss: “Very coachable and a naturally talented athlete.”
#18) Parker Hale (132/138/145/152/160, GMLOK/GMLOKS, 2011-2016): Twice a section runner-up, made state as a junior (32-5) and placed third as a senior (20-3) despite missing time that year to injury. Amassed 117 wins over a five-year period. Coach Smith: “(Parker) would work so hard he would start to hyperventilate in practice.”
#19) Ross Herber (106/120/126, LARP, 2017-2020): A two-year state entrant, Herber won a section title (120) as a junior and took fourth at state (31-7). He also made state as a senior in AA (27-6). Herber won 27-plus matches three years, finishing with 110 wins. Coach Tekautz: “A dominant light weight wrestler. Ross put a lot of time on the mat and one of his biggest strengths was that he was always in better shape than his opponent.”
#20) Noah Schlee (112/119/130/126, GMLOK, 2008-2012): A perennially state contender over a four-year period, Schlee made state twice. He went as a freshman (31-10) and as a senior, where he was section champ at 126 (35-5). He took third at sections as a sophomore (33-5) and junior (9-1), finishing with 108 wins over five years. Former coach Richardson: “Had great mat awareness which made his a real tough rider on the top.”
#21) Juan Gomez (171/189, Chatfield, 2008-2011): An early decade two-time state qualifier for the Gophers, Gomez was twice section runner-up. His senior year, he entered state with two losses, made the semis, before taking sixth (36-5). Former Coach Viss: “Deceivingly tough with a never give up attitude.”
#22) Connor Hanson (103/112/126/132/152, FCLMC, 2009-2014): Never qualified for the big stage in St. Paul, but had five 20-plus win seasons, two 30-win years. He finished with a 122-65 record. Hanson went on to be a NCWA All-American at RCTC, then moved on to UW-Eau Claire.
#23) Carter Brandt (189/215, GMLOK, 2007-2011): Went to state as a sophomore and junior. Didn’t place the first trip (30-12) but took fourth as a junior (37-8). Senior year was a letdown, as he took fourth at sections (18-2). Coach Richardson: “One of the programs better grinders through the whole match and was very dangerous on his feet.”
#24) Greg Johnson (160/171/182, LARP, 2009-2013): A two-time state entrant, Johnson went as a junior (29-13) and as a senior, taking sixth in Class AA (32-10). Amassed 100 wins freshman thru senior years.
#25) Anthony Romero (106, GMLOS, 2017-present): Had just one state appearance, but made it count. Won a section title this past year and was Class state 106-pound runner-up (42-4).
#26) Cody Bly (112/170, Chatfield, 2008-2014): Made state as a junior (37-6) and senior (25-3). A member of the Gophers back-to-back state qualifiers in 2013 and 2014. Former Coach Viss: “Very much a team wrestler, had no problem wrestling the weight that would give the team the best chance to win.”
#27) Monty Holm (130/145/170/182/195, FCLMC, 2009-2014): Had one excellent season. As a senior, started the year 32-0, winning a section title, before going one-and-done in St. Paul. Coach Cullen: “(Monty) had 19 pins his senior year, only not pinning six opponents he wrestled.”
#27) Noah Herber (182/195, LARP, 2016-2019): Took third at sections back-to-back years before making state as a senior. Wound up on the podium, taking fifth on the big stage (29-8).
#28) Jacob Bleess (182/195/220, Chatfield 2011-2015): Put together three 25-plus win seasons and two 30-win seasons, including a section title and state appearance as a senior (36-5). Another on Chatfield’s back-to-back state title teams. Finished with 109 wins. Former Coach Viss: “(Jacob) always gave himself a chance to win and it didn’t matter who he was wrestling…no fear.”
#30) Ryan Meeker (135/145/132/152, Chatfield, 2010-2015): Another on Chatfield’s back-to-back state teams, Meeker twice qualified for state, as a sophomore (30-13) and as a junior (30-9). Coach Viss: “(Ryan) won a ton of close matches with tough opponents. (He) did not get rattled when behind and kept his eye on the win.”
With the expansion of the Fillmore County Journal, its sports section will also expand into new markets. We look forward to this additional coverage.
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