With the 2017 Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament kicking off today at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, let’s take a look at who will be representing Central Minnesota in both the team and individual portions of the tournament.

 

TEAM -- Thursday starting at 9 am.

 

Dylan Young
Foley senior Dylan Young points to the crowd after getting a pin in the section 6AA team final. (Photo courtesy of Mike Garceau)
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FOLEY

 

The Falcons will be heading back to state for the tenth straight year after beating Litchfield 30-25 in the Section 6AA finals. Their first round opponent is a familiar one, the Perham Yellow Jackets. Foley beat Perham in Round One of last year’s state tournament, and will look to do the same this year.

 

PIERZ

 

For the seventh consecutive year, Pierz will compete in the team portion of the State Wrestling Tournament. The second-seeded Pioneers will square off against unseeded Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg (KMS) in round one, a team that Pierz was able to double-up in last year’s state tournament, by a score of 44-22.

 

Jalen Jansen
Jalen vs Blackduck: Pierz’s Jalen Jansen wrestling in the section 7A team finals. (Photo courtesy of "You Are There Sports")
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INDIVIDUALS -- Friday and Saturday, starting at 9 am.

 

CLASS A

 

PIERZ

 

The Pioneers from Pierz will not only be competing at State as a team, but they will also be represented by nine young men in the individual portion of the state tournament, including four seniors who have a combined 113-7 record this season.

 

106 -- Brandon Funk (9) 24-14
120 -- Jake Andres (10) 32-6
132 -- Brandon Ortman (12) 24-2
138 -- Reese Kapsner (10) 36-5
145 -- Andrew Tomala (12) 24-4
152 -- Jalen Jansen (11) 35-8
182 -- Brett Kapsner (12) 37-1
195 -- Matt Kummet (12) 28-0
220 -- Carson Huls (10) 28-10

 

ROYALTON

 

For Jackson Held, Michael Petron and Jason Kasella, the state tournament is nothing new. All three are returning state entrants from last year.

 

132 -- Jackson Held (10) 20-3
138 -- Michael Petron (12) 20-3
195 -- Jason Kasella (11) 29-4

 

CLASS AA

 

FOLEY

 

The Falcons qualified for the state tournament for the tenth consecutive year, but these five guys will also compete in the individual portion of the tournament. Both Garceau and Lebfevre made the state tournament last year, along with junior Saylor Schmit, who was a 2016 state finalist.

106 -- Nathan Garceau (11) 20-1
113 -- Dylan Young (12) 25-8
152 -- Noah Lebfevre (12) 32-5
195 -- Saylor Schmit (11) 38-2
HWT -- Mitch Trigg (11) 38-3

 

ST. CLOUD APOLLO

 

Senior Peter Nelson will be appearing at the state tournament for the fourth time in his career, and he has state championship aspirations after last year’s runner-up finish.

145 -- Peter Nelson (12) 26-2
152 -- Alex Pachan (12) 17-8

 

BECKER

 

Becker will send one individual to State this year, however, he is no stranger to the big stage. Jaylin Hildebrandt first qualified for the state tournament back in 2015 as a sophomore. He’ll look to step foot on the podium for the first time here in his senior season.

182 -- Jaylin Hildebrandt (12) 26-8

 

CLASS AAA

 

ST. CLOUD TECH

 

The Tech Tigers had three individuals qualify for the state tournament, including 3-time state place winner, Austin Brenner.

152 -- Austin Brenner (11) 37-3
195 -- Tyler Hugg (12) 35-3
HWT -- Micah Mangel (12) 27-11

 

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE

 

2016 state place winner, Hunter Rajkowski, will be joined by fellow senior Tony Bemboom and freshman Jared Spohn, giving the Storm three entrants in this year’s state tournament.

 

106 -- Jared Spohn (9) 32-5
138 -- Hunter Rajkowski (12) 32-6
145 -- Tony Bemboom (12) 31-3

 

SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN

 

The Sabres will have five individuals competing at the state tournament, including former state champion and D1 recruit, Rylee Molitor.

 

106 -- Patrick Hesse (11) 24-11
113 -- Jackson Penk (10) 31-3
126 -- Rylee Molitor (12) 33-1
182 -- Tyler Snoberger (12) 30-6
220 -- Cole Fibranz (10) 31-3

 

220 pounder Carson Huls after sealing the section 7A team title for Pierz. (Photo courtesy of "You Are There Sports")
220 pounder Carson Huls after sealing the section 7A team title for Pierz. (Photo courtesy of "You Are There Sports")
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