The 2008 edition of the MWCA (Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association) All-State Academic Team consists of 28 student-athletes with a combined GPA of 3.75. These wrestlers have amassed over 4,000 career wins with a combined winning percentage of 82% “We strive to find excellent students who also happen to be excellent wrestlers,” said Dean Jennissen, MWCA All-State Academic Chairperson. “This is truly the cream of the crop and a great example of the caliber of student-athletes we have involved in wrestling state-wide.”
The 28 honorees will be awarded plaques at the 40th Annual MWCA Recognition Banquet on Saturday, March 1st at the River Centre Grand Ballroom in St. Paul at 7:30 a.m.
Junior or senior wrestlers are chosen based upon the following criteria:
- Cumulative GPA – 3.95 = 395 points
- State Tournament Participation – 25 points per year
- Overall matches wrestled – wins and losses – 1 point per match
- Winning percentage – 77% = 77 points
- State Tournament Placement – 1st (50 points), 2nd (40), 3rd (35), 4th (25), 5th (20) and 6th (10)
Interesting Facts about the 2007 MWCA All-State Academic Team…
- 5 Individual State Champions made the team
- Trinity School at River Ridge, Jackson County Central and Albert Lea each had two team members earn this great honor!
- 12 members are from Class A, 10 from Class AA and 6 from Class AAA
- This year’s team consists of 6 Juniors and 22 Seniors
- 4.0 GPA’s were: Joe Bulger-Trinity at River Ridge; Cody Lensing-Totino-Grace; Cody Hansen-Albert Lea; Nic Leither-ACGC; Tony Nelson-Cambridge-Isanti
- Cody Lensing, Totino-Grace; Ethan Kern, Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale; Luke Amsden, River Valley; Eric Yngsdal, Bryon; Travis Rutt, Jackson County Central; Eric Croatt, Ortonville, and Nick Leither of ACGC were members of the 2007 team.
- There were 162 individual entries – topping last year’s record-setting total of 153!
- Thank you to the coaches for nominating these deserving student-athletes and for promoting the great sport of wrestling! Goal for next year: 200 entries!
The complete list of recipients is listed below…
|
Wrestler |
School |
|
|
103 |
||
|
1 |
Joe Bulger – 12 |
Trinity School at River Ridge (A) |
|
2 |
Andrew Gorentz – 11 |
Perham (AA) |
|
112 |
||
|
1 |
Cody Lensing – 12 |
Totino-Grace (AA) |
|
2 |
Cody Hansen – 11 |
Albert Lea (AAA) |
|
119 |
||
|
1 |
Ethan Kern-12 |
Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale (A) |
|
2 |
Chad Henle-12 |
New London-Spicer (AA) |
|
125 |
||
|
1 |
Luke Amsden – 12 |
River Valley (A) |
|
2 |
Tom Kelliher-12 |
Apple Valley (AAA) |
|
130 |
||
|
1 |
Cole Von Ohlen – 12 |
Jackson County Central (A) |
|
2 |
Micah Olson-12 |
Trinity School at River Ridge (A) |
|
135 |
||
|
1 |
Nathan Lexvold-12 |
Kenyon-Wanamingo (A) |
|
2 |
Logan Kortan-11 |
Albert Lea (AAA) |
|
140 |
||
|
1 |
Derek Schreiner-12 |
Wayzata (AAA) |
|
2 |
Eric Yngsdal – 12 |
Byron (AA) |
|
145 |
||
|
1 |
Tony Valek-12 |
Scott West (AA) |
|
2 |
Carter Adams-11 |
Coon Rapids (AAA) |
|
152 |
||
|
1 |
Kevin Steinhaus – 11 |
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (A) |
|
2 |
Andrew Lockrem-12 |
Frazee (A) |
|
160 |
||
|
1 |
Eric Reinert-12 |
Watertown-Mayer (AA) |
|
2 |
Will Johnson – 12 |
Hibbing (AA) |
|
171 |
||
|
1 |
Travis Rutt – 12 |
Jackson County Central (A) |
|
2 |
Eric Croatt – 12 |
Ortonville (A) |
|
189 |
||
|
1 |
Nic Leither – 12 |
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (A) |
|
2 |
Eric Ryan-12 |
Goodhue(A) |
|
215 |
||
|
1 |
Tony Nelson – 11 |
Cambridge-Isanti (AAA) |
|
2 |
Kyle Schumm-12 |
St. Michael-Albertville (AA) |
|
Hwt. |
||
|
1 |
Cody Socher-12 |
Delano (AA) |
|
2 |
Zach Loppnow-12 |
Lake City (AA) |