The 2007 edition of the MWCA (Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association) All-State Academic Team consists of twenty-eight student-athletes with a combined GPA of 3.63. These wrestlers have amassed over 3,800 career wins with a combined winning percentage of 83% “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 twenty-eight honorees will be awarded plaques at the 39th Annual MWCA Recognition Banquet on Saturday, March 3rd at the River Centre Crown Plaza Hotel in St. Paul at 7:00 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…
- Four Individual State Champions made the team
- Perham High School had three members earn this great honor!
- Thirteen members are from Class A, nine from Class AA and six from Class AAA
- This year’s team consists of ten Juniors and eighteen Seniors
- Hakan Binek of Staples-Motley had a perfect GPA of 4.0
- Zach Sanders Wabasha-Kellogg, Kirk Anderson Barnesville, Joe Murphy Trinity, Joe Grygelko STMA, Philip Moenkedick Perham and Blaine Hjelm St Francis were members of the 2006 team.
- There were 153 individual entries – topping last year’s record-setting total of 137!
Here is the complete list of recipients:
103
1. Matt Luchsinger – 11, Tartan (AAA)
2. Shane Bratan – 12, Barnesville (A)
112
1. Ethan Kern – 11, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale (A)
2. Cody Lensing – 11, Totino-Grace (AAA)
119
1. Zach Sanders – 12, Wabasha-Kellogg (A)
2. Luke Amsden – 11, River Valley (A)
125
1. Kirk Anderson – 12, Barnesville (A)
2. Aaron Stolp – 12, Big Lake (AA)
130
1. Joe Murphy – 12, Trinity (A)
2. Hank Virnig – 12, Pierz (A)
135
1. John Amundson – 11, Alexandria (AAA)
2. Eric Yngsdal – 11, Byron (A)
140
1. Ben Anderson – 12, Frazee (A)
2. John Vaith – 12, Hastings (AAA)
145
1. Joe Grygelko – 12, St. Michael-Albertville (AA)
2. Jake Deitchler – 11, Anoka (AAA)
152
1. Michael Guehna – 12, Perham (AA)
2. Kurt Salmen – 12, Dassel-Cokato (AA)
160
1. Travis Rutt – 11, Jackson County Central (AA)
2. Trent Sovde – 12, Greenbush-Middle River (A)
171
1. Philip Moenkedick – 12, Perham (AA)
2. Joe Slaughter – 12, Orono (AA)
189
1. Nic Leither – 11, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (A)
2. Eric Croatt – 11, Ortonville (A)
215
1. Hakan Binek – 12, Staples-Motley (AA)
2. Matt Matthees – 12, Zumbrota-Mazeppa (A)
Hwt.
1. Blaine Hjelm – 12, St. Francis (AAA)
2. Kyle Christopherson – 12, Perham (AA)