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) |