This year’s team consists of twenty-seven individuals from around the Mankato area. The team by numbers… 25 wrestlers were state entrants, ten were state place winners, four were state finalist, and two were state champions.
Three wrestlers made the team at 106 pounds. Sophomore Skyler Petry for WEM-JWP lead the team at 106. Petry went 43-2 on the season and was a state-runner up. Levi Marsh and Russell Caldwell are the other team members at 106. Marsh, a freshman at LCWM made big strides this year going 32-14 and was a state entrant. Russell Caldwell from Maple River is also a freshman, qualified for state tournament and had a season record of 32-9.
Louis Sanders, Zack Kuhns, and Dylan Wolff are the representatives at 113 pound weight class. Sanders, a freshman at LCWM finished the season with a 35-7 record and placed 5th in the state. Kuhns, a junior from Maple River qualified for the state tournament as a section champion finished the season with a 33-6 record. The third team member at this weight is Dylan Wolff of WEM-JWP. Dylan had a season record of 34-9 and finished 4th in section 1AA.
Dylan Herman of United South Central is the lone team member at 126 pounds. Herman, a sophomore finished the season placing third in the state tournament with a record of 38-3.
The 132 pound weight class boast three state entrants including the class A state champion. Leading this stellar weight class is Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial’s junior, Tanner Trembley who went 40-2 in route to his state championship. Sophomore Aaron Trio of Maple River and 8th grader Derek Herman of USC round out the weight. Trio was a section champion and qualified for his first state tournament with a 34-8 record. Herman also made his first state tournament with a season record of 31-8.
At 138 pounds, seniors Seth Barkosky of Maple River and Dakota Yarger of LCWM got the nod. Barkosky put together a season record of 30-12 record and qualified for the state tournament. Dakota Yarger compiled 31 victories this season and fished with a 4th place section finish.
State champion Adam Cooling highlights the 145 pound class. Cooling, a junior from Madelia Truman posted a season record of 41-2 as well as being named to the All-State academic team.
At 152 pounds, senior David Lassahn of NRHEG holds down the spot. Lassahn is a past 2X state entrant and compiled a season record of 34-8 while placing 3rd in sections.
Junior Brady Ayers from WEM-JWP leads the way at 160. Brady was a section champ as well as a 6th place finisher at the state wrestling tournament. Brady ended the season with a record of 38 wins and 9 losses.
Garett Schmit of Nicollet and Colton Carlson of USC at the area representatives for the 170 pound weight class. Schmit put together an impressive senior campaign as he captured the section championship and qualified for the state tournament. Schmit compiled a season record of 34-7. Carlson, just a sophomore for the Rebels qualified for state as a section runner-up, had an impressive 37-7 record on the season and was one match away from placing at state.
182 is another loaded weight for the All-Area team as both members that made the squad were state place winners. Nate Meixell of Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial capped off a stellar senior season wrestling in his second consecutive state finals earning runner-up honors. Meixell finished the season with a 36-4 record and also named Academic All-State. United South Central’s Brady Thisius also put together a great senior season going 42-3 winning a section title and placing 3rd at state.
Two more state place winners hold down the 195 pound weight class. Junior Tyler Jakes of Mankato West was a section champion and placed 5th at state. Jakes finished his season with a 43-3 record and was named Academic All-State. Senior Seth Patranek of NRHEG is the second honoree at 195. Patranek qualified for state as a section runner-up, had a season record of 35-10 and placed 6th at state.
At 220, the spot belongs to junior Lincoln Benzkofer from Mankato East. Benzkofer qualified for the state tournament as a section champion, placed 5th in the state and accumulated a season record of 31-7.
Anchoring the All-Area team is Paul Sonnek a senior from Maple River. Sonnek was a state entrant qualifying as a section runner-up and put together a season record of 25-8.
Mankato Wrestling Club’s All Area Wrestling Team
- 106 – Skyler Petry WEM-JWP, Levi Marsh LCWM, Russell Caldwell MR
- 113 – Louis Sanders LCWM, Zack Kuhns MR, Dylan Wolff WEM-JWP
- 120 – Jacob Gonzales USC, Byron Forestner MT, Colin Ayers WEM-JWP, Dustin Esplan NRHEG
- 126 – Dylan Herman USC
- 132 – Tanner Trembley LCWM, Aaron Trio MR, Derek Herman USC
- 138 – Seth Barkosky MR, Dakota Yarger LCWM
- 145 – Adam Cooling MT
- 152 – David Lassahn NRHEG (Moved from 145)
- 160 – Brady Ayers WEM-JWP
- 170 – Colton Carlson USC, Garett Schmit Nic
- 182 – Nate Meixell LCWM, Brady Thisius USC,
- 195 – Tyler Jakes MW, Seth Petranek NRHEG
- 220 – Lincoln Benzkofer ME
- 285 – Paul Sonnek MR (moved from 220)