Minnesota West Community & Technical College - more talent, more competitive
By Matt Krumrie
Randy Baker enters his fourth season as head coach of the Minnesota West Community & Technical College wrestling program excited and optimistic. Despite some unexpected challenges last season - a few wrestlers leaving the team, health challenges, and the dreaded winter storm forcing meet and tournament cancellations, several team members rallied when it mattered most, and the Blue Jays finished 25th in the nation at the 20222 NJCAA national tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
"We hope to build on our national finish each year," said Baker. "We had an All-American last year we want to have multiple All-Americans and continue to move up the standings at nationals."
Last year's top-25 team was bolstered by the performance of three national qualifiers, including 165-pounder Damon Ashworth, who earned All-American honors by finishing sixth in the nation at 165. Ashworth, an academic All-American with a 4.0 GPA, has now moved on to compete at the University of Central Missouri, a Division II school in Warrensburg, MO.