By Mike Finn
Statistically, Ryder Rogotzke did not have the season in 2022-23 that the wrestler from Stillwater (Minn.) High School enjoyed a year earlier when he won the 182-pound Minnesota state championship and posted a 56-1 record as a junior. He also pinned 44 of 47 opponents that he actually wrestled and was named the 2022 Junior Schalles Award for pinning.
But personal statistics did not mean as much to Rogotzke, who was 52-3 and finished second in the 2023 state tournament to end his high school career.
It should be noted that two of Rogotske’s three losses came against the nation’s top-ranked 195-pounder, Max McEnelly of Waconia High School, including in the finals of the state tournament. Rogotzke had wrestled 70 percent of his matches at 182 pounds before moving up to take on an even tougher task in the postseason … even though his normal weight was 190 pounds. (The other loss was an injury disqualification against Rogotzke for an illegal mat return.)
“I was en route to just pin every single person in the season,” said Rogotzke. “We have something called the Pony Stampede, but everyone backed out because we always have the toughest teams in Minnesota there like Waconia. We knew there was a chance I could face McEnelly so we decided give people a match. I had nothing to lose so I bumped up. I ended up losing by two points and was put in the position (to) either stay in my 182 route or set another goal and go get him again.” Continue reading at win-magazine.com →