ROGERS, Minn. — World champion Max McEnelly headlined Minnesota/USA Wrestling’s annual awards banquet Sunday, sharing insights from his gold medal triumph and discussing his future with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The Oct. 5 event at the Crown Room Banquet Center at the Wellstead brought together athletes, coaches and volunteers from across the state to celebrate another year of wrestling excellence.
McEnelly, who captured world gold earlier this year, served as guest speaker and sat for an interview about his championship experience and upcoming collegiate career. The Minnesota native’s appearance provided inspiration for the state’s young wrestlers while offering a glimpse into elite-level competition.
The evening’s program recognized accomplishments across multiple categories and age groups. Triple Crown winners — athletes who excelled in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines — received special honors for their versatility.
Top performers in the REPS (Recognizing Excellence through Points System) points standings were acknowledged across five divisions: youth, girls, 14-and-under, 16-and-under, and junior. The points-based system tracks wrestler participation and performance throughout the season.
Outstanding Wrestler honors were awarded to Minnesota’s top performers on the national and international stages, while annual organizational awards recognized coaches and volunteers whose contributions sustained the sport’s growth statewide.
Minnesota/USA Wrestling serves as the state’s governing body for amateur wrestling, overseeing youth through senior-level competition and Olympic development programs.
View Minnesota/USA Wrestling Photos from the banquet
R.E.P.S. Points Awards
R.E.P.S. Points – Wrestlers accumulate points throughout the season in Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman events sponsored by MN/USA and USA Wrestling.
R.E.P.S. Points 2025 Top 10 Girls Standings
1 Freyda Nelson (14U) – 2160
2 Caley Graber (JR) – 1600
3 Nora Akpan (JR) – 1550
4 Kenley Kierstead-Hahn (10U) – 1525
5 Chloe Wehry (16U) – 1460
6 Smara Addow (10U) – 1340
7 Cassandra Gonzales (JR) – 1330
8 Hailey Goth (14U) – 1160
9 McKenna Goth (10U) – 1035
10 Alivia Emms (10U) – 1025
R.E.P.S. Points 2025 Top 10 Junior Standings
1 Jackson Thorn – 1340
2 Jarrett Wadsen – 1040
3 Christian Jelle – 910
4 Logan Schwanz – 820
5 Luke Hoag – 780
6 Jarred Goodman – 740
7 Hank Meyer – 660
8 Charles Vanier – 640
9 Kaleb Mead – 625
10 Brayden Melby – 620
R.E.P.S. Points 2025 Top 10 16U Standings
1 Gage Bjerga – 1740
2 Garrett Bjerga – 1260
3 Alex Gau – 1250
4 Andrew Olson – 1110
5 Zane Engels – 1085
6 Adrian Fuchs – 1080
7 Gabriel Roehl – 1055
t8 Sawyer Schendel – 1040
t8 Joey Cady – 1040
10 Dalton Humeniuk – 1030
R.E.P.S. Points 2025 Top 10 14U Standings
1 Michael Alexander – 1450
2 Rett Huerta – 1270
3 Maverick Baker – 1240
4 Harper Hamacher – 1190
5 Tucker McLennan – 1110
6 Micah Donahue – 1075
7 Elias Motta – 1070
8 Jett Foster – 1050
9 Cole Berhow – 1045
10 Alexander Bragg – 1035
R.E.P.S. Points 2025 Top 10 Youth Standings
1 Till Stroud (8U) – 3220
2 Dominick Hoffer (12U) – 2535
3 Jace Evers (12U) – 2405
4 Javier Larson (10U) – 2325
5 Calum Hollenbeck (8U) – 2260
6 Cash Carter (12U) – 2095
7 Lightning Whiterabbit (8U) – 2005
8 Theseus Yang-Elson (8U) – 1780
9 Philip Yang-Elson (10U) – 1710
10 Alan Petersen (8U) – 1700
Triple Crown Award Winners
These wrestlers swept the MN/USA State Tournaments, winning folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman state titles in their age division.
- 6U: Olive Yang-Elson, Mason Brockway
- 8U: Braylee Botler, Cal Boehlke, Theseus Yang-Elson, Till Stroud
- 10U: Kenley Kierstead-Hahn, Jaxon Cardinal, Nash Jirele, Aden Czepa, Clayton Trembath, Phillip Yang-Elson, Henry Seidl
- 12U: Aurora Priebe, Jaxon Liffrig, Easton Schut, Cash Carter, Kingston Beach, Jack Kutz, Dominick Hoffer
- 14U: Rhilyn Tolzman, Adrianna Kunz, Payton Helmin, Freyda Nelson, Cameron Rodgers, Elias Motta, Rett Huerta, Jacob Graber
- 16U: Joey Cady, Cayden Neisen, Lincoln Robideau
- JR: Caley Graber, Dylan St. Germain
Minnesota/USA Outstanding Wrestler Awards
Outstanding U17
Men’s Freestyle: Miklo Hernandez
Men’s Greco: Titan Friederichs
Women’s Freestyle: Cassandra Gonzales
Outstanding U20
Men’s Freestyle: Max McEnelly
Men’s Greco: Quinlin Morgan
Women’s Freestyle: Aspen Blasko
Outstanding U23
Men’s Freestyle: Gavin Nelson
Men’s Greco: Soren Herzog
Women’s Freestyle: Nina Makem
Outstanding UWW Senior
Men’s Freestyle: Hayden Zillmer
Men’s Greco: Peyton Robb
Women’s Freestyle: Katie Lange
Outstanding MN/USA 16U
Men’s Freestyle: Miklo Hernandez
Men’s Greco: Gage Bjerga
Women’s Freestyle: Sarah Pulk
Outstanding MN/USA Junior
Men’s Freestyle: Jarrett Wadsen
Men’s Greco: Joel Friederichs
Women’s Freestyle: Caley Graber
Association Awards
Official of the Year: Steve Ricard
Coach of the Year: Savannah Vold
Table Worker of the Year: Amy Peterson
Volunteer of the Year: Dan Buker
Visit mnusawrestling.org to learn more about Minnesota/USA Wrestling.