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Yep
Tman21
Coach Becker and Coach McDonald do a great job every year with WMML, but I don’t think even they see themselves at #2 after graduating the whole top of their lineup last year. They have a handful of studs that will get bonus almost every time, but that still leaves 9 weights to worry about. I predict a lot of high scoring duals for them this year!
The other section 2AA semifinal teams (Scott West, St. Peter, Mankato East) lost much less than WMML from last year and will be back in the hunt for sure!
“Once you’ve wrestled, everything else is easy”
Jared
On October 7, 2025 at 12:19 pm Tman21 saidCoach Becker and Coach McDonald do a great job every year with WMML, but I don’t think even they see themselves at #2 after graduating the whole top of their lineup last year. They have a handful of studs that will get bonus almost every time, but that still leaves 9 weights to worry about. I predict a lot of high scoring duals for them this year!
The other section 2AA semifinal teams (Scott West, St. Peter, Mankato East) lost much less than WMML from last year and will be back in the hunt for sure!
Don’t forget about the addition of New Prague to this section. A very young team last year that will be looking to make it to the section finals.
iplaywrestling
On October 24, 2025 at 7:53 pm Yep saidWhat am I missing on Simley? They have Kos and the Minch Boys. Do they have any other hammers that I don’t know about?
Jacob Kranz got 4th at 114 last year with a record of 38-10, and Amilio Salas got 4th as well with a record of 37-11. Kranz is a Junior and Salas is a senior. (records are from before the state tourney)
Larson311
MNWrestle AA team Rankings are below
- Simley
- Grand Rapids
- Kasson-Mantorville
- Zumbrota-Mazeppa
- Pierz
- Marshall
- Becker
- Perham
- Little Falls
- Watertown/Mayer
- Scott West
- New Ulm Area
- United
- Totino-Grace
- Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/Push the pace
Projected lineups seem like they’d help a lot. Nothing against Pierz, but the predictions above seem a bit strong. Watertown lost some heavy hitters, but may not fall off as much as anticipated. With some maneuverability down low they could start alot of duals off with a hefty lead. It’ll be interesting to see the 6aa teams after Becker a handful that if kids progressed in the off season that could make big jumps. Anml, Rocori, Hlww, Dcl
CheckTheOil
#5AA Perham vs #5AAA Bemidji @ 5pm https://youtube.com/live/CtoLjaIHMD0?feature=share
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/AA appears to be wide open for many many teams.
Foley beat Becker
New Prague has beaten Watertown Mayer and Marshall
Grand Rapids and New Ulm both winning individual tournaments with very good teams in them.
Some good upcoming duals this week for AA to continue to see where teams are at, even though it’s very early!
Watertown vs Zumbrota (might try and get to that one!)
Scott west vs New Ulm
Kasson vs chatfield
Solid throughout. One of the more balanced teams, I’d put New Prague in a similar category as them.
I think when simley has all their guy’s in the set weights, they will be the favorites as well as with their post season experience.
Watertown is matchup dependent, but if they can get right match ups can hang with or beat anyone.
- On December 11, 2025 at 9:34 pm Minny said
Wow what a night of wrestling!
Becker over Pierz
Watertown/Mayer over Zumbrota-Mazeppa
anymore upsets or great duals?
Would personally argue more of ranking issue than upset.
watertown was dropped harshly yet pretty much is going to score over 20 points every dual which most teams can’t gurantee that.
no disrespect to Pierz but against some of the teams they were ranked above probable lineups would make it a bit questionable.
- On December 12, 2025 at 9:19 am Push the pace saidOn December 11, 2025 at 9:34 pm Minny said
Wow what a night of wrestling!
Becker over Pierz
Watertown/Mayer over Zumbrota-Mazeppa
anymore upsets or great duals?
Would personally argue more of ranking issue than upset.
watertown was dropped harshly yet pretty much is going to score over 20 points every dual which most teams can’t gurantee that.
no disrespect to Pierz but against some of the teams they were ranked above probable lineups would make it a bit questionable.
Pierz would have won had Melby not had to Injury Default, not sure what happened, but hopefully nothing too serious.
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ - On December 12, 2025 at 9:19 am Push the pace saidOn December 11, 2025 at 9:34 pm Minny said
Wow what a night of wrestling!
Becker over Pierz
Watertown/Mayer over Zumbrota-Mazeppa
anymore upsets or great duals?
Would personally argue more of ranking issue than upset.
watertown was dropped harshly yet pretty much is going to score over 20 points every dual which most teams can’t guarantee that.
no disrespect to Pierz but against some of the teams they were ranked above probable lineups would make it a bit questionable.
Pierz would have won had Melby not had to Injury Default, not sure what happened, but hopefully nothing too serious.
Would be a good match, but Melby wins a decision over Boots, it’s 31-31 and Pierz wins on criteria 7-6. Regardless, looks like it was a fun dual
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ Southern MN Grappler
I know 107 is one of the worst weights to rank at but 7th grader Bryce Siem being kept off in AA this week is crazy, he has wins over:
#8A Eli Hanson by fall
UR Owen Schlaak by Fall (Who also has a win over Eli Hanson and previous #2A Joel Thies who somehow went from #2 to UR)
Previoius #2A Joel Thies 12-0
#6A Heydan Danielson 12-3At the Redwood River Riot he placed above:
#6AA Dominic Larson (3rd Place)
#6A Haydan Danielson (5th Place)
#5AAA Noah Bartkowicz (6th Place)
Previous #2A Joel Theis (8th Place)Only loss on the season is a 7-0 loss to #1AA Trey Kraemer in the finals at Redwood River Riot
- On December 23, 2025 at 11:22 am Southern MN Grappler said
I know 107 is one of the worst weights to rank at but 7th grader Bryce Siem being kept off in AA this week is crazy, he has wins over:
#8A Eli Hanson by fall
UR Owen Schlaak by Fall (Who also has a win over Eli Hanson and previous #2A Joel Thies who somehow went from #2 to UR)
Previoius #2A Joel Thies 12-0
#6A Heydan Danielson 12-3At the Redwood River Riot he placed above:
#6AA Dominic Larson (3rd Place)
#6A Haydan Danielson (5th Place)
#5AAA Noah Bartkowicz (6th Place)
Previous #2A Joel Theis (8th Place)Only loss on the season is a 7-0 loss to #1AA Trey Kraemer in the finals at Redwood River Riot
AA 107 may be one of the most interesting rankings currently. Hamacher I believe has only lost to Kraemer who is ranked 1. Guess if you lose to the number 1 guy you’re out. There’s some ranked with no significant wins at all and one historically has a below .500 record if you simply go on USA bracketing. There’s a few pretty high level wrestlers they are missing at that weight class. This would be an interesting one to see how it ages at the excel.
Les Siem
This thread was brought to my attention and we really appreciate the support for Bryce. I always tell my son to pay no attention to rankings, and just keep focusing on the grind, one match at a time. Rankings are truly just opinions at the end of the day, and both wrestlers always start a match with zero points regardless. Miklo was not ranked his 7th grade year and he’s done just fine for himself 😁 It’s so fun watching these kids grow and progress.
I can handle rankings over one kid or the other. Class A doesn’t even have kids near the weights they’ve weighed in at this year, and that’s the team they have ranked #1. I can’t imagine the rest of the weights are close if the obvious one isn’t. 🙄
I get it’s tough and everyone thinks this kid or that kid should be in there. But not having obvious kids at weights is either lazy or incompetent.
Miklo just won the Christmas Tournament at 133. He’s probably not going down for state unless it gives their team a better chance to win.
Beachy weighed in and wrestled well at 127. Beat a couple of good kids there. Probably not wrestling 145.
Greenwaldt moved up in rankings at 152 and hasn’t wrestled there all year. He’s been at 145. Not even in preseason has he wrestled there.
Those are just a couple obvious ones.
MKC
On December 23, 2025 at 7:07 pm Yep saidI can handle rankings over one kid or the other. Class A doesn’t even have kids near the weights they’ve weighed in at this year, and that’s the team they have ranked #1. I can’t imagine the rest of the weights are close if the obvious one isn’t. 🙄
I get it’s tough and everyone thinks this kid or that kid should be in there. But not having obvious kids at weights is either lazy or incompetent.
Miklo just won the Christmas Tournament at 133. He’s probably not going down for state unless it gives their team a better chance to win.
Beachy weighed in and wrestled well at 127. Beat a couple of good kids there. Probably not wrestling 145.
Greenwaldt moved up in rankings at 152 and hasn’t wrestled there all year. He’s been at 145. Not even in preseason has he wrestled there.
Those are just a couple obvious ones.
Even though I agree with you, don’t bring that “A” talk into this thread, they talk enough about “A” in there own thread
To the guillotines credit it is a free resource with the most god awful pop ups known to man. It is significantly easier than a lot of other local states for local wrestling information. It also creates a free forum for old dudes to complain on.
But I think it could adopt some updates.
For the recent rankings I’d say one thing is it shows how unpredictable AA is this season which should make it quite a post season. A few takes. I want to argue Simley shouldn’t be 1, but it’s tough to say who in AA beats them when doing the math of matchups. It’s not like other years though where a AA Simley or Kasson could contend with STMA. New Ulm has a lot of balance, but the fact they don’t have a ton of top ranked guys means they don’t have a ton of guaranteed wins in a dual either. Had Becker beat Foley which was right there with a guy getting pinned that was expected to win they flip flop from unranked to ranked. Becker will need to be strategic in duals with some of the holes they have. There a few lighter weight classes in AA that I could see unranked kids placing at state. My predictions are Little Falls upsets new Ulm, Becker bounces back, and water town/new Prague have a heck of a section final.
Nearfall
I agree AA for teams is crazy! Pierz/ Little Falls have cupcake schedules with weak competition, so you don’t know how they will do against good teams.
Foley is getting better and had close duals with Little Falls and Perham. I think Foley wins 6AA team section this year. Becker has holes and so does Foley, but I just saw some of the box scores for the Jackhammer and Foley has some kids who can beat Becker’s studs.
Foley could put that Wall kid on Levi Thompson and William on Boots. Hell, they could put Wall on Bennett also. A lot of people think this Wall kid from Foley is going to shock a lot of people. I heard he was the talk at the Jackhammer.
- On December 23, 2025 at 11:22 am Southern MN Grappler said
I know 107 is one of the worst weights to rank at but 7th grader Bryce Siem being kept off in AA this week is crazy, he has wins over:
#8A Eli Hanson by fall
UR Owen Schlaak by Fall (Who also has a win over Eli Hanson and previous #2A Joel Thies who somehow went from #2 to UR)
Previoius #2A Joel Thies 12-0
#6A Heydan Danielson 12-3At the Redwood River Riot he placed above:
#6AA Dominic Larson (3rd Place)
#6A Haydan Danielson (5th Place)
#5AAA Noah Bartkowicz (6th Place)
Previous #2A Joel Theis (8th Place)Only loss on the season is a 7-0 loss to #1AA Trey Kraemer in the finals at Redwood River Riot
I have Seim in my rankings, but I’m sure I have some head scratchers too. 107 in AA has been a tough one to rank this year for sure.
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ whiskeytango
Yes after seeing how this Wilhelmi kid is wrestling for foley lately it may be closer then 15 . He is probably the biggest surprise for the falcons . I see foley dropped down in weights this last weekend but I don’t think it really helps them all that much. But thats just my opinion. If both teams are healthy it will be a good one
I think this helps Foley looking at the results from the last dual. On paper it looks like Becker needs Bennet and Thompson to stay up because Becker has way too many holes past 152.
Not sure who this Britz kid is but after watching him wrestle a New Ulm kid Becker could be in trouble.
HeadlockFromBottom
Early, but I’ll put out some team qualifier predictions to get a conversation started. I feel like the forum has died down a lot in recent years.
(Also, are the old threads just gone? Reading the 2016-2019 stretch of the 2AA thread used to always be some good laughs)
1AA: Simley (Brutal section, but Simley has the least holes)
2AA: New Prague (Watertown seems too soft up top)
3AA: New Ulm (Final vs Marshall could be fun)
4AA: South Saint Paul? (Who is even in this section?)
5AA: Totino Grace (Another super light section here)
6AA: Foley (I can easily see Becker taking this though)
7AA: Grand Rapids (Pierz & Little Falls just aren’t quite there)
8AA: Perham (They just wrestle a tougher schedule than the rest of their section. They will be more ready)
Section1AAFan
On January 11, 2026 at 12:24 pm Push the pace saidI’ll admit I thought New Prague was going to rough up Becker. Looked like they wrestled well and pulled off some close wins when needed.
Appears New Prague will be wrestling Scott West tomorrow fight from what I see.
Looks like NP was missing 1 guy when they went against Becker last week.
I’ll make a prediction for the Scott West New Prague dual. New Prague, Watertown, and Scott West are shaping up to be another fun 2AA section team tournament.
I’ll go by the last lineups I’ve seen these teams wrestle, as I think both may be missing 1 or 2 guys.
Wagner Pin Herrman 6-0 NP
Bresnehan Maj Kallal 6-4 NP
Lehman Pin Davis 6-10 SW
Lofton Pin Harding 12-10 NP
Schultz Maj labelle 12-14 SW
Tousigant Dec Thompson 12-17 SW
Breegeman Maj Pumper 12-21
Hartman Dec weeman 12-24
Bauer Pin ? 18-24
Williams Pin Deutsch 18-30
Balk Dec Sullivan 18-33
Johnson pin Schultz 24-33
shepard Dec Olson 27-33
- On January 14, 2026 at 11:24 am Tommy Thompson said
Remember Mankato East will also be at Scott West Thursday night and they are a pretty balanced team . What are your thoughts on the match up with mankato against each of those two teams
I don’t know too much about them – they are greatly improved it seems from the years past. Kudos to their coaches
I would probably give them a better chance against Scott West than New Prague.
I would still likley favor them both against Mankato though.
- On January 14, 2026 at 9:18 am Section1AAFan saidOn January 11, 2026 at 12:24 pm Push the pace said
I’ll admit I thought New Prague was going to rough up Becker. Looked like they wrestled well and pulled off some close wins when needed.
Appears New Prague will be wrestling Scott West tomorrow fight from what I see.
Looks like NP was missing 1 guy when they went against Becker last week.
I’ll make a prediction for the Scott West New Prague dual. New Prague, Watertown, and Scott West are shaping up to be another fun 2AA section team tournament.
I’ll go by the last lineups I’ve seen these teams wrestle, as I think both may be missing 1 or 2 guys.
Wagner Pin Herrman 6-0 NP
Bresnehan Maj Kallal 6-4 NP
Lehman Pin Davis 6-10 SW
Lofton Pin Harding 12-10 NP
Schultz Maj labelle 12-14 SW
Tousigant Dec Thompson 12-17 SW
Breegeman Maj Pumper 12-21
Hartman Dec weeman 12-24
Bauer Pin ? 18-24
Williams Pin Deutsch 18-30
Balk Dec Sullivan 18-33
Johnson pin Schultz 24-33
shepard Dec Olson 27-33
Becker was also missing a ranked Jacob Williams at 127 against New Prague.
bjpalik
When I look at the Grand Rapids line-up against Pierz I see a couple of names missing. If they are all there there for sections, it might be a different outcome. This could be true for Pierz as well, I would not know. I do know the GR coach is excellent at learning from a first encounter and adjusting the line-up accordingly.
Well that’s very interesting to say the least . At least Foley can’t complain about transfers anymore if it is true . And I don’t know what the rules are or anything but if it’s for this year and the coaches let them wrestle in the place of the kids that worked there ass off all season it would be very disappointing .
- On January 16, 2026 at 12:35 pm Gator24 said
After looking into the rules looks like it can take place mid-season or anytime a family does relocate. Whitch is interesting.
That actually sounds right. When apple valley and stma tied for state. that season a bigger kid I think his name was Trey lost his spot at AV and a week later was wrestling for Simley if I remember correctly.
Wizzer6
I think your referencing the situation when an 8th grade Gable Stevenson bumped a Senior Trom Peterson from AV’s line-up and landed him in Simley. But it’s important to note the movement in and out of AV and Simley in those days was not wrestling related. Those were change of residence situations for work related purposes or something else and those families listed and were selling their homes. Had they been any thing else, the MSHSL wouldn’t have approved the eligibility. (I’ll note that Gable was an 8th grader, so he’d still be OK as an open enrollee).
- On January 16, 2026 at 3:19 pm HeadlockFromBottom said
Did anyone watch the GR vs Pierz dual? I’d be curious to know how that Zajac vs Skelly match went down. It’s hard to imagine Skelly just got worked all match and pinned in the third.
Looking at the bout scoring, it looks like it was back and forth until the end of the 2nd when Zajac got a takedown and 4 nearfall to take a 12-6 lead. Then a reversal and pin in the 3rd.
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ Manager15
Ya they will help Foley some . But foley was already gonna win at 121 I am guessing Becker will still win 7,14,27,33,45 ,52 Foley will have to run the table from 160 on out or get huge bonus points. Becker could throw Kuyava at 39 and just get 3 or maybe a major . The new addition will definitely save them points at 127 . It will be a great duel. Coin flip means a lot in this one in my opinion.
Welp
On January 22, 2026 at 8:10 am Yep saidI was convinced everyone would be in an uproar because of some transfers. But I guess that is just Class A that throws a fit and cries about it. Well done AA 👏
Transfering purely for a HS sport is weird. I think we lost the plot of HS athletics.
- On January 22, 2026 at 10:46 am Welp saidOn January 22, 2026 at 8:10 am Yep said
I was convinced everyone would be in an uproar because of some transfers. But I guess that is just Class A that throws a fit and cries about it. Well done AA 👏
Transfering purely for a HS sport is weird. I think we lost the plot of HS athletics.
I’m not a pro transfer person, but there is more to it than just HS athletics.
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ - On January 22, 2026 at 11:40 am whiskeytango said
It’s just the timing of the transfer that sucks for both Little Falls who has a solid team and a chance at making it to state and the Foley wrestlers that may loose a spot on the team when they wrestled all year !
Oh we have some in-season transfers? Hadn’t heard that yet…I see them on the Foley roster…what was the reasoning?
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ wrestlingfanatic80
The weight class has been all over. Some were ranked early on that have been very irrelevant. It seems the older kids are getting a little more consideration than some of the younger guys. Not sure if common most years but I see some of the 7&8th graders at that weight making a run over some of the older guys. It wrestling eachother definitely effects the rankings. Curious if McKenzie for Simley is out or what’s going on there. Was ranked pretty well without a ton of big victories and now not ranked. Definitely certain teams getting more attention than others but common especially the lighter weights. Like many weight classes the biggest headache is the disparity from some sections to the others. There will be some that could place that won’t be at state.
Prefer not to put the kids down in any way with how hard they all work, but I think centeno is ranked really well and I’d put money on some unranked guys beating him. Other than being older his best victory I see is unranked Donahue of w-m who Hamacher took it to rather easily. I haven’t seen other big wins for him from AA or other classes for him but he’s been ranked well all year. The guy that was ranked first early on is no longer at the weight or ranked. It’s a super tough weight for the ranking editors for sure. There’s a few that will be 7th grade 107s next year that will be hammers that won’t be on the radar until mid season. Other than those seeing the youth tournaments they won’t be super known out of the gate.
- On January 23, 2026 at 10:13 am Push the pace said
Prefer not to put the kids down in any way with how hard they all work, but I think centeno is ranked really well and I’d put money on some unranked guys beating him. Other than being older his best victory I see is unranked Donahue of w-m who Hamacher took it to rather easily. I haven’t seen other big wins for him from AA or other classes for him but he’s been ranked well all year. The guy that was ranked first early on is no longer at the weight or ranked. It’s a super tough weight for the ranking editors for sure. There’s a few that will be 7th grade 107s next year that will be hammers that won’t be on the radar until mid season. Other than those seeing the youth tournaments they won’t be super known out of the gate.
Siem really is that good, unfortunately we haven’t seen him get a lot of competition outside of a few matches, would have been nice to see him up at 113 a few times this year to get some more competition. Kid has hit 25 pins already as a 7th grader. He has wins over multiple ranked kids in both A and AA and his only loss is 7-0 to #1AA Trey Kraemer of Rocori
Pinned #10A Owen Schlaak NRHEG
12-0 over #7A Joel Theis Holdingford
12-3 over #5A Hayden Danielson Minneota
Pinned #5AA Javean Centeno Hutchinson
12-2 over #8A Payton Sorbel Jackson County Central - On January 22, 2026 at 10:21 pm Oldgoat said
New Ulm over Marshall 42-23
Do you have the full box score? USA Bracketing only has from the middle weights and up.
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ Whiteboard
6AA should be a good one now. Unfortunately- transferring goes on everywhere. Typically, more often with big schools where it doesn’t affect the programs. Late season transfers are unusual and not common. It would be interesting on what reasons why they left Little Falls. If Little Falls had Nielsen and Ramsdell’s they would be hard to beat. Good for Foley! It should help them make a push to the State Tournament. Would be interesting what past coaches from Foley would think. Lyle Frudeburg and Scott Goreski. They did a great job on homegrown kids and keeping the program close knit. Hopefully, this doesn’t effect the program.
Little Falls loses here and Foley wins.
ryan.wall
This line below you wrote isn’t a direct attack on the current coaching staff?
Would be interesting what past coaches from Foley would think. Lyle Frudeburg and Scott Goreski. They did a great job on homegrown kids and keeping the program close knit. Hopefully, this doesn’t effect the program.
We will see if they wrestle tomorrow for Foley ? I don’t think it’s a smooth transition as of yet . The mom will have a a lot longer commute to work as she teaches in swanville .This may get looked into, especially after not even giving the coaches a heads up you are leaving. Classy
Tilted
- On January 23, 2026 at 4:56 pm Whiteboard said
Plus- the topic is about the class AA not personal attacks.
You honestly couldn’t have walked more into it asking what Gorecki would think. He’d probably regret not sneaking back to Foley if he knew it was coming. Quite the timing to go from Foley to Royalton when Foley dipped down for a bit, move to Royalton when they were criticized their rise was due to poaching from area teams, and jumps to Becker right when they became very competitive. Only bandwagon missed in the area was hopping on the DCL one for a hot minute awhile ago when they first coop’ed. Sorry not trying to stir things up, but good gosh the irony asking what he would think of Foley having a transfer. Not their first. One of the Nielsens moved there back in the day.
If I had to put out a prediction for the New Prague Watertown dual. I’d say the 107 and 114 matches will be what decide it.
107 Wagner Dec Donahue 3 – 0
114 Leiter Dec Lofton 3 – 3
121 Joel F Davis 3 – 9
127 Titan F Lofton 3 – 15
133 Marx F Labelle 3 – 21
139 Thompson Maj Foley 7 – 21
145 Pumper TF Burmeister 12 – 21
152 Mead TF Weeman 12 – 26
160 Tufte Dec Bauer 12 – 29
172 Deutsch F Palmer 18 – 29
189 Sullivan F Larson 24 – 29
215 Sheppard F Gallus 30 – 29
285 Johnson F Haliday 36 – 29 NP
- On January 26, 2026 at 9:58 am HeadlockFromBottom said
If I had to put out a prediction for the New Prague Watertown dual. I’d say the 107 and 114 matches will be what decide it.
107 Wagner Dec Donahue 3 – 0
114 Leiter Dec Lofton 3 – 3
121 Joel F Davis 3 – 9
127 Titan F Lofton 3 – 15
133 Marx F Labelle 3 – 21
139 Thompson Maj Foley 7 – 21
145 Pumper TF Burmeister 12 – 21
152 Mead TF Weeman 12 – 26
160 Tufte Dec Bauer 12 – 29
172 Deutsch F Palmer 18 – 29
189 Sullivan F Larson 24 – 29
215 Sheppard F Gallus 30 – 29
285 Johnson F Haliday 36 – 29 NP
107 Wagner Dec Donahue 3 – 0
114 Brose Fall Lofton 3 – 6
121 Leiter Dec Davis 3 – 9
127 Joel F Fall Lofton 3 – 15
133 Titan F Fall Labelle 3 – 21
139 Marx Dec Thompson 3 – 24
145 Pumper Dec Foley 6 – 24
152 Weeman Dec Burmeister/Palmer 9 – 24
160 Mead TF Bauer 9 – 29
172 Tufte Dec Deutsch 9 – 32
189 Sullivan F Larson 15 – 29
215 Sheppard F Gallus 21 – 29
285 Johnson F Haliday 27 – 29 WMML
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/- On January 26, 2026 at 10:30 am HeadlockFromBottom said
Forgot about Brose since he hasn’t wrestled for a while. However, Pumper and Weeman will both get bonus in that lineup. Leiter v Davis is a toss too. Could see Marx with a Maj here though.
If betting on it I think Wagner picks up a bonus at 107. He beat hamacher earlier who controlled Donahue quite well. Not all that sure Brose pins Lofton either. No dog in the fight for either team on my end. Seems like a dual where an upset will sway the whole dual. Studs need to get pins and other guys need to save points. If they wrestled 10 times could be 50/50
I agree. WMML’s biggest problem is obviously that they can’t stop the pins up top. Their hammers always need to pin and their middle of the road guys like Donahue, Foley, and Leiter need to find wins or at least hold off bonus, but they aren’t quite at the level where they can confidently do that while bumping up. WMML is really weird with the extreme difference in the levels of their guys. They will be in every dual, but the lack of mobility in their line up makes it hard for them to beat a team with depth. A team like New Ulm, for example (lots of depth, but no studs), would probably be really tough for them to handle.
- On January 26, 2026 at 10:24 am Larson311 saidOn January 26, 2026 at 9:58 am HeadlockFromBottom said
If I had to put out a prediction for the New Prague Watertown dual. I’d say the 107 and 114 matches will be what decide it.
107 Wagner Dec Donahue 3 – 0
114 Leiter Dec Lofton 3 – 3
121 Joel F Davis 3 – 9
127 Titan F Lofton 3 – 15
133 Marx F Labelle 3 – 21
139 Thompson Maj Foley 7 – 21
145 Pumper TF Burmeister 12 – 21
152 Mead TF Weeman 12 – 26
160 Tufte Dec Bauer 12 – 29
172 Deutsch F Palmer 18 – 29
189 Sullivan F Larson 24 – 29
215 Sheppard F Gallus 30 – 29
285 Johnson F Haliday 36 – 29 NP
107 Wagner Dec Donahue 3 – 0
114 Brose Fall Lofton 3 – 6
121 Leiter Dec Davis 3 – 9
127 Joel F Fall Lofton 3 – 15
133 Titan F Fall Labelle 3 – 21
139 Marx Dec Thompson 3 – 24
145 Pumper Dec Foley 6 – 24
152 Weeman Dec Burmeister/Palmer 9 – 24
160 Mead TF Bauer 9 – 29
172 Tufte Dec Deutsch 9 – 32
189 Sullivan F Larson 15 – 29
215 Sheppard F Gallus 21 – 29
285 Johnson F Haliday 27 – 29 WMML
what about with Scott west?
From what I saw WM beat Scott west with a close win at 107 and a pin at 114 over Lehman at 114 (not sure if was caught or not) and only won by 8
is it possible it’s a Scott west vs New Prague final?
- On January 27, 2026 at 11:34 am HeadlockFromBottom said
Thinking SW v NP will be in the semis. Probably end up as the 2 and 3 seeds.
I think SW lines up better against NP and makes it to the finals with WMML again.
I think New Prague beat WM at the beginning of the year.
I’ll take a crack at it
Semis
Donahue Dec Bresnehan 3-0
Lehamn Dec Brose 3-3
Leiter tech Harding 8-3
joel pin 14-3
Titan pin 20-3
marx tech tousignant 25-3
breggerman maj Foley 25-7
mead pin 31-7
judge Dec tufte 31-10
williams Pin 31-16
balk pin Larsen 31-22
Shultz pin gallus 31-28
Olson pin Halliday 34-31
NP vs Sw final
Wagner pin Herman 6-0
bresnehan dec Lofton 6-3
lehman maj Davis 6-7
lofton pin Harding 12-7
schultz Dec labelle 12-10
Thompson Dec Tousignant 15-10
Breggeman maj Pumper 15-14
hartman dc weeman 15-17
judge Dec Bauer 15-20
williams pin Deutsch 15-26
balk dec Sullivan 15-29
Shepard Dec Schultz 18-29
johnson pin Olsen 24-29 Scott west
I didn’t know about that match between Watertown and NP. In that case, I think it will be an SW v NP final.
SW vs WMML I think goes basically how you have it down. Brose v Lehman will decide the dual again.
SW vs NP Could be pretty interesting. I imagine there could be a lot of shifting guys around.
107 Wagner F Herman 6-0
114 Lofton Dec Bresnahan 9-0 Toss
121 Lehman Dec Davis 9-3
127 Lofton F Harding 15-3
133 Schultz Maj Labelle 15-7
139 Tousignant Dec Thompson 15-10
145 Breggeman Dec Pumper 15-13
152 Hartmann Dec Weeman 15-16 Toss
160 Judge Dec Bauer 15-19
172 Williams F Deutsch 15-25
189 Balk Dec Sullivan 15-28
215 Sheppard F Schultz 21-28
285 Johnson F Olson 27-28 SW
ladywrestledown
Dearest gentle reader, craziness happening in AA – A family moves to a new school district. Both boys are fully enrolled yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility even though they have moved their family, and sent all appropriate paperwork to the committee. The family has given all documentation asked for, yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility. In the meantime these two high school boys have been bullied, harassed and stalked. Meanwhile going on in Becker, Thompson is able to continually live in Princeton, his siblings still attend Princeton, but he gets to drive to Becker each day at wrestle for them.
The MSHSL claims this is not a “bonified move” but how can they claim this when that is an opinion statement and not a fact.Readers…please tell us how this is okay…punish two quality wrestlers for their parents deciding to move for personal reasons.
twice_as_nice
All I can say over past 30 years that I have been an adult involved in high school sports, I can’t say the MSHSL has not been very consistent in how rules are applied. Not sure if some schools give them more money than others or just someone at certain schools knows the right people to sign off on things, but in every sport I follow there have from the outside very inconsistent application of the rules. Granted I don’t get to see the paperwork but for how situations are described rarely have I heard very similar situations handled the same way. Wishing you all the best and buying a home in a new district should always be approved in my opinion. There will always be those that can game the system but trying to stop those individuals usually hurts more common folk than anyone else. Best of luck!
I have no eggs on the frying pan but if you’re saying in this case Becker gives more money to MSHSL than Foley ? I never heard of something so absurd! And if you’re from Foley you shouldn’t care one way or the other if they wrestle this season . You have kids that wrestled all season and you beat Becker already with out them so what are you worried about ?
- On January 29, 2026 at 8:58 pm ladywrestledown said
Dearest gentle reader, craziness happening in AA – A family moves to a new school district. Both boys are fully enrolled yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility even though they have moved their family, and sent all appropriate paperwork to the committee. The family has given all documentation asked for, yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility. In the meantime these two high school boys have been bullied, harassed and stalked. Meanwhile going on in Becker, Thompson is able to continually live in Princeton, his siblings still attend Princeton, but he gets to drive to Becker each day at wrestle for them.
The MSHSL claims this is not a “bonified move” but how can they claim this when that is an opinion statement and not a fact.Readers…please tell us how this is okay…punish two quality wrestlers for their parents deciding to move for personal reasons.
Sorry but I don’t feel bad for them. They transferred with a month left in the season and are mad they don’t get to wrestle?!?! Would love to know the reason they transferred. I have a feeling it wasn’t a move for actual life reasons and likely parents whining about something stupid, as that is how it usually goes.
Should go without saying, nobody deserves to be bulled or harassed. That stuff isn’t ok.
asterlingedwards
On January 29, 2026 at 8:58 pm ladywrestledown saidDearest gentle reader, craziness happening in AA – A family moves to a new school district. Both boys are fully enrolled yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility even though they have moved their family, and sent all appropriate paperwork to the committee. The family has given all documentation asked for, yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility. In the meantime these two high school boys have been bullied, harassed and stalked. Meanwhile going on in Becker, Thompson is able to continually live in Princeton, his siblings still attend Princeton, but he gets to drive to Becker each day at wrestle for them.
The MSHSL claims this is not a “bonified move” but how can they claim this when that is an opinion statement and not a fact.Readers…please tell us how this is okay…punish two quality wrestlers for their parents deciding to move for personal reasons.
I don’t know if you are personally involved in this but here would be my advice: hate to sound like a certain politician, but lawsuit. MSHSL seems to back down when lawsuits are filed. At the very least, a court injunction can usually be filed to allow the kids to wrestle while they figure it out later. That make more sense to me then NOT letting them wrestle and figuring it out later. Of course, the dangerous part is if they are found not to be eligible later then all the matches they would have wrestled would be considered forfeits for them and the team. But I definitely think taking a kids athletic career away while adults decide if they are “eligible” or not is bad. They can’t go back and compete the season or seasons they miss out on. Let them wrestle while the MSHSL figures it out.
I strongly agree with twice_as_nice except for the money part. I don’t think money has anything to do with it but with 35 years of being a coach/official/admin, I have seen that the MSHSL treats schools VERY differently. It is a “boys club.” Who you know, how well you know them, how much you interact with them determines how you and your school are treated. We all do that though don’t we? You don’t treat the neighbor you like and agree with the same as you treat the neighbor you don’t like and can’t seem to agree with. Unfortunately, that is how the MSHSL operates even though they should, and claim to, treat all schools the same. Great real life lesson- “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” I can give you multiple examples of where the MSHSL seems to have gone against their own rules to let a kid/team compete or not let a kid/team compete over the years. Some of the areas are definitely gray, but some seem really cut and dried but their response doesn’t seem to match.
I will finish by saying this is a new account for me because, yes, I am wary of the blow back my statements could get from the MSHSL. I no longer coach or officiate but I am still involved in education and athletics. Thank you
- On January 30, 2026 at 8:41 am asterlingedwards saidOn January 29, 2026 at 8:58 pm ladywrestledown said
Dearest gentle reader, craziness happening in AA – A family moves to a new school district. Both boys are fully enrolled yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility even though they have moved their family, and sent all appropriate paperwork to the committee. The family has given all documentation asked for, yet the MSHSL will not grant them eligibility. In the meantime these two high school boys have been bullied, harassed and stalked. Meanwhile going on in Becker, Thompson is able to continually live in Princeton, his siblings still attend Princeton, but he gets to drive to Becker each day at wrestle for them.
The MSHSL claims this is not a “bonified move” but how can they claim this when that is an opinion statement and not a fact.Readers…please tell us how this is okay…punish two quality wrestlers for their parents deciding to move for personal reasons.
I don’t know if you are personally involved in this but here would be my advice: hate to sound like a certain politician, but lawsuit. MSHSL seems to back down when lawsuits are filed. At the very least, a court injunction can usually be filed to allow the kids to wrestle while they figure it out later. That make more sense to me then NOT letting them wrestle and figuring it out later. Of course, the dangerous part is if they are found not to be eligible later then all the matches they would have wrestled would be considered forfeits for them and the team. But I definitely think taking a kids athletic career away while adults decide if they are “eligible” or not is bad. They can’t go back and compete the season or seasons they miss out on. Let them wrestle while the MSHSL figures it out.
I strongly agree with twice_as_nice except for the money part. I don’t think money has anything to do with it but with 35 years of being a coach/official/admin, I have seen that the MSHSL treats schools VERY differently. It is a “boys club.” Who you know, how well you know them, how much you interact with them determines how you and your school are treated. We all do that though don’t we? You don’t treat the neighbor you like and agree with the same as you treat the neighbor you don’t like and can’t seem to agree with. Unfortunately, that is how the MSHSL operates even though they should, and claim to, treat all schools the same. Great real life lesson- “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” I can give you multiple examples of where the MSHSL seems to have gone against their own rules to let a kid/team compete or not let a kid/team compete over the years. Some of the areas are definitely gray, but some seem really cut and dried but their response doesn’t seem to match.
I will finish by saying this is a new account for me because, yes, I am wary of the blow back my statements could get from the MSHSL. I no longer coach or officiate but I am still involved in education and athletics. Thank you
I’m not a legal expert, but generally wouldn’t it be best to cite similar situations where it was allowed? Is the issue that they competed for one team and had matches where others were before the season? It’s been referenced on here of when gable got the spot at av the av wrestler was in a Simley singlet shortly after and he did wrestle for av that year. There was a kid from av that the dad go pissy and moved him to border west overnight but the issue there I believe was the coaches would let him do team but not individuals.
did the adress change from where they were when competing for little falls? From what I understand an apartment address would allow a kid to switch teams over night.
fullneslon
I don’t know that it matters why they moved. The fact that it sounds like they sold a house and bought a different one should be the only thing that really matters. Now I will say as a parent I sure would have got clear and accurate information on if my athlete would be able to participate. Families “move” all the time, buy a house or rent and never sell the other and many of these kids still are still able to participate. Now I am not sure about how many happen during the middle to end of a season.
- On January 30, 2026 at 9:09 am Welp saidOn January 30, 2026 at 8:59 am ladywrestledown said
That’s just it, the family has completely moved. They live in the new town, sold their old place…the poor boys are being punished for zero reason
So why did they move?
What do you care? Why should someone have to tell you why they are moving? It doesn’t matter and it has no impact on their eligibility.
- On January 30, 2026 at 9:13 am asterlingedwards saidOn January 30, 2026 at 9:09 am Welp saidOn January 30, 2026 at 8:59 am ladywrestledown said
That’s just it, the family has completely moved. They live in the new town, sold their old place…the poor boys are being punished for zero reason
So why did they move?
What do you care? Why should someone have to tell you why they are moving? It doesn’t matter and it has no impact on their eligibility.
I think we lost the plot with HS sports. They are a great way to help develop kids into great young adults. There is just so much craziness now. Parents are becoming quite entitled and moving kids because they don’t get their way. What kind of message does this send to kids? Sometimes there are legitimate moves for jobs. I am not the biggest fan of the MSHSL but we are getting one side here likely from one of the parents involved. So I have a sneaking suspicion that this wasn’t a legitimate move. Folks love to pile on the MSHSL but c’mon let’s at least maybe give them a small benefit of doubt here?
- On January 30, 2026 at 9:27 am ladywrestledown said
We would love to know what constitutes a “legitimate move”. Whose OPINION gets to be the deciding factor in this?
Getting a different job and actually moving. Not the “get an apartment and say you are living there” type ordeal. So why did you move?
If Thompson is actually living in Princeton and drives to Becker for school (while his siblings are enrolled in Princeton), that absolutely should not be allowed! That is very obviously that family skirting the rules. This is assuming what you are saying about it is true.
Did he open enroll at some point prior? Different rules for that, especially prior to I believe 9th grade. Always more than one side to every story, I have a feeling that we are maybe missing some key parts to this one. Once again as a parent though I would 100% make sure I had a legitimate answer before moving mid school year.
- On January 30, 2026 at 9:38 am littleguy said
Did he open enroll at some point prior? Different rules for that, especially prior to I believe 9th grade. Always more than one side to every story, I have a feeling that we are maybe missing some key parts to this one. Once again as a parent though I would 100% make sure I had a legitimate answer before moving mid school year.
We are getting small snippets of this. I am going to guess this is the two Ramsdahls moving since someone on here mentioned they moved to Foley. Along with the poster whining about Becker transfers. I have absolutely no idea why they moved but since the poster doesn’t want to tell us…. going to guess there is more to the story. If the answer was “well mom got a new job in Foley” or something similar, it would have been mentioned right away.
I agree that we are only getting small parts and I am willing to bet you are 100% correct on who this is about. As far as a new job or not I guess that doesn’t matter so much to me. If they legitimately moved residences and the parents choose to have a further commute to jobs that’s on them. But I am willing to guess there is still more to this story of why they are not granted approval to wrestle.
I very much dislike transfers so I am biased here. The only reason I am being annoying about this is the poster decided to whine and try to gather sympathy here. The poster is almost certainly one of the parents. Just like… what are you doing man. Pair with not mentioning why and just leaves a bad taste in my mouth
I will not argue with you on that point. I am not a fan of kids leaving a school and transferring for athletics. I think the majority of people on the board are against transfers. But the majority of teams and coaches especially before the season will not turn down someone that is going to help your program. Middle to end of the season is a completely different story, you have rolled with a team and now you are supposed to kick two kids out of your lineup that have busted their tale. Tough as a coach and as a parent.
- On January 30, 2026 at 9:24 am Welp saidOn January 30, 2026 at 9:13 am asterlingedwards saidOn January 30, 2026 at 9:09 am Welp saidOn January 30, 2026 at 8:59 am ladywrestledown said
That’s just it, the family has completely moved. They live in the new town, sold their old place…the poor boys are being punished for zero reason
So why did they move?
What do you care? Why should someone have to tell you why they are moving? It doesn’t matter and it has no impact on their eligibility.
I think we lost the plot with HS sports. They are a great way to help develop kids into great young adults. There is just so much craziness now. Parents are becoming quite entitled and moving kids because they don’t get their way. What kind of message does this send to kids? Sometimes there are legitimate moves for jobs. I am not the biggest fan of the MSHSL but we are getting one side here likely from one of the parents involved. So I have a sneaking suspicion that this wasn’t a legitimate move. Folks love to pile on the MSHSL but c’mon let’s at least maybe give them a small benefit of doubt here?
Are you honestly saying people need to justify why they move? I know there is some serious s*&@ going on in Minneapolis right now, but last I checked, people were free to move about the country as they see fit. If they moved, and have paperwork to prove it, who is anyone to question their “why?” Why NEVER matters. It only matters if they did actually move and the only way to “prove” that is with paperwork or with school officials “verifying” that they have. How else would you prove your move? Why would you think someone has to have the proper “why” reason for a move? I don’t agree with moving for high school sports either, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think people who are willing to do it, somehow, need to explain it to me with a proper “why.” Free country, right?
What are you going on about?! They absolutely are free to move! Move wherever you want, move for whatever reason you want. HS sports are a privilege and you aren’t entitled to do whatever you want. There are rules in place though and can be consequences to your actions.
The reason I am asking why here is because we are clearly getting one side to a story and they poster is whining for sympathy.
BigDogIsHere
On January 30, 2026 at 10:06 am TheBandit saidBecker is good at this in general, just like their QB for football who had siblings still at St Cloud Apollo while he was driving to Becker for football.
Does anybody else know how Thompson could possibly still be living in Princeton with siblings in the district?
anamod77
If the Thompson issue is true, then Becker is clearly breaking the Minnesota High Schools rules. The family would have to sell their current home and establish a new residence in Becker school district.
BYLAW 111.00 TRANSFER AND RESIDENCE
1. DOMESTIC STUDENTS
A. A transfer student is eligible for varsity competition provided the student was in Good Standing on the date of withdrawal from
the last school the student attended and one of the provisions in Section (B) (below) is met.
B. A transfer student is eligible for varsity competition if:
(i) 9th Grade Option: The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.
(ii) Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public
school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy
in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to
another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the receiving public school attendance area or
a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents establish a new family residence
- On January 30, 2026 at 10:00 am Welp said
What are you going on about?! They absolutely are free to move! Move wherever you want, move for whatever reason you want. HS sports are a privilege and you aren’t entitled to do whatever you want. There are rules in place though and can be consequences to your actions.
The reason I am asking why here is because we are clearly getting one side to a story and they poster is whining for sympathy.
You keep asking why when why has no impact on the eligibility. I assume you are referring to ladywrestledown as the poster who is whining? I don’t think we even know if she is involved personally in this situation or just reporting what she knows. Yes, there must be something else that is making the MSHSL say they are not eligible if they have the paperwork to prove they moved. Maybe the paperwork is not meeting their standards or something is missing in the paperwork. We don’t know but I can assure you “why” is not the issue so please stop asking why.
Let me quote the reason I keep mentioning…
The reason I am asking why here is because we are clearly getting one side to a story and they poster is whining for sympathy.
Now for this.
I assume you are referring to ladywrestledown as the poster who is whining? I don’t think we even know if she is involved personally in this situation or just reporting what she knows
You cannot tell me with a straight face that this isn’t one of the parents involved here. Who* (edit) else would be doing this.
We don’t know but I can assure you “why” is not the issue so please stop asking why.
Actually, I am going to continue asking why. I would love to hear why it was so important they moved a month before sections. Then come on the forum and whine and start talking crap about other teams.
- On January 30, 2026 at 10:24 am ladywrestledown said
Oofta…you sure are bitter…I am 100% not a parent…
definitely not whining but you sure are a keyboard warrior. I also haven’t spoken ill of any team. Just bringing light to inconsistencies of the MSHSL
Ah yes let’s try and reach for insults. You know exactly what you are doing here. I wouldn’t really care but coming on the forum to give a one sided story and try to gather sympathy is just a bad look.
I am 100% not a parent
Ha… who else would care this much to go whining on the forums
- On January 30, 2026 at 10:21 am Welp said
Let me quote the reason I keep mentioning…
The reason I am asking why here is because we are clearly getting one side to a story and they poster is whining for sympathy.
Now for this.
I assume you are referring to ladywrestledown as the poster who is whining? I don’t think we even know if she is involved personally in this situation or just reporting what she knows
You cannot tell me with a straight face that this isn’t one of the parents involved here. You else would be doing this.
We don’t know but I can assure you “why” is not the issue so please stop asking why.
Actually, I am going to continue asking why. I would love to hear why it was so important they moved a month before sections. Then come on the forum and whine and start talking crap about other teams.
Much to unpack there.
I agree, could very well be a parent but I do not assume.
Again, why does not matter and nobody owes anyone an explanation of why they moved ever!
Yes, a bit of whining but really just telling us the story. Hard to not sound like whining when telling us about kids not being allowed to compete so, somewhat agree on that.
Not sure if she was talking crap about another team. Just pointing out another situation that seems to contradict with the situation we are discussing. Again, hard not to sound like talking crap when pointing out the situation. Don’t think she accused the kid or team in question of anything nefarious, just wondered why it is ok with the MSHSL. That situation sounds legit since open enrollment would allow that so I have no issues with it.
I think it simply comes down to- we need more information but “why” is not the information we need. “What” is causing the MSHSL to say no is the information we need.
I also really dislike transfers. Don’t really like move-ins either but at the same time I have some respect for parents who are willing to completely uproot their lives to further their kids athletic careers. I would definitely never have done that for my kids no matter how many times they would have begged me!
Wrong.
- Varsity Eligibility: If the student is transferring from one high school to another and not enrolling for a reason recognized by MSHSL transfer rules (like starting 9th grade or a family residence change), they may be required to sit out varsity competition for up to one calendar year unless an exception applies. This is to prevent transferring primarily for athletic reasons.
Wrong? I was saying kids transfer for athletics but say they are transferring for academic or other reasons.
Example: Jim Bob transfers from school A to school B because they “have a better Art program that will enable him to earn acceptance into a college art program after graduation.” That is a legitimate transfer reason. He is then eligible to compete for school B in athletics. If he transferred to school B to “join the football team” he would be ineligible.
So who would admit to transferring for athletic reasons?
Seems like regardless of what side of the fence someone is on for this situation the mshsl should have something more clearly put out of what is and isn’t allowed.
when transfers started I hated them. Nowadays I completely understand much more. With the time these kids put in it’s different then what the “what’s the purpose of hs sports” crowd looks at it. Teams that lose athletes whine about others yet don’t seem to reflect on why are they losing kids. People are much more likely to do what’s best for them than to try to change a culture that’s different. Work places are the same. My older relatives worked jobs for decades they hated and felt they had no other option. They weren’t loyal out of the goodness of their hearts they didn’t have other options. Nowadays if a company has bad retention they can adapt or keep losing.
Ok the new forums are a bit difficult to follow. It is like combining forums and some weird reply system. Tough to follow…
For transfers, you can live wherever you want prior to 7th grade. Once you enroll in 7th grade, you are “locked in”. Then transferring requires all the paperwork stuff. It gets a little funny with MS stuff, especially with the new rules this year. If a kid wrestles in a MS program and isn’t certified, then they technically can transfer wherever. It might be the first time you get certified and part of a HS program.
On January 30, 2026 at 10:40 am Push the pace saidSeems like regardless of what side of the fence someone is on for this situation the mshsl should have something more clearly put out of what is and isn’t allowed.
when transfers started I hated them. Nowadays I completely understand much more. With the time these kids put in it’s different then what the “what’s the purpose of hs sports” crowd looks at it. Teams that lose athletes whine about others yet don’t seem to reflect on why are they losing kids. People are much more likely to do what’s best for them than to try to change a culture that’s different. Work places are the same. My older relatives worked jobs for decades they hated and felt they had no other option. They weren’t loyal out of the goodness of their hearts they didn’t have other options. Nowadays if a company has bad retention they can adapt or keep losing.
I am obviously just old and have a different perspective. I get why people do it at times and whatever, their choice. That is not a battle I will win. Transferring during the season just feels a bit different. Like… what are you doing!?!?
It appears that both the MSHL and both schools involved in the transfer have a say in the matter.
- On January 30, 2026 at 11:06 am anamod77 said
Sorry I replied to the wrong response. I agree with you on why would anyone say it’s for athletics.
I was saying wrong to the reply that of you have to compete in athletics in town you live in.
Oh, got it. Yeah, I was confused by that post too. Yes, you can compete for the school you transfer too.
The transfer of Ramsdell to Foley will have a big effect on if Foley beats Becker again. Becker looks like a much different team. Their upper weights have improved and Colford at 121 was not to pick on him one of the not as tough spots earlier beat Huntley from Cambridge last night. That’s a drastic improvement since they lost to Foley earlier.
Not close to the situation, but assumptions is the mshsl is treating the situations differently because one was during the off season and one is midseason. The odd part is I’m pretty certain there have been similar midseason moves before which were fine and more a judgement call of if the coaches of the new team would allow the athletes to compete individually or not.
We have almost no real info, we can assume they’re the same situation but we don’t actually know that. To try to pull this off with a month until post season is not an ideal situation and I’d hope the parents realized this was always a possibility that it could delay past sections. I hope they had reasons beyond wrestling to move so it’s still worth it to them. If this is a sign of MSHSL getting more strict on transfers, you won’t see me getting upset about it. If this makes the next people who want to transfer because of wrestling with a month before sections hesitate, good. Not saying I know that this was the motivation here, but it should absolutely be a concern for any late season transfer that this could happen, which I think is a good thing.
Real information? Go to the county website and look it up. Tell me where they live and what is listed as the homestead for the family. What the rules say about all the kids must attend the same school. Look up and see if the parents separated. That’s also public information. Spend some time doing research and not that hard. FRAUD to the highest
Interesting on all kids need to attend the same school. I am surprised more people have not caused a stink over the Perham transfers this summer, from what I know of the story parents bought a house in Perham their 3 boys attend Perham but their girls still attend I believe Menahga. I am sure that every team in section 8AA has kept an eye on that situation though
Compare the Mshsl decision apples to apples with Becker vs Foley. Off season transfer compared to a month left of wrestling left. You think the home would have been bought before the move and at least tell the little falls coaches you are moving . Make sure you dot the I s and cross the T s before making such a educational /work related move
Read the rules. Do some research. It’s all public information on the county records site. You must sell your home, and ALL kids must attend the same school. You trying to tell us all a family of 8 can live in a two-bedroom townhouse in Becker. Come on man.
Remember the football transfer.
Random Dude44
Why penalize athletes when the Ramsdale parents have supplied all of the documentation the MSHSL has asked for (it is my understanding they have) yeah they left LF at the end of a season, have you heard from their mouth directly why they felt the need to leave? If you haven’t then you should stop commenting.
The Becker situation is a bit different but I would be cautious in using that wrestler in duals until the MSHSL weighs in.
Hardcrossface89
It is not my story to tell. I have not spoken to them either. Simply making a point. Frankly it is none of our business why. Nor should it matter, they have moved to Foley and supplied all the documents requested. Should be case closed. Regardless, the MSHSL needs to get all of this sorted out for both Becker and Foley before team sections. So win or lose the kids can compete.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Hypothetically, could the MSHSL be sued for taking away a couple of kids high school years? If all the documents are provided, which sounds like they are. (with skepticism). What’s a high school kids year worth? Now that NIL is a thing, could you be taking away an opportunity from future potential revenue?
</p>
not saying maybe this is the case for that. But I could definitely see it being a thing in the future. All it will take is one a** kicking law suit and they will be done enforcing transfers. It probably won’t be for this sport. But I predict it will happen, and someone is going to take them to the cleaners.With how long this has been discussed and how nobody can clarify much with certainty for rules it seems very clear the mshsl needs to make the rules very clear and visible. The rules should be cut and dry and consistent. If not yes in the days of potential future NIL and the costs of college they are completely opening themselves up to lawsuits with a lack of consistency.
Heck there have to be some Simley/AV alums that could provide the ins and outs.
From a very reliable source(I’m not the parents): all paperwork has been turned in as asked by the MSHSL. Their reasoning is the family cannot prove the longevity of their move. Not sure when that became a requirement or how ANY family could prove how long they’re going to stay in one place.
Why would it matter if it’s resolved in the next week if the move isn’t about athletics? Doesn’t help the case in my opinion.
The MSHSL is not here to help facilitate transfers as fast as possible. The timing is extremely suspect to everyone here, they’re not dumb. If longevity is a factor, that’s another reason this never should have been attempted in such a short time, which is very subjective but does make some sort of sense. I’m not going to say they shouldn’t wrestle by any means, but this was a terrible idea. When’s the last time anyone was happily pleased with how fast a bureaucratic governing body made a subjective decision?
Yes, it should be clearer what they use to make their decision. But also, I’m sure if they posted black and white rules, they would just be taken advantage of. Which no one wants, until it’s them.
What I don’t think people realize is that the family moved a month ago. t were crossed and I were dotted for some time now but the MSHSL has been dragging their feet. They are supposed to meet the first and third week of each month but all of a sudden this month they have decided not to meet the first week. Pretty sketchy honestly…they said the next time they will meet is Feb 18. Interesting that it is right after team sections when they should also be meeting this week.
Agreed that mid-season is not the best for moving, but there’s zero reason why the boys should be punished and not able to wrestle when the family completely moved to a new town.
Also word on the street is they are looking into how much of this is recruiting vs an actual move . Just something floating around do not know if its 100 percent accurate . Hide the emails and text messages Hillary But I don’t think there’s gonna be any law suits happening . Remember the good old days when Foley peeps would be on here talking about the power house they had for how many straight appearances they had at state . Now they’re worried about getting 2 late season transfers to get them there .
I can guarantee there’s no recruiting going on in Foley. Those Bowland boys are class act fellas and have taken a program that was sinking and in less than two years made them contenders to get back to state. There is absolutely nothing to hide. I believe they beat Becker earlier in the season without the two boys. It’s not about needing them to get to state it’s about the boys being punished for moving when other families do the same thing and can still participate in their sports.
I’m of the opinion that if they compete should be up to the coaches, but I do get that the mshsl is going to be very government esk and I’m sure they don’t want to open Pandora’s box is one of their arguments. If they are supposed to have a meeting it’s very odd they wouldn’t have it, but I can’t see them having a special meeting to expedite anything or next thing you know what if 1-2 guys change weight classes and someone wants to move last minute to get to an easier section or class? Seems there needs to be more cut and dry rules for transfers with hard dates. I will say despite all the drama the family has done a good job of being discreet about and not badmouthing their former team other than they were looking to leave. From what I’ve heard anyone who has asked has received vague polite feedback of why they moved.
Also, in the past it seems in these situations previously a lot of coaches have said people can compete for the team if they want to help the team, but they can’t take an individual spot from a kid that’s earned it the whole season.
- On February 2, 2026 at 7:12 am ladywrestledown said
From a very reliable source(I’m not the parents): all paperwork has been turned in as asked by the MSHSL. Their reasoning is the family cannot prove the longevity of their move. Not sure when that became a requirement or how ANY family could prove how long they’re going to stay in one place.
On February 2, 2026 at 8:40 am ladywrestledown saidWhat I don’t think people realize is that the family moved a month ago. t were crossed and I were dotted for some time now but the MSHSL has been dragging their feet. They are supposed to meet the first and third week of each month but all of a sudden this month they have decided not to meet the first week. Pretty sketchy honestly…they said the next time they will meet is Feb 18. Interesting that it is right after team sections when they should also be meeting this week.
Agreed that mid-season is not the best for moving, but there’s zero reason why the boys should be punished and not able to wrestle when the family completely moved to a new town.
OK I went and looked up the actual rules straight from the MSHSL and posting here.
https://www.mshsl.org/who-are-you/students/eligibility
If I transfer to a new high school, will I be eligible for varsity competition?
.
If you transfer to a new high school, you will be eligible for varsity athletic competition if: (always check with the Sending or Receiving School activities administrators)
1. The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.
2. The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. (As defined in Bylaw 111, under definitions).
3. The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order.
4. A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move. (The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12).
5. If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parents establish a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.
If none of the provisions above are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the Receiving School. The student be eligible to participate in varsity tryouts, practices, scrimmages, jamborees, etc., and sub-varsity competitions. You will not be eligible for varsity competition.
So from what we have heard, this case would fall under point 2? Bylaws for 100.00s here https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/mshsl-handbook-100-series.pdf Bylaw 111 says a lot. Relevant info
Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public
school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy
in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to
another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the receiving public school attendance area or
a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents establish a new family residence.
(See Definitions for further explanation.)
OR
If the parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area,
the student shall continue to be fully eligible if the student continues enrollment in the prior school for the balance
of the current marking period or for the balance of the academic school year. If the student elects either of the current
enrollment options above, the student will be fully eligible upon transfer to the Receiving School in the public school district
attendance area where the student’s parents reside or a non-public school.
A student who elects not to transfer upon a parent’s change in residence shall continue to be eligible at the school in which
the student is currently enrolled.The MSHSL also has a definition for what a change of residence means.
Change of Residence: A change of residence is the actual physical relocation by the parents or guardians of a student with the
intent to reside indefinitely at a new residence in Minnesota and terminate all occupancy of a previous residence. The change in
residence must be bona fide, include other minor siblings and involve a transfer from one public school district attendance area
to another public school district attendance area.
a. For purposes of eligibility determinations, the residence of a student shall be the bona fide location of the residence and
must include occupancy by the students’ parents or guardians in the public school attendance area. Both parents,
except as otherwise provided herein, must physically reside at the residence on a regular basis for the
duration of the student’s enrollment.
b. If a student is married, the student’s residence is determined by the bona fide residence where the student and the student’s
spouse actually reside.
c. In determining whether a change in residence is bona fide, a member school and the League may consider, but will not be
limited to:
i. New mailing address of the parents or guardians
ii. Voting registration of parents or guardians that coincides with the new residence
iii. Driver’s license registration that coincides with the new residence
iv. Purchase or rental agreements
v. Homestead classification
vi. Any reliable evidence of residencyI have a feeling the bolded part is the problem here. If the dad owns a business in Little Falls and then they move to Foley and the mom teaches in Swanville, that is quite the commute from Foley. I am going to guess the MSHSL looked at this and went “don’t think this is a permanent move”.
Something I find a little funny is Fine Arts are exempt from all of these transfer rules. Rules should be the same for both?
- On February 2, 2026 at 9:48 am Welp saidOn February 2, 2026 at 7:12 am ladywrestledown said
From a very reliable source(I’m not the parents): all paperwork has been turned in as asked by the MSHSL. Their reasoning is the family cannot prove the longevity of their move. Not sure when that became a requirement or how ANY family could prove how long they’re going to stay in one place.
On February 2, 2026 at 8:40 am ladywrestledown saidWhat I don’t think people realize is that the family moved a month ago. t were crossed and I were dotted for some time now but the MSHSL has been dragging their feet. They are supposed to meet the first and third week of each month but all of a sudden this month they have decided not to meet the first week. Pretty sketchy honestly…they said the next time they will meet is Feb 18. Interesting that it is right after team sections when they should also be meeting this week.
Agreed that mid-season is not the best for moving, but there’s zero reason why the boys should be punished and not able to wrestle when the family completely moved to a new town.
OK I went and looked up the actual rules straight from the MSHSL and posting here.
https://www.mshsl.org/who-are-you/students/eligibility
If I transfer to a new high school, will I be eligible for varsity competition?
.
If you transfer to a new high school, you will be eligible for varsity athletic competition if: (always check with the Sending or Receiving School activities administrators)
1. The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.
2. The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. (As defined in Bylaw 111, under definitions).
3. The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order.
4. A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move. (The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12).
5. If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parents establish a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.
If none of the provisions above are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the Receiving School. The student be eligible to participate in varsity tryouts, practices, scrimmages, jamborees, etc., and sub-varsity competitions. You will not be eligible for varsity competition.
So from what we have heard, this case would fall under point 2? Bylaws for 100.00s here https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/mshsl-handbook-100-series.pdf Bylaw 111 says a lot. Relevant info
Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public
school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy
in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to
another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the receiving public school attendance area or
a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents establish a new family residence.
(See Definitions for further explanation.)
OR
If the parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area,
the student shall continue to be fully eligible if the student continues enrollment in the prior school for the balance
of the current marking period or for the balance of the academic school year. If the student elects either of the current
enrollment optionsI have a feeling the bolded part is the problem here. If the dad owns a business in Little Falls and then they move to Foley and the mom teaches in Swanville, that is quite the commute from Foley. I am going to guess the MSHSL looked at this and went “don’t think this is a permanent move”.Something I find a little funny is Fine Arts are exempt from all of these transfer rules. Rules should be the same for both?
I think you hit the nail on the head….If they can show that they have sold or are in the process of selling their Little Falls area home the it should be an open and shut case…..
EXACTLY- I think that’s part of the reason I am personally having a hard time with the Ramsdells not being able to wrestle. You can question me all you want, but I will not give up my identity… I know for a fact that they have moved to Foley and they do plan to reside here indefinitely. That is such a gray area And there is zero way for them to prove if a family is moving somewhere indefinitely.. In the meantime, though, there are provable facts that the Thompson family has not actually moved to Becker and his siblings still attend Princeton. His sister Is a swimmer for Princeton and made it to state this year. That is my problem… How the heck is that OK but then the Ramsdell’s are being punished?
- On February 2, 2026 at 9:54 am ladywrestledown said
EXACTLY- I think that’s part of the reason I am personally having a hard time with the Ramsdells not being able to wrestle. You can question me all you want, but I will not give up my identity… I know for a fact that they have moved to Foley and they do plan to reside here indefinitely. That is such a gray area And there is zero way for them to prove if a family is moving somewhere indefinitely.. In the meantime, though, there are provable facts that the Thompson family has not actually moved to Becker and his siblings still attend Princeton. His sister Is a swimmer for Princeton and made it to state this year. That is my problem… How the heck is that OK but then the Ramsdell’s are being punished?
Well as I had in my big post, the issue with the Ramsdells are likely due to the MSHSL not thinking the move is permanent. The timing is also extremely suspect and the MSHSL is probably trying to make a point with these things?
The issue with Becker and Perham transfers are more siblings split between schools. It is also possible the MSHSL just doesn’t know about those two situations. You can go a head and report them to the MSHSL and see what happens. MSHSL oversees a ton of athletes, not shocking some things might fall through the cracks.
Its interesting on the Roiko situation I have been told by numerous people the boys all attend Perham while the girls are still in the old school. They never sold their other property, and both parents are still employed at the old school. I would have assumed that everyone in section 8AA has been keeping an eye on this whole situation. And would have brought that all to the MSHSL
Everyone! This is how the system works.
If the sending school AD and the receiving school agree AD both agree to the information provided, then the MSHSL approves the transfer regardless of the timing. The only way the MSHSL will investigate the transfer is if someone files a complaint and provide facts and evidence.
MSHSL let’s both AD’S schools involved handle everything until someone files a complaint.
<p lang=”EN-US”>Coaches or parents calling the MSHSL on student matters, including eligibility, will be directed to their school’s administration. MSHSL staff work directly with member schools regarding student situations, including eligibility, and bylaw or policy questions. The appropriate method of communication on student situations or questions related to your school’s programs is through your activities administrator or building principal. Activities administrators should gather all information necessary on the questions and then call or email the MSHSL. Please follow this efficient path of communication for questions related to students and programs. </p>
<p lang=”EN-US”>For other information, please select a subject below to ensure your question is addressed appropriately. Please fill out each line completely. The MSHSL responds to email correspondence in the order in which it and other traditional forms of communication (mail, telephone, etc.) are received. In general, we will respond to your email correspondence through email, however, at times other methods may be employed. The MSHSL will not respond to an email transmission that does not include the full name, school affiliation, mailing address and telephone number of the sending party. </p>
I believe it is saying the other children must physically be living in the same change of residence, not attending the same school. Can’t let the other siblings live at the old house.
Putting sports aside, if I moved not terribly far away, and I had one kid who wanted to enter the new school, and one kid who wanted to stay where all their friends are, I would try to make that happen if at all possible and I’m sure most of us would. I’ve seen lots of siblings go to different schools because the family moved or sports or friend groups or bullying. I don’t see that as an automatic DQ, as long as the family is living at their stated residence.
- On February 2, 2026 at 10:10 am ryan.wall said
Everyone! This is how the system works.
If the sending school AD and the receiving school agree AD both agree to the information provided, then the MSHSL approves the transfer regardless of the timing. The only way the MSHSL will investigate the transfer is if someone files a complaint and provide facts and evidence.
MSHSL let’s both AD’S schools involved handle everything until someone files a complaint.
<p lang=”EN-US”>Coaches or parents calling the MSHSL on student matters, including eligibility, will be directed to their school’s administration. MSHSL staff work directly with member schools regarding student situations, including eligibility, and bylaw or policy questions. The appropriate method of communication on student situations or questions related to your school’s programs is through your activities administrator or building principal. Activities administrators should gather all information necessary on the questions and then call or email the MSHSL. Please follow this efficient path of communication for questions related to students and programs. </p>
<p lang=”EN-US”>For other information, please select a subject below to ensure your question is addressed appropriately. Please fill out each line completely. The MSHSL responds to email correspondence in the order in which it and other traditional forms of communication (mail, telephone, etc.) are received. In general, we will respond to your email correspondence through email, however, at times other methods may be employed. The MSHSL will not respond to an email transmission that does not include the full name, school affiliation, mailing address and telephone number of the sending party. </p>So in the Ramsdell case, someone must have complained? In the case of Roiko and Thompson, nobody has complained? I imagine ADs don’t care that much and just rubber stamp to not have to deal with the parents whining
From what I have been told of the Roiko situation you maybe hit the nail on the head of the parents whining. I would say it’s a pretty brash move to pull 3 of your kids all boys from the school, and leave the girls still enrolled. Along with both parents being employed at the school you just pulled some of your kids from. I would think that would make for a little awkward situation.
- On February 2, 2026 at 10:07 am anamod77 saidOn February 2, 2026 at 9:48 am Welp saidOn February 2, 2026 at 7:12 am ladywrestledown said
From a very reliable source(I’m not the parents): all paperwork has been turned in as asked by the MSHSL. Their reasoning is the family cannot prove the longevity of their move. Not sure when that became a requirement or how ANY family could prove how long they’re going to stay in one place.
On February 2, 2026 at 8:40 am ladywrestledown saidWhat I don’t think people realize is that the family moved a month ago. t were crossed and I were dotted for some time now but the MSHSL has been dragging their feet. They are supposed to meet the first and third week of each month but all of a sudden this month they have decided not to meet the first week. Pretty sketchy honestly…they said the next time they will meet is Feb 18. Interesting that it is right after team sections when they should also be meeting this week.
Agreed that mid-season is not the best for moving, but there’s zero reason why the boys should be punished and not able to wrestle when the family completely moved to a new town.
OK I went and looked up the actual rules straight from the MSHSL and posting here.
https://www.mshsl.org/who-are-you/students/eligibility
If I transfer to a new high school, will I be eligible for varsity competition?
.
If you transfer to a new high school, you will be eligible for varsity athletic competition if: (always check with the Sending or Receiving School activities administrators)
1. The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.
2. The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. (As defined in Bylaw 111, under definitions).
3. The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order.
4. A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move. (The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12).
5. If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parents establish a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.
If none of the provisions above are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the Receiving School. The student be eligible to participate in varsity tryouts, practices, scrimmages, jamborees, etc., and sub-varsity competitions. You will not be eligible for varsity competition.
So from what we have heard, this case would fall under point 2? Bylaws for 100.00s here https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/mshsl-handbook-100-series.pdf Bylaw 111 says a lot. Relevant info
Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public
school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy
in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to
another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the receiving public school attendance area or
a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents establish a new family residence.
(See Definitions for further explanation.)
OR
If the parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area,
the student shall continue to be fully eligible if the student continues enrollment in the prior school for the balance
of the current marking period or for the balance of the academic school year. If the student elects either of the current
enrollment optionsI have a feeling the bolded part is the problem here. If the dad owns a business in Little Falls and then they move to Foley and the mom teaches in Swanville, that is quite the commute from Foley. I am going to guess the MSHSL looked at this and went “don’t think this is a permanent move”.Something I find a little funny is Fine Arts are exempt from all of these transfer rules. Rules should be the same for both?
I think you hit the nail on the head….If they can show that they have sold or are in the process of selling their Little Falls area home the it should be an open and shut case…..
On February 2, 2026 at 10:07 am anamod77 saidOn February 2, 2026 at 9:48 am Welp saidOn February 2, 2026 at 7:12 am ladywrestledown saidFrom a very reliable source(I’m not the parents): all paperwork has been turned in as asked by the MSHSL. Their reasoning is the family cannot prove the longevity of their move. Not sure when that became a requirement or how ANY family could prove how long they’re going to stay in one place.
On February 2, 2026 at 8:40 am ladywrestledown saidWhat I don’t think people realize is that the family moved a month ago. t were crossed and I were dotted for some time now but the MSHSL has been dragging their feet. They are supposed to meet the first and third week of each month but all of a sudden this month they have decided not to meet the first week. Pretty sketchy honestly…they said the next time they will meet is Feb 18. Interesting that it is right after team sections when they should also be meeting this week.
Agreed that mid-season is not the best for moving, but there’s zero reason why the boys should be punished and not able to wrestle when the family completely moved to a new town.
OK I went and looked up the actual rules straight from the MSHSL and posting here.
https://www.mshsl.org/who-are-you/students/eligibility
If I transfer to a new high school, will I be eligible for varsity competition?
.
If you transfer to a new high school, you will be eligible for varsity athletic competition if: (always check with the Sending or Receiving School activities administrators)
1. The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.
2. The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. (As defined in Bylaw 111, under definitions).
3. The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order.
4. A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move. (The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12).
5. If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parents establish a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.
If none of the provisions above are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the Receiving School. The student be eligible to participate in varsity tryouts, practices, scrimmages, jamborees, etc., and sub-varsity competitions. You will not be eligible for varsity competition.
So from what we have heard, this case would fall under point 2? Bylaws for 100.00s here https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/mshsl-handbook-100-series.pdf Bylaw 111 says a lot. Relevant info
Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public
school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy
in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to
another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the receiving public school attendance area or
a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents establish a new family residence.
(See Definitions for further explanation.)
OR
If the parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area,
the student shall continue to be fully eligible if the student continues enrollment in the prior school for the balance
of the current marking period or for the balance of the academic school year. If the student elects either of the current
enrollment optionsI have a feeling the bolded part is the problem here. If the dad owns a business in Little Falls and then they move to Foley and the mom teaches in Swanville, that is quite the commute from Foley. I am going to guess the MSHSL looked at this and went “don’t think this is a permanent move”.Something I find a little funny is Fine Arts are exempt from all of these transfer rules. Rules should be the same for both?
I think you hit the nail on the head….If they can show that they have sold or are in the process of selling their Little Falls area home the it should be an open and shut case…..
Did you not read the part where I said the move doesn’t look permanent?!? Let me put it here once more.
I have a feeling the bolded part is the problem here. If the dad owns a business in Little Falls and then they move to Foley and the mom teaches in Swanville, that is quite the commute from Foley. I am going to guess the MSHSL looked at this and went “don’t think this is a permanent move”.
They also expanded their business into Foley. He also owns delivery business that runs out of the Metro area. He owns several properties across the state. He also had a family death as well maybe it was holding him back from moving sooner due to the fact he had care for his sick mother.
Change of Residence: A change of residence is the actual physical relocation by the parents or guardians of a student with the
intent to reside indefinitely at a new residence in Minnesota and terminate all occupancy of a previous residence. The change in
residence must be bona fide, include other minor siblings and involve a transfer from one public school district attendance area
to another public school district attendance area.
a. For purposes of eligibility determinations, the residence of a student shall be the bona fide location of the residence and
must include occupancy by the students’ parents or guardians in the public school attendance area. Both parents,
except as otherwise provided herein, must physically reside at the residence on a regular basis for the
duration of the student’s enrollment.
b. If a student is married, the student’s residence is determined by the bona fide residence where the student and the student’s
spouse actually reside.
c. In determining whether a change in residence is bona fide, a member school and the League may consider, but will not be
limited to:
i. New mailing address of the parents or guardians
ii. Voting registration of parents or guardians that coincides with the new residence
iii. Driver’s license registration that coincides with the new residence
iv. Purchase or rental agreements
v. Homestead classification
vi. Any reliable evidence of residencyI think Welp hit it on the head. Something about their move and commute is making the MSHSL balk at it. As Ryan.wall pointed out too, MSHSL lets ADs handle the situation unless they get a complaint. The MSHSL does NOT have any type of “investigative unit.” ADs are expected to self report. So if the AD sees a violation, they are expected to report it for their school or for any other school. MSHSL doesn’t get involved until they get a report/complaint from someone.
What I was most surprised to see from the rules above was part b. When is the last time that has occurred?
- On February 2, 2026 at 11:02 am Welp saidOn February 2, 2026 at 10:54 am ryan.wall said
Little Falls coach lost his coaching job for harassment two weeks ago………..
WHAT?! That is wild. What an absolute mess of a situation
I would hope you have some actual facts for that and not just hearsay. It would be very careless to start discussing this without a factual source. Please direct us to a real source
Done
No, you didn’t say head coach, someone just assumed. But we all know that lands us when assumptions are made. I will tell you all from first hand knowledge, this coach was let go, not from harrassment, but from someone who took things way too far at the hands of their own because they have been trying to release that coach for a few years, ever since he started. Parents even stuck up for him as well as the students. I can tell you that that assistant coach has had nothing but praise from the parents and the students and were deeply troubled but not surprised at what the people involved did to that coach. You ask any of those kids and they will tell you the same, as well as the other two assistant coaches there. What happened wasn’t warranted and the coach in question was lied to by the AD and Principal but those two were lied to by the person directly involved with the release of the assistant coach. I will not put names on here but those that know the situation in LFs, know that all this mess isn’t anything out of the norm for that school. This whole situation is not going to end well and I just hope all is well for everyone when all is said and done. God Bless everyone with the rest of the season and may all stay healthy and injury free for good competition this month!
GoMNGophers
I am a long time reader of the forum, but don’t post. I just want to share my thoughts on this and this has nothing to do with any one athlete specifically. I chatted with a few Varsity coaches and posed the question of if they would rather win a state title with kids transferring in or place 5th with a group of kids that came up through their youth program. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that every coach I asked said they would rather take 5th with kids coming through their program.
That is not to say there are not reasons for kids to move and go to different schools, but building a team from within just makes it that much more enjoyable in my opinion. Kids that have competed, practiced, and worked hard together since Elementary means something more to me that putting together a group of kids in HS just to try to win.
- On February 3, 2026 at 12:03 pm GoMNGophers said
I am a long time reader of the forum, but don’t post. I just want to share my thoughts on this and this has nothing to do with any one athlete specifically. I chatted with a few Varsity coaches and posed the question of if they would rather win a state title with kids transferring in or place 5th with a group of kids that came up through their youth program. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that every coach I asked said they would rather take 5th with kids coming through their program.
That is not to say there are not reasons for kids to move and go to different schools, but building a team from within just makes it that much more enjoyable in my opinion. Kids that have competed, practiced, and worked hard together since Elementary means something more to me that putting together a group of kids in HS just to try to win.
Completely agree with your post. Unfortunately, that is not the world we live in anymore. We are a society that demands instant success or we will look elsewhere. Look no farther than the current college football ranks with the NIL and the lax transfer rules/portal. Teams are built and dismantled in a matter of days, not months or years. Sad really. It is just going to separate the haves and the have nots by an even wider margin. A great thing going on in college baseball the past seven or eight years has been much more parity. Teams that have never been to regionals, super regionals or the college world series have been making it and competing with the “big dogs.” Hope NIL doesn’t have the same effect on baseball as it is having on football! Love the little guys building up their programs from the ground! High school sports always follow suit to what is going on at the college level. I just hope high school sports don’t this one time.
Some of you guys are assuming that all coaching and rooms are equal. Or even close, or even almost close. They aren’t, and anyone that has spent time driving to camps and sitting through practices knows that they aren’t.
What should someone do (for any sport) if the school doesn’t match the kids and family’s ambitions? What if you’re a great 6’2” WR, and you are on a team with a coach that never throws the ball? Is that kid just supposed to suck it up, and just block and maybe miss scholarships and NIL now?
In my opinion high school leagues shouldn’t be involved at all with transfer stuff. At this point in society (for better or worse) they could be messing with thousands of dollars for family’s and kids. People should be asking why anyone leaves.- On February 4, 2026 at 10:05 am Yep said
Some of you guys are assuming that all coaching and rooms are equal. Or even close, or even almost close. They aren’t, and anyone that has spent time driving to camps and sitting through practices knows that they aren’t.
What should someone do (for any sport) if the school doesn’t match the kids and family’s ambitions? What if you’re a great 6’2” WR, and you are on a team with a coach that never throws the ball? Is that kid just supposed to suck it up, and just block and maybe miss scholarships and NIL now?
In my opinion high school leagues shouldn’t be involved at all with transfer stuff. At this point in society (for better or worse) they could be messing with thousands of dollars for family’s and kids. People should be asking why anyone leaves.Definitely hear ya. Regarding most coaches would rather take fifth with a home grown team than win it all with transfers Id agree and also agree the majority of coaches would rather lose than bring in transfers. People don’t transfer to win a team title. They transfer for many reasons: partners, coaching, exposure, etc.. a lot of people would be less critical of people transferring if they saw the amount of time, miles put on, and effort for the majority of the top performers compared to the average and above average wrestlers. This is from somone who is not a transfer fan, never transferred, or had their kid transfer. Sometimes it’s well out of coaches controls. There have been several coaches that have moved because they couldn’t accomplish what they were capable of in their previous environments. The more a person sees first hand the efforts of the athletes, families, and coaches it becomes much more difficult to be judgemental. If anything it’s become like the business world. Become the type of program that nobody wants to leave and others want theirs to be like.
- On February 4, 2026 at 10:05 am Yep said
Some of you guys are assuming that all coaching and rooms are equal. Or even close, or even almost close. They aren’t, and anyone that has spent time driving to camps and sitting through practices knows that they aren’t.
What should someone do (for any sport) if the school doesn’t match the kids and family’s ambitions? What if you’re a great 6’2” WR, and you are on a team with a coach that never throws the ball? Is that kid just supposed to suck it up, and just block and maybe miss scholarships and NIL now?
In my opinion high school leagues shouldn’t be involved at all with transfer stuff. At this point in society (for better or worse) they could be messing with thousands of dollars for family’s and kids. People should be asking why anyone leaves.Just to be clear- I am not against athletes transferring/moving/open enrolling. There are definitely reasons to do it as Yep stated very well. I just don’t like it, “wishing for the old days” thing. Always loved teams full of kids who wanted only one thing- to represent their community. I agree there are very legitimate reasons for athletes to go to different programs in today’s sports environment. Just takes time to get used to the “new world.”
Would love to know all of your opinions….
Here are the facts…the Ramsdells moved to Foley and have been fully enrolled for over 2 weeks. They have provided all proper paperwork as outlined in the bylaws for the MSHSL but they are still denied eligibility because they can’t prove longevity of their move. Who can though?? They have now been informed that they can do an official review, but the MSHSL has decided to skip their stated Feb 5th meeting(listed on the website) and will now meet Feb 18th for their next review meeting. This also means they will not be reviewing Thompson’s case(there are official complaints in). This is a corrupt system. It is stated on their website they should have a meeting TOMORROW but all of a sudden they’re going to skip it.
Sure…it sounds like I’m whining and complaining but this is beyond messed up. They are affecting the lives of high schoolers…children!!!
How is this right?!
BL Hornet
Interesting that you state Thompson has a complaint in now? Why would someone (from Foley presumably) wait until now. Hasn’t he wrestled at Becker all year?
You are advocating that it’s wrong to deny a wrestler a chance to wrestle but at that same time seem to advocate it.
Why stop there? Dig into some of the successful A and AAA teams.
You don’t want to ruin the season of a wrestler due to adults letting cheating happen, but now that it’s coming to light that the MSHSL is clearly corrupt, things need to be reported and changed. Becker is pretty known for recruiting a sneaking around the rules but enough is enough. HA I’m about to quick my day job and become an investigator and open this all up
- On February 4, 2026 at 10:49 am ladywrestledown said
Would love to know all of your opinions….
Here are the facts…the Ramsdells moved to Foley and have been fully enrolled for over 2 weeks. They have provided all proper paperwork as outlined in the bylaws for the MSHSL but they are still denied eligibility because they can’t prove longevity of their move. Who can though?? They have now been informed that they can do an official review, but the MSHSL has decided to skip their stated Feb 5th meeting(listed on the website) and will now meet Feb 18th for their next review meeting. This also means they will not be reviewing Thompson’s case(there are official complaints in). This is a corrupt system. It is stated on their website they should have a meeting TOMORROW but all of a sudden they’re going to skip it.
Sure…it sounds like I’m whining and complaining but this is beyond messed up. They are affecting the lives of high schoolers…children!!!
How is this right?!
Wow, this reminds me of a similar situation about a decade back involving a hockey player. Rather than review his case, the MSHSL mysteriously cancelled their next meeting and said he could wait until the next meeting, which was scheduled after the first two rounds of sections. I am sure it is a complete coincidence, right?
As I mentioned earlier, and has probably already been pursued by those involved, but a lawsuit could get a judge to issue and injunction which would allow the athletes to compete until the MSHSL meets. That is what happened in the hockey player case and I think the main reason the judge gave it was because of the meeting cancellation.
You are right it does sound like you are whining and crying. In an earlier post you said they have been moved to Foley for a month but now it’s two weeks. I guess I am confused, all I am going to say is I guess as a parent I would have went to a meeting before hand or got a hold of someone to make sure it was going to be ok.
Once again, as a parent I would have found out exactly what needed to be done to facility a clean move. If that meant talking to coaches and administration to ensure that it would have been done. Maybe we should take a vote, of how many people are actually surprised that this didn’t go through. I am sure I am coming off harsh, and in reality I do feel bad for the athletes that are missing out. However instead of putting all this blame onto the MSHSL once again parents should have made sure to do their due diligence in making sure everything was going to go through. Or guess what you suck it up and wrestle for Little Falls for the remainder of the season is wrestling is what is important.
- On February 4, 2026 at 10:49 am ladywrestledown said
Would love to know all of your opinions….
Here are the facts…the Ramsdells moved to Foley and have been fully enrolled for over 2 weeks. They have provided all proper paperwork as outlined in the bylaws for the MSHSL but they are still denied eligibility because they can’t prove longevity of their move. Who can though?? They have now been informed that they can do an official review, but the MSHSL has decided to skip their stated Feb 5th meeting(listed on the website) and will now meet Feb 18th for their next review meeting. This also means they will not be reviewing Thompson’s case(there are official complaints in). This is a corrupt system. It is stated on their website they should have a meeting TOMORROW but all of a sudden they’re going to skip it.
Sure…it sounds like I’m whining and complaining but this is beyond messed up. They are affecting the lives of high schoolers…children!!!
How is this right?!
For not being one of the parents, you sure seem riled up about this. I would echo what others said already, do your homework *before* you actually move to ensure everything goes smoothly.
I disagree 100%. No homework needed at all. If the AD from the sending school disagrees with the transfer, then it holds everything up. If both ADs from each school agree then it goes forward. MSHSL league explains this in their rules. This means the AD from Little Falls does not approve of the transfer and is clearly fighting this.
<p lang=”EN-US”>See below information posted on the MSHSL website.</p>
<p lang=”EN-US”></p>
<p lang=”EN-US”>Coaches or parents calling the MSHSL on student matters, including eligibility, will be directed to their school’s administration. MSHSL staff work directly with member schools regarding student situations, including eligibility, and bylaw or policy questions. The appropriate method of communication on student situations or questions related to your school’s programs is through your activities administrator or building principal. Activities administrators should gather all information necessary on the questions and then call or email the MSHSL. Please follow this efficient path of communication for questions related to students and programs. </p>
<p lang=”EN-US”>For other information, please select a subject below to ensure your question is addressed appropriately. Please fill out each line completely. The MSHSL responds to email correspondence in the order in which it and other traditional forms of communication (mail, telephone, etc.) are received. In general, we will respond to your email correspondence through email, however, at times other methods may be employed. The MSHSL will not respond to an email transmission that does not include the full name, school affiliation, mailing address and telephone number of the sending party. </p>
Frustrating for the kids, but not surprising it’s a slow process and difficult at the end of a season. I could see the Becker transfer being an annoyance, but not sure how them being investigated helps anyone besides potentially messing up a kids season that’s almost done. I can see using it as an argument of why the ramsdell kids should be allowed to wrestle, but wouldn’t try to bring the other kid down with them.
Trying to advocate for a transfer while filing complaints against the other top team in the section… any good faith complaint will meet with the now valid defense that it’s just retaliation from a rival school.
I will also double down that the timing is suspicious as hell, this was ALWAYS a possibility, and this was a horrendous idea for a family that loves wrestling. And I hope they genuinely had other reasons for moving and that this move is still a net positive for them. If late season transfers never go through, you won’t see me being upset
The person telling us how “messed up” it is that kids aren’t able to wrestle, that’s it’s affecting the lives of children, said they knew Thompson now had new official complaints that would have been discussed at the MSHSL meeting. For as bias and passionate they seem about it, I believe them.
- On February 4, 2026 at 12:29 pm ryan.wall said
I disagree 100%. No homework needed at all. If the AD from the sending school disagrees with the transfer, then it holds everything up. If both ADs from each school agree then it goes forward. MSHSL league explains this in their rules. This means the AD from Little Falls does not approve of the transfer and is clearly fighting this.
…. that would be part of the homework! Would you not check with all relevant parties?!
It’s really irrelevant because if the sending school agrees then all it takes is one person from the sending school to file a complaint that disagrees with their AD decision. You can spend time doing all the homework and it doesn’t really matter at all.
The Minnesota High School league provides all this information online.
Looks like the high school league doesn’t have a time limit for AD’s to file their transfer paperwork. Which is absurd because there is relevant timelines in regards to kids eligibility.
So basically he can string this for as long as he wants. I guess I’d be asking why he’s dragging this on?
- On February 4, 2026 at 12:57 pm Yep said
Looks like the high school league doesn’t have a time limit for AD’s to file their transfer paperwork. Which is absurd because there is relevant timelines in regards to kids eligibility.
So basically he can string this for as long as he wants. I guess I’d be asking why he’s dragging this on?
Do we know for sure the LF AD is holding it up? That would be kind of petty
Double leg Takedown
Based off the information I have gathered from multiple sources this is why Foley is having such a tough time with the two boys not being eligible.
At the first dual between them and Becker apparently Becker weighed in a wrestler who was currently not eligible to compete at the time. Their punishment for the decision was pretty much a slap on the wrist.
They also were aware of the transfer situation at the beginning of the year and wanted the mshsl to do something about it, especially with how obvious it was. (The sister was a state entrant swimmer for Princeton this last fall which is completely public information).
I’ve also talked to someone who lives near the family and he claims the wrestler drives from his house to Becker every day for school/practice.
Foley then received the information from their Ad that the two boys from little falls were moving to Foley because of personal reasons/issues with the little falls school district. The coaches from Foley were very against it right away because they believed in their homegrown tradition. Later however they became on board with it because of the boys situation and plans for the family to stay in Foley even past the boys high school careers.
I don’t think Foley as a whole loves the idea of transfers coming in and understands if the mshsl will not grant them eligibility (even though they have filled out all paperwork and follow each rule) but they do want to see the rules and reasons for them not being eligible to be implied across the state.
It is also difficult to see a former head coach for them who left as soon as the team was down a few years ago to go to royalton then later come back once royalton was down for a year and then leave again to their section rival. This former head coach is very knowledgeable with the sport however is very toxic to programs which I believe is why most of the foley wrestling members don’t want to see him back again.
I didn’t hear nothing about Thomson transferring when he got pinned the first time Foley and Becker wrestled! Now that it s getting crunch time and Foley made one last attempt to get Thomson off the team by filing a complaint Monday . Why hasn’t the little falls AD signed off ? Well maybe let them know you’re leaving .It was all pretty hush hush . It’s all about the W . If your gonna transfer do it in off season Iam sure the family could have handled another month in little falls. But Beckers gonna have to jump out to a big lead to hold off Foleys upper weight they have been wrestling well it’s gonna be very interesting to see who they throw out against who.
Spiffcool
Back down to planet Earth “Push the pace.”
Section 1 will be won by Simley, and no one else. Simley crushed Zumbrota-Mazeppa 48-9 while K-M barely squeaked by Z-M 29-27. Simley has eight ranked wrestlers vs. K-M’s six; Simley’s wrestlers ranked much higher. Simley destroyed both Hastings (#4-AAA) 39-20 and Mounds View (#5-AAA) 44-22. Simley has been ranked #1-AA all season with K-M perpectually ranked #2-AA. There will be another second place finish for K-M with Simley back in Section 1.
What is your argument for K-M?
- On February 4, 2026 at 2:08 pm whiskeytango said
I didn’t hear nothing about Thomson transferring when he got pinned the first time Foley and Becker wrestled! Now that it s getting crunch time and Foley made one last attempt to get Thomson off the team by filing a complaint Monday . Why hasn’t the little falls AD signed off ? Well maybe let them know you’re leaving .It was all pretty hush hush . It’s all about the W . If your gonna transfer do it in off season Iam sure the family could have handled another month in little falls. But Beckers gonna have to jump out to a big lead to hold off Foleys upper weight they have been wrestling well it’s gonna be very interesting to see who they throw out against who.
You’re not wrong however rules are rules and it truly does not matter if it’s during or in the offseason. Yes he did get pinned but we all know the wrestler he truly is based off all the success he had prior in Princeton (who is also part of the section). Yes it was last minute and I agree it is something that should have been taken care of immediately. However I think it got more attention with the curiosity of why the boys coming from little falls are not allowed to compete.
- On February 4, 2026 at 3:07 pm Gary Johnson said
Back down to planet Earth “Push the pace.”
Section 1 will be won by Simley, and no one else. Simley crushed Zumbrota-Mazeppa 48-9 while K-M barely squeaked by Z-M 29-27. Simley has eight ranked wrestlers vs. K-M’s six; Simley’s wrestlers ranked much higher. Simley destroyed both Hastings (#4-AAA) 39-20 and Mounds View (#5-AAA) 44-22. Simley has been ranked #1-AA all season with K-M perpectually ranked #2-AA. There will be another second place finish for K-M with Simley back in Section 1.
What is your argument for K-M?
I was more of trying not to select the best ranked team from each section. It’s a dual and I’m not sure how much km could move guys around but I see some matchups going there way. I see Damon Mann picking up a pin at 107. Compared to the majority of 107s he’s had a brutal schedule this season. Not sure on the other matchups but you never know
- On February 4, 2026 at 2:08 pm whiskeytango said
I didn’t hear nothing about Thomson transferring when he got pinned the first time Foley and Becker wrestled! Now that it s getting crunch time and Foley made one last attempt to get Thomson off the team by filing a complaint Monday . Why hasn’t the little falls AD signed off ? Well maybe let them know you’re leaving .It was all pretty hush hush . It’s all about the W . If your gonna transfer do it in off season Iam sure the family could have handled another month in little falls. But Beckers gonna have to jump out to a big lead to hold off Foleys upper weight they have been wrestling well it’s gonna be very interesting to see who they throw out against who.
Seems like a deflection. Heard plenty of the transfer at that time. That’s another reason Foley was so pumped about the win was even with bringing him in Foley won. In the end it may be Little Falls that hoses Becker the most bringing it to light. Becker may beat Foley with the Ramsdells or without. Foley may win either way. It’s going to be a big dual either way if both make it the the championship. An upset or guys saving points may be the difference. If I was Foley I’d have the guys expected to lose doing everything humanly possible to not give up extra points. It will be entertaining to see how the dual goes if it happens. Momentum is a wild thing in duals and will likely be a factor. For those in the know it would be nice to see some hypothetical predictions and probables
I don’t think continually telling people to post under their real name is going to cause anyone to change their user name. To each their own.
with the number of foley and Becker fans on here it must be getting quite secretive that nobody is willing to post probable lineups or predictions that have ideas. Someone better get dusty to hop off the single a thread for a minute and toss out some predictions over here.
Ok I’ll give it a shot. 107 Becker pins 114 Becker major 121 foley wins 127 Becker tech fouls 133 Becker major 139 Becker wins possible major . If Beckers slides up then foley gets a major at 139! 145 152 160 for Becker can go so many ways they got fair back up s that can hold there own Iam thinking foley gets 121 possibly 139 if the move kajuwa Are the gonna throw Boots on Willhelmi that will be a dividing match . Foley gets Hwt and 172 189 if foley throws Gotomonson down at 172 leaves a good chance for Gollie to pick up a win wow Iam all over the place. But it all comes down to see if Becker can get a win out of Boots or Golly. If so it’s over 31-28 . Coin flip very important Becker got some good back up that can fight of points Foley 6 matches Becker 7
A few days ago someone ask our thoughts on how the Becker /Foley match could shake out . I want to apologize for hurting anyone’s feelings not my intention. I just gave my opinion on how I thought it would go down . I don’t see the 107 or 114 pounders Parent on here whining about my opinion on them getting beat against Becker. So no more opinions from me . Also waiting to see box scores from the Foley /Pierz match did Foley have guys out or is Pierz that good. So much for the cup cake schedule !
- On February 6, 2026 at 8:49 am whiskeytango said
A few days ago someone ask our thoughts on how the Becker /Foley match could shake out . I want to apologize for hurting anyone’s feelings not my intention. I just gave my opinion on how I thought it would go down . I don’t see the 107 or 114 pounders Parent on here whining about my opinion on them getting beat against Becker. So no more opinions from me . Also waiting to see box scores from the Foley /Pierz match did Foley have guys out or is Pierz that good. So much for the cup cake schedule !
Oh man I see why Foley needed the transfers! That was a beatdown
Lovebeingretired
On February 5, 2026 at 10:07 pm ryan.wall saidPierz thought the same thing tonight as well and lost. Keep lighting his fire because he reads this stuff as well.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I know Wyatt won in the last 5 seconds of a match worthy of a State Semifinal and kudos to him. But talking smack after your team just got housed 43-15 rings a little hollow.</p>
- On February 6, 2026 at 8:49 am whiskeytango said
A few days ago someone ask our thoughts on how the Becker /Foley match could shake out . I want to apologize for hurting anyone’s feelings not my intention. I just gave my opinion on how I thought it would go down . I don’t see the 107 or 114 pounders Parent on here whining about my opinion on them getting beat against Becker. So no more opinions from me . Also waiting to see box scores from the Foley /Pierz match did Foley have guys out or is Pierz that good. So much for the cup cake schedule !
Weight Summary
107
Easton Stangl-McCann (24-13) 8th, PIER over Joseph Udermann (6-10) 7th, FOLE (TF 19-4 (5:00))
114
Levi Poser (6-16) 8th, PIER over Forfeit, FOLE (FF)121
Rylan Gruber (34-6) Jr., PIER over Parker Kipka (24-17) 8th, FOLE (Dec 5-2)
127
Gauge johnson (25-10) So., PIER over Everett Bemboom (5-4) Fr., FOLE (F 3:32)
133
Grady Young. (32-8) So., PIER over Noah Brunn (11-8) Sr., FOLE (Dec 7-2)
139
Wyatt Wall (31-7) Sr., FOLE over carter young. (38-3) Sr., PIER (Dec 7-5)
145
Link Toops (33-6) Jr., PIER over jacob demarais (22-11) So., FOLE (Dec 4-3)
152
Hunter Wilhelmi (30-6) Sr., FOLE over Hunter Przybilla (20-14) Sr., PIER (MD 19-8) O
160
Brayden Melby. (12-1) Sr., PIER over Brody Kipka (16-9) Jr., FOLE (TF 24-6 (5:48))m
172
William Gutormson (34-5) Sr., FOLE over Eli Gaffke (9-15) So., PIER (TF 17-1 (2:28)) O
189
Dominic Rudnitski (18-12) Jr., FOLE over Brecken Andres (26-12) Jr., PIER (Dec 8-3) O
215
brad tanner (16-15) Sr., PIER over Walker Harris (18-13) Jr., FOLE (F 1:23)
285
Henry Hoffman (27-13) Sr., PIER over messiah vizenor (27-14) Fr., FOLE (F O:44)
Final Score
Pierz 43
Foley 15
Zajac didn’t even wrestle for Pierz. Nursing a minor ankle injury.
Lovebeingretired thanks for the box scores. Wow no Zajac and still won like that. Foley could have there hands full if that’s the line up they throw against Howard Lake . I see they forfeited 114 and Molitor hasn’t wrestled for awhile for Foley so Iam assuming he’s hurt or something. Foley probably would have won at 114 but probably not at 107 .
- On February 6, 2026 at 10:26 am ladywrestledown said
Molitor beat that kid already this year at 107
Yup, 7-6 in the 114 lb 7th place match at the Paul Bunyan in December. Pretty sure neither wrestler currently resembles who they were back at that point.
sorry – I was messed up on the dual thing in the original post. They only wrestled at the Bunyan at 114.
Great win for Pierz. Even though I normally see through my “blue” glasses, but regardless of who may have been missing, would need Foley to find another gear to win. Both teams have plenty of things to be proud of this year, now is the time to get through sections and leave it all on the mat.
Lloyd Christmas
So for AA
Section 1 – Simley
Section 2 – New Prague/Watertown
Section 3 – New Ulm
Section 4 – ??
Section 5 – Totino Grace
Section 6 – Becker/Foley/HLWW/Roccori
Section 7 – Pierz/Grand Rapids
Section 8 – ??? (5 teams in the Lean and Mean)
Section 1 is tough as nails but Simley will make it out.
Section 2 is also tough but I give the edge to New Prague. I think Watertown has too many holes up top.
Section 3 New Ulm probably comes out? They have had really nice results this year.
I have no idea who is even in Section 4.
Section 6 will be fun.
Section 7 If Rapids has their full lineup, can Pierz beat them again?
Section 8 is a mess. No elite team but a bunch of solid teams. Absolutely no idea who is the favorite.
- On February 7, 2026 at 10:53 am Welp said
So for AA
Section 1 – Simley
Section 2 – New Prague/Watertown
Section 3 – New Ulm
Section 4 – ??
Section 5 – Totino Grace
Section 6 – Becker/Foley/HLWW/Roccori
Section 7 – Pierz/Grand Rapids
Section 8 – ??? (5 teams in the Lean and Mean)
Section 1 is tough as nails but Simley will make it out.
Section 2 is also tough but I give the edge to New Prague. I think Watertown has too many holes up top.
Section 3 New Ulm probably comes out? They have had really nice results this year.
I have no idea who is even in Section 4.
Section 6 will be fun.
Section 7 If Rapids has their full lineup, can Pierz beat them again?
Section 8 is a mess. No elite team but a bunch of solid teams. Absolutely no idea who is the favorite.
For 7 Pierz seems to be on a run and pulling it off well in duals. Feel like whoever comes out of their section of most likely them or GR should do well at state
Fish Hook
Localfan
On February 10, 2026 at 3:33 pm ladywrestledown saidLet me know if I’m wrong here, but did Watertown get a mid season transfer from Waconia this year? It got approved?
also, does anyone know what happened with Kushel this year?Watch your own bobber, Like Herb Brooks once said “theres plenty there to keep you busy”
- On February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE said
Just in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
The winner from section 4aa would be a 7-8 seed in some sections.
it should probably stay that way. Unfortunately one of them will go this year.
- On February 11, 2026 at 9:29 am Hardcrossface89 said
Localfan,get your S**t straight the only drama on here is from people like you,the Bowland boys are both class act guys trying to build up the program to where it was and they are doing just that! Post your BS somewhere else!
As an outsider looking in, it appears they’re doing a tremendous job. It’s not easy going to a place that’s historically good but way down.
That program was a shell of itself before them. Kudos to how quickly it’s been turning around. I like when the traditional powers are in a good place, it just feels right.
- On February 11, 2026 at 9:47 am Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:29 am Hardcrossface89 said
Localfan,get your S**t straight the only drama on here is from people like you,the Bowland boys are both class act guys trying to build up the program to where it was and they are doing just that! Post your BS somewhere else!
As an outsider looking in, it appears they’re doing a tremendous job. It’s not easy going to a place that’s historically good but way down.
That program was a shell of itself before them. Kudos to how quickly it’s been turning around. I like when the traditional powers are in a good place, it just feels right.
They’ve definitely rebounded it will be interesting to see how the next meet goes if they both make it to the finals. Both teams are obviously familiar with eachother. I’m not sure how much movement foley has for their lineup. The Pierz loss kills some momentum from the earlier win. Becker does looker tougher since then.
The ramsdells being available next year will help with Foley graduating four seniors or more. Becker graduated multiple state champs and key wrestlers last season. Going forward the section will be interesting. Foley I have no idea what they have coming behind the guys graduating, Becker loses some but retains their big point scorers while their youth continues to be a top team in the state the past few seasons if anything they’ll be better in the coming seasons, DCL is on the rise again and has good momentum at the youth/ms level, Rocori did well on the tough side of the bracket at the brawl and having pursuit next door doesn’t hurt, Zimmerman has gone from bottom of the section to a fifth seed with a lot of young starters and others behind them. Princeton is super young and will likely drift back towards the top of the section. Foley is back in a top four of the section scenario that it was odd not seeing them in last year with their history, but the section is definitely only getting tougher in the next few seasons. Makes you wonder if any will opt up next go around with how they had no movement last draw and it still seems odd to have dcl/hlww in this section geographically.
Odds Evens
On February 11, 2026 at 10:38 am Push the pace saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:47 am Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:29 am Hardcrossface89 saidLocalfan,get your S**t straight the only drama on here is from people like you,the Bowland boys are both class act guys trying to build up the program to where it was and they are doing just that! Post your BS somewhere else!
As an outsider looking in, it appears they’re doing a tremendous job. It’s not easy going to a place that’s historically good but way down.
That program was a shell of itself before them. Kudos to how quickly it’s been turning around. I like when the traditional powers are in a good place, it just feels right.
They’ve definitely rebounded it will be interesting to see how the next meet goes if they both make it to the finals. Both teams are obviously familiar with eachother. I’m not sure how much movement foley has for their lineup. The Pierz loss kills some momentum from the earlier win. Becker does looker tougher since then.
The ramsdells being available next year will help with Foley graduating four seniors or more. Becker graduated multiple state champs and key wrestlers last season. Going forward the section will be interesting. Foley I have no idea what they have coming behind the guys graduating, Becker loses some but retains their big point scorers while their youth continues to be a top team in the state the past few seasons if anything they’ll be better in the coming seasons, DCL is on the rise again and has good momentum at the youth/ms level, Rocori did well on the tough side of the bracket at the brawl and having pursuit next door doesn’t hurt, Zimmerman has gone from bottom of the section to a fifth seed with a lot of young starters and others behind them. Princeton is super young and will likely drift back towards the top of the section. Foley is back in a top four of the section scenario that it was odd not seeing them in last year with their history, but the section is definitely only getting tougher in the next few seasons. Makes you wonder if any will opt up next go around with how they had no movement last draw and it still seems odd to have dcl/hlww in this section geographically.
Are you sure they aren’t eligible this year?
- On February 11, 2026 at 12:55 pm Odds Evens saidOn February 11, 2026 at 10:38 am Push the pace saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:47 am Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:29 am Hardcrossface89 said
Localfan,get your S**t straight the only drama on here is from people like you,the Bowland boys are both class act guys trying to build up the program to where it was and they are doing just that! Post your BS somewhere else!
As an outsider looking in, it appears they’re doing a tremendous job. It’s not easy going to a place that’s historically good but way down.
That program was a shell of itself before them. Kudos to how quickly it’s been turning around. I like when the traditional powers are in a good place, it just feels right.
They’ve definitely rebounded it will be interesting to see how the next meet goes if they both make it to the finals. Both teams are obviously familiar with eachother. I’m not sure how much movement foley has for their lineup. The Pierz loss kills some momentum from the earlier win. Becker does looker tougher since then.
The ramsdells being available next year will help with Foley graduating four seniors or more. Becker graduated multiple state champs and key wrestlers last season. Going forward the section will be interesting. Foley I have no idea what they have coming behind the guys graduating, Becker loses some but retains their big point scorers while their youth continues to be a top team in the state the past few seasons if anything they’ll be better in the coming seasons, DCL is on the rise again and has good momentum at the youth/ms level, Rocori did well on the tough side of the bracket at the brawl and having pursuit next door doesn’t hurt, Zimmerman has gone from bottom of the section to a fifth seed with a lot of young starters and others behind them. Princeton is super young and will likely drift back towards the top of the section. Foley is back in a top four of the section scenario that it was odd not seeing them in last year with their history, but the section is definitely only getting tougher in the next few seasons. Makes you wonder if any will opt up next go around with how they had no movement last draw and it still seems odd to have dcl/hlww in this section geographically.
Are you sure they aren’t eligible this year?
That I’m not sure. Who knows. With the amount of posts on here about it you think it would’ve leaked if approved. Kind of a double edged sword. Im sure foley would love to make it back to state but takes away from it to some people if it was due to bringing in transfers at seasons end. Not to fan the flames aware Becker has transfers also. No need to reignite the debate from the 6aa thread.
StraightFacts
Let’s say they are eligible, as a coach can you even consider putting them in your lineup at this point? It would be really difficult to displace two wrestlers that have put in the time, effort and sweat for your program since November for wrestlers that haven’t wrestled a dual for you. I do not envy that coaching decision.
BBC
Well, the RUMOR at club practices they will be available. The latest rumor is the Minnesota High School league is investigating the Thompson move as well. Sounds like some neighbors provided details to the league that they did not move. This could really change 6AA. What happens if Becker wins the section tournament but before team state, the league found out they broke the rules? I think they would have to forfeit all the matches from this year and would not be able to wrestle the state tournament.
- On February 11, 2026 at 2:15 pm BBC said
Well, the RUMOR at club practices they will be available. The latest rumor is the Minnesota High School league is investigating the Thompson move as well. Sounds like some neighbors provided details to the league that they did not move. This could really change 6AA. What happens if Becker wins the section tournament but before team state, the league found out they broke the rules? I think they would have to forfeit all the matches from this year and would not be able to wrestle the state tournament.
Head today that the transfer Watertown heavyweight’s family also don’t move. Sister is currently managing waconia. They should investigate that while they’re at it.
Twisted
On February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE saidJust in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
dragonfire
Region 3AAA
1976 Saint Paul Johnson
1977 Saint Paul Johnson
1978 Kellogg
1979 Kellogg
1980 Kellogg
1981 Saint Paul Como Park
1982 Saint Paul Humboldt
1983 Hastings
1984 Park-Cottage Grove
1985 Park-Cottage Grove
1986 Hastings
1987 Simley
1988 Simley
1989 Simley
1990 Simley
1991 Simley
1992 Simley
1993 Simley
1994 Simley
1995 Simley
1996 Hastings
1997 Hastings
1998 Hastings
1999 Hastings
2000 Hastings
2001 Hastings
2002 Simley
2003 Simley
2004 Simley
2005 Simley
2006 Hastings
2007 Hastings
2008 Apple Valley
Region 4AAA
1976 Anoka
1977 Anoka
1978 Anoka
1979 Anoka
1980 Anoka
1981 Elk River
1982 Anoka
1983 Forest Lake
1984 Anoka
1985 Anoka
1986 Coon Rapids
1987 Forest Lake
1988 Anoka
1989 Anoka
1990 Anoka
1991 Anoka
1992 Anoka
1993 Mounds View
1994 Anoka
1995 Anoka
1996 Stillwater
1997 Stillwater
1998 Saint Paul Johnson
1999 Totino Grace
2000 Centennial
2001 Centennial
2002 Centennial
2003 Centennial
2004 Stillwater
2005 Centennial
2006 Centennial
2007 Mounds View
2008 Tartan
- On February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE said
Just in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Did they win over or under 8 individual matches in those trips combined?
StraightFact if the little falls brother are cleared to wrestle they are gonna wrestle . Foley will eat their own to make it to the state tournament. Which is to bad for the kids that worked their tail off everyday in practice . But time will tell and we will see if it’s about the W or about the homegrown kids . No matter what there will be some exciting duals and coaching!
So because foley has 2 kids that weren’t born in foley, they can’t wrestle?!? It’s not like they just showed up Monday. They’ve been with the team for almost a month now. From what I’ve heard the team has accepted them and everyone wants them there and to wrestle.
sounds like you’re talking more about youth wrestling and everyone getting their participation medal
- On February 11, 2026 at 7:29 pm whiskeytango said
StraightFact if the little falls brother are cleared to wrestle they are gonna wrestle . Foley will eat their own to make it to the state tournament. Which is to bad for the kids that worked their tail off everyday in practice . But time will tell and we will see if it’s about the W or about the homegrown kids . No matter what there will be some exciting duals and coaching!
<p style=”text-align: left;”>The best eligible kids available should wrestle.
</p>
if determined no rules were broken, there’s zero reason why they wouldn’t wrestle them, and I don’t blame them.This isn’t youth. You put your best available lineup out there.
- On February 11, 2026 at 7:56 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 7:29 pm whiskeytango said
StraightFact if the little falls brother are cleared to wrestle they are gonna wrestle . Foley will eat their own to make it to the state tournament. Which is to bad for the kids that worked their tail off everyday in practice . But time will tell and we will see if it’s about the W or about the homegrown kids . No matter what there will be some exciting duals and coaching!
<p style=”text-align: left;”>The best eligible kids available should wrestle.
</p>
if determined no rules were broken, there’s zero reason why they wouldn’t wrestle them, and I don’t blame them.This isn’t youth. You put your best available lineup out there.
In a normal situation you always put your best team out there obviously. This is not a typical situation. I don’t necessarily agree that you certainly put your best team out there. Sets an interesting precedent for others to potentially move around mid season. From what it sounds like they will wrestle them for sure. Not sure if they would do that back when they were winning the section every year. It’s been awhile and it may not last super long. I’m sure they’re going all in for this one.
Is it even fun going down to the X only to probably draw a one or two seed and probably not win a match? I’d be surprised if two of those teams don’t win a single match in either one of their duals. You’re probably going to have two teams that maybe win 4 to 6 out of 26…
All to create representation from an area? Seems like you’re playing robinhood.
- On February 11, 2026 at 9:51 pm ryan.wall said
Have you ever heard of wrestle offs? In the sport of wrestling everything is earned not given.
if determined no rules were broken, there’s zero reason why they wouldn’t wrestle them, and I don’t blame them.
This isn’t youth. You put your best available lineup out there.
Section1AAFan and ryan.wall – Tell me you have never coached without telling me you never coached.
Are you kidding me with this garbage? There is no other reason to let the kids that earned the #1 seed wrestle it out? How about having to look a kid in the eye and tell him I know I asked you to cut 20 pounds for the team. I know that you have been improving every step of the way. I know that you put the extra time in during the summer and during lifts. I know you did absolutely everything right and have had some big wins for us, but we are going to go with two kids who have been here 3 weeks. There are future ramifications for the kid and the program to consider. I am not saying that the decision to wrestle the new athletes would be wrong. All I am suggesting is that the decision to wrestle the transfer kids for the first time on your team in the sections should be a difficult one. If you are a coach that cares about your athletes, which there is every indication the Foley coaches do, it is not as simple as you claim. There is more to coaching besides winning and losing. As the dad of a senior these are things you don’t have to worry about. BTW wrestle offs are for individual sections and individual tournaments. Coaches should be making decisions for the team and where guys wrestle. You earn your place on a team by putting in the previously mentioned time and work.
MIGHTYAXE
On February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE saidJust in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Thank You for catching! Sorry I had a hiatus from wresting for about 6 years, was assuming Simley was still there.
- On February 12, 2026 at 9:02 am StraightFacts saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:51 pm ryan.wall said
Have you ever heard of wrestle offs? In the sport of wrestling everything is earned not given.
if determined no rules were broken, there’s zero reason why they wouldn’t wrestle them, and I don’t blame them.
This isn’t youth. You put your best available lineup out there.
Section1AAFan and ryan.wall – Tell me you have never coached without telling me you never coached.
Are you kidding me with this garbage? There is no other reason to let the kids that earned the #1 seed wrestle it out? How about having to look a kid in the eye and tell him I know I asked you to cut 20 pounds for the team. I know that you have been improving every step of the way. I know that you put the extra time in during the summer and during lifts. I know you did absolutely everything right and have had some big wins for us, but we are going to go with two kids who have been here 3 weeks. There are future ramifications for the kid and the program to consider. I am not saying that the decision to wrestle the new athletes would be wrong. All I am suggesting is that the decision to wrestle the transfer kids for the first time on your team in the sections should be a difficult one. If you are a coach that cares about your athletes, which there is every indication the Foley coaches do, it is not as simple as you claim. There is more to coaching besides winning and losing. As the dad of a senior these are things you don’t have to worry about. BTW wrestle offs are for individual sections and individual tournaments. Coaches should be making decisions for the team and where guys wrestle. You earn your place on a team by putting in the previously mentioned time and work.
They’re either on the team or they’re not. If they are, and they’re the best guy, who’s done nothing against the rules or ethics of the team you wrestle them. Why is that so hard to comprehend?
- On February 12, 2026 at 9:14 am Section1AAFan saidOn February 12, 2026 at 9:02 am StraightFacts saidOn February 11, 2026 at 9:51 pm ryan.wall said
Have you ever heard of wrestle offs? In the sport of wrestling everything is earned not given.
if determined no rules were broken, there’s zero reason why they wouldn’t wrestle them, and I don’t blame them.
This isn’t youth. You put your best available lineup out there.
Section1AAFan and ryan.wall – Tell me you have never coached without telling me you never coached.
Are you kidding me with this garbage? There is no other reason to let the kids that earned the #1 seed wrestle it out? How about having to look a kid in the eye and tell him I know I asked you to cut 20 pounds for the team. I know that you have been improving every step of the way. I know that you put the extra time in during the summer and during lifts. I know you did absolutely everything right and have had some big wins for us, but we are going to go with two kids who have been here 3 weeks. There are future ramifications for the kid and the program to consider. I am not saying that the decision to wrestle the new athletes would be wrong. All I am suggesting is that the decision to wrestle the transfer kids for the first time on your team in the sections should be a difficult one. If you are a coach that cares about your athletes, which there is every indication the Foley coaches do, it is not as simple as you claim. There is more to coaching besides winning and losing. As the dad of a senior these are things you don’t have to worry about. BTW wrestle offs are for individual sections and individual tournaments. Coaches should be making decisions for the team and where guys wrestle. You earn your place on a team by putting in the previously mentioned time and work.
They’re either on the team or they’re not. If they are, and they’re the best guy, who’s done nothing against the rules or ethics of the team you wrestle them. Why is that so hard to comprehend?
This is laughable that anyone thinks it’s automatic and an easy choice for the coaches. Playing the devils advocate what if Kujawa, Jelle, etc… says you know what with them having the ramsdells if we move to foley and make a big move we could take out a Simley or Kasson. Would it be everything is earned mentality if they moved, wrestled off right before sections, and took a spot from one of the foley studs?
truefuture
On February 11, 2026 at 6:05 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE saidJust in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Did they win over or under 8 individual matches in those trips combined?
Section 4AA is not strong this year but this post is quite ignorant.
In 2018 SSP took 6th in the team tournament, winning a team dual and a combined 15 individual matches in the three duals.
In 2020 SSP took 6th again, winning a team dual and winning a combined 18 individual matches in the three duals.
You were actually hilariously far off. Not only did they win 8 individual matches combined in those two years, they actually won 8 individual matches in a single dual each of those years.
SSP was a dang tough team for a several seasons, and entirely worthy of being in the state tournament those seasons as evidenced by the beat other teams in those state tournaments…..
All of this would have been incredibly easy (I assume at least) for you to verify yourself and not come off so ignorant.
- On February 12, 2026 at 10:15 am truefuture saidOn February 11, 2026 at 6:05 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE said
Just in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Did they win over or under 8 individual matches in those trips combined?
Section 4AA is not strong this year but this post is quite ignorant.
In 2018 SSP took 6th in the team tournament, winning a team dual and a combined 15 individual matches in the three duals.
In 2020 SSP took 6th again, winning a team dual and winning a combined 18 individual matches in the three duals.
You were actually hilariously far off. Not only did they win 8 individual matches combined in those two years, they actually won 8 individual matches in a single dual each of those years.
SSP was a dang tough team for a several seasons, and entirely worthy of being in the state tournament those seasons as evidenced by the beat other teams in those state tournaments…..
All of this would have been incredibly easy (I assume at least) for you to verify yourself and not come off so ignorant.
Back in the early 2000s section 1AA was consistently Stewartville not placing, pine island, etc… the times change quickly. I think 4aa would be nice to have 1-2 tougher teams in the section currently which it wouldn’t be a stretch to put Simley in or totino and ideally move 5aa further west or north to split up 6aa. Without totino 5aa doesn’t have a ton of horsepower. Back when stma was 5aa we always wondered what the one guy that didn’t make it individually did during the individual days.
- On February 12, 2026 at 10:21 am Push the pace saidOn February 12, 2026 at 10:15 am truefuture saidOn February 11, 2026 at 6:05 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE said
Just in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Did they win over or under 8 individual matches in those trips combined?
Section 4AA is not strong this year but this post is quite ignorant.
In 2018 SSP took 6th in the team tournament, winning a team dual and a combined 15 individual matches in the three duals.
In 2020 SSP took 6th again, winning a team dual and winning a combined 18 individual matches in the three duals.
You were actually hilariously far off. Not only did they win 8 individual matches combined in those two years, they actually won 8 individual matches in a single dual each of those years.
SSP was a dang tough team for a several seasons, and entirely worthy of being in the state tournament those seasons as evidenced by the beat other teams in those state tournaments…..
All of this would have been incredibly easy (I assume at least) for you to verify yourself and not come off so ignorant.
Back in the early 2000s section 1AA was consistently Stewartville not placing, pine island, etc… the times change quickly. I think 4aa would be nice to have 1-2 tougher teams in the section currently which it wouldn’t be a stretch to put Simley in or totino and ideally move 5aa further west or north to split up 6aa. Without totino 5aa doesn’t have a ton of horsepower. Back when stma was 5aa we always wondered what the one guy that didn’t make it individually did during the individual days.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Totino isn’t “horsepower”</p>
They’ve been a product of a weak section all these years. Would they not be better in 4aa and better teams pushed into 5aa? Trouble is the geography. For 4aa to not hit aaa or a teams other than simley south im not sure who, north you get more Chisago like teams of north branch or rush city, etc.. east you don’t hit aa until you cross the border into Wisconsin. The geography does not help the situation. If I had the magic wand or mshsl connections you push dcl, hlww over to 3aa, push mora and Milaca back into 6aa, Simley and cannon falls into 4aa, Becker spectrum and big lake into 5aa.
- On February 12, 2026 at 10:21 am Push the pace saidOn February 12, 2026 at 10:15 am truefuture saidOn February 11, 2026 at 6:05 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE said
Just in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Did they win over or under 8 individual matches in those trips combined?
Section 4AA is not strong this year but this post is quite ignorant.
In 2018 SSP took 6th in the team tournament, winning a team dual and a combined 15 individual matches in the three duals.
In 2020 SSP took 6th again, winning a team dual and winning a combined 18 individual matches in the three duals.
You were actually hilariously far off. Not only did they win 8 individual matches combined in those two years, they actually won 8 individual matches in a single dual each of those years.
SSP was a dang tough team for a several seasons, and entirely worthy of being in the state tournament those seasons as evidenced by the beat other teams in those state tournaments…..
All of this would have been incredibly easy (I assume at least) for you to verify yourself and not come off so ignorant.
Back in the early 2000s section 1AA was consistently Stewartville not placing, pine island, etc… the times change quickly. I think 4aa would be nice to have 1-2 tougher teams in the section currently which it wouldn’t be a stretch to put Simley in or totino and ideally move 5aa further west or north to split up 6aa. Without totino 5aa doesn’t have a ton of horsepower. Back when stma was 5aa we always wondered what the one guy that didn’t make it individually did during the individual days.
Has anyone been able to figure out how the heck STMA was AA for so long? Lmfao, school has 2100 kids now
- On February 12, 2026 at 11:30 am MIGHTYAXE saidOn February 12, 2026 at 10:21 am Push the pace saidOn February 12, 2026 at 10:15 am truefuture saidOn February 11, 2026 at 6:05 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 11, 2026 at 4:01 pm Twisted saidOn February 11, 2026 at 8:56 am MIGHTYAXE said
Just in case anyone was wondering, only 3 teams from 4AA have ever made it to the State Tournament. The most recent appearance was in 1984.
St. Paul Johnson ’76, ’77
Chisago Lakes Area ’76, ’83, ’84
St. Paul Humboldt ’82
South Saint Paul was at the State Tournament in 2018 & 2020 and is the #1 seed in 4AA so this isnt correct…
Did they win over or under 8 individual matches in those trips combined?
Section 4AA is not strong this year but this post is quite ignorant.
In 2018 SSP took 6th in the team tournament, winning a team dual and a combined 15 individual matches in the three duals.
In 2020 SSP took 6th again, winning a team dual and winning a combined 18 individual matches in the three duals.
You were actually hilariously far off. Not only did they win 8 individual matches combined in those two years, they actually won 8 individual matches in a single dual each of those years.
SSP was a dang tough team for a several seasons, and entirely worthy of being in the state tournament those seasons as evidenced by the beat other teams in those state tournaments…..
All of this would have been incredibly easy (I assume at least) for you to verify yourself and not come off so ignorant.
Back in the early 2000s section 1AA was consistently Stewartville not placing, pine island, etc… the times change quickly. I think 4aa would be nice to have 1-2 tougher teams in the section currently which it wouldn’t be a stretch to put Simley in or totino and ideally move 5aa further west or north to split up 6aa. Without totino 5aa doesn’t have a ton of horsepower. Back when stma was 5aa we always wondered what the one guy that didn’t make it individually did during the individual days.
Has anyone been able to figure out how the heck STMA was AA for so long? Lmfao, school has 2100 kids now
It’s not really a mystery. An outer ring suburb experienced growth. In the last 20 years the student enrollment has increased over 60 percent for STMA. They were that big in the early 2000s, but they just kept getting bigger.
- On February 14, 2026 at 6:18 pm jsmill said
SW is 2AA champs. SW 26 – NP 25 (tiebreaker 7 matches to 6)
Congrats to the Scott West Panthers!
Tough section, was fun to watch on the live stream. They seem to be ina good position over the next couple of years. Would assume that was their longest drought without making it to the state tournament in their history.
The seeding for 3-5 for Team will be very interesting, looking through results. I may forget some.
Pierz –
Wins – Foley, Little Falls, Grand Rapids
Losses – Becker, Zumbrota- Mazeppa
Scott West
Wins – New Prague, Watertown Mayer
Losses – New Ulm, New Prague, Watertown Mayer
Foley
Wins – Becker
Losses – Little Falls, Perham,
Perham
Wins- Foley
Losses – Pierz, Zumbrota, Pierz, Watertown, Becker, Little Falls
New Ulm –
Wins – Scott West, Marshall,
Losses None
Simley – 1 seed
My Prediction
1.Simley
2. New Ulm
3. Pierz
4. Scott West
5. Foley
Draw ins – Perham, SSP, Totino-Grace
- On February 15, 2026 at 5:51 pm Section1AAFan said
The seeding for 3-5 for Team will be very interesting, looking through results. I may forget some.
Pierz –
Wins – Foley, Little Falls, Grand Rapids
Losses – Becker, Zumbrota- Mazeppa
Scott West
Wins – New Prague, Watertown Mayer
Losses – New Ulm, New Prague, Watertown Mayer
Foley
Wins – Becker
Losses – Little Falls, Perham,
Perham
Wins- Foley
Losses – Pierz, Zumbrota, Pierz, Watertown, Becker, Little Falls
New Ulm –
Wins – Scott West, Marshall,
Losses None
Simley – 1 seed
My Prediction
1.Simley
2. New Ulm
3. Pierz
4. Scott West
5. Foley
Draw ins – Perham, SSP, Totino-Grace
Exactly how I had it last night after seeing all of the qualifiers. It seems pretty clear cut to me. You can add a win over Perham and a 2nd win over Grand Rapids to the Pierz list and a loss to Pierz to the Foley list. There’s an argument for flipping Scott West and Foley but it makes no difference at all in the bracket/match ups. Well analyzed!
- On February 16, 2026 at 11:40 am Lovebeingretired saidOn February 15, 2026 at 10:30 pm upnorthwraslin said
Why is Foley ahead of Perham?
I could go either way on that. It depends on whether Becker was maybe overrated. Perham’s best win is Foley, Foley’s best win is Becker. Perham has head to head. I have no problem with Perham at 5.
Yea it really seems like how the teams matched up with Becker. Foley matched up well, but Perham did not. Pierz was similar. They matched up well with foley not with Becker
Snapdown
On February 16, 2026 at 5:21 pm twice_as_nice saidTried to find it, but figured just ask, how many times has New Ulm qualifed for dual championship? In the state tournament programs used to always list all the schools and years they have qualified, I like seeing new schools qualifying from time to time.
I was told by someone who should know that the last time New Ulm qualified was 1999, but I don’t know how many times.
DJK42
On February 16, 2026 at 7:40 pm Snapdown saidOn February 16, 2026 at 5:21 pm twice_as_nice saidTried to find it, but figured just ask, how many times has New Ulm qualifed for dual championship? In the state tournament programs used to always list all the schools and years they have qualified, I like seeing new schools qualifying from time to time.
I was told by someone who should know that the last time New Ulm qualified was 1999, but I don’t know how many times.
/ History
there’s a nice list of everything here.
looks like new ulm won section in 1999 and regions way back in 1945 and 1948.
Congrats to all the section winners ! Simley1 New Ulm / pierz 2/3 Scott west 4 Foley 5. Ya I know Perham beat Foley in the early stages but Foley beat Becker twice ! So I see the Ramsdells are on Foley s team but did not wrestle and heard they have a hearing coming up . So say they get cleared to wrestle by Wednesday . I want others people’s opinion on the matter do you let them wrestle in place of the guys that got them there ? Just a question I think it would be a very slippery slope
I think the more slippery slope is trying to figure out what you have going on there with punctuation…
Also, I would assume the coaches have already played these scenarios out and have a plan. I would also assume the these plans have been relayed back to all the players and coaches already. But… you know what happens when you ass-u-me
Ya whiskey does that my apologies! But seriously as a coach do you really say sorry Joe thanks for wrestling your ass of but come back next year and give it a shot. I bet money on it that the parents are split 50/50 if not lower on wanting them to wrestle. Or should I Assume they talked to them also
Where did you see they have a hearing coming up??? I didn’t know that! I figured they were done for the season.
unless we’re in the room, none of us have any idea how the coaches will handle the Ramsdell’s or how they’ve been participating throughout this craziness. From what I know, they moved to foley a month ago…I’m assuming they’ve been a part of the team this whole time besides being able to compete at the varsity level
Badger65
You said the Ramsdells were on the section team and then two lines later you say if they wrestled they would be taking spots from people “who got them there”. You can contribute to a team even if your not wrestling in the matches. Someone said earlier, i think it might of been you, that Foley would have to watch out for Becker’s 121 pounder after he beat the cambridge kid. Also in every Foley Becker prediction I saw people gave Williams at 127 at least a tech. In reality foley won 17-5 at 121 and lost 11-3 at 127. Both those kids have shown a lot of improvement in the past month and the Ramsdells have been in the room a month. While it’s impossible to say how much the Ramsdells have helped, id wager its more than nothing. I think you are taking the most negative view of the situation. Maybe those kids and parents are enjoying the improvements there seeing with two new quality practice partners and maybe instead of trying to keep the boys from wrestling they feel bad that they have been forced to sit out. Regardless, I think it’s useless to say things like most Foley parents don’t want the boys to wrestle when I doubt you have seen any evidence to back that up
- On February 16, 2026 at 10:53 pm Wrestlehard1234 said
They were on the the Foley roster for sections as well as listed as eligible on USA Bracketing.
Oh and the MSHSL board did meet February 5th in-case anyone missed that…
I am confused, isn’t that the meeting that was supposably cancelled and someone was bent out of shape over?
Guess we’ll know Friday. I don’t envy the coaches for that decision. No perfect solution. Without the context and it’s truly none of my business or anyone else’s why they left little falls would change my opinion. If it was mainly for greener pastures I wouldn’t consider them competing if there was some bizarre unusual situation I’d probably be more open to it. Again, it’s none of my business and I’m not asking for the info nor do I want it, but I can say with the amount of time the athletes and families put into the sport nowadays I can understand kids leaving teams for certain scenarios. On a positive note I had not seen kipka wrestle before. He looked pretty darn good. The Becker 121 kept it close causing a million stale mates. Had there been less low singles and low shots where the guy could clamp on and Hols for stalemates would’ve been more team points or a tech.
- On February 17, 2026 at 3:28 pm BBC said
What happen to Becker’s 133 pounder Boston. Heard he quit again.
If saying again it would imply a hs kid left the sport came back and may or may not be done. Which can’t be a light or easy thing. Could be injury related or a number of factors. I’d like to think everyone in this sport is somewhat on the same team in the game of life. (The sports a game). Probably wait til Friday and if you see him you do if you don’t you dont, but prying on here doesn’t seem like the greatest thing. No ties to the program, but have seen him wrestle quite a bit over the years and hopefully he’s not done and if so is hopefully eventually back.
DevilDogDigital
On February 18, 2026 at 11:57 am Push the pace saidOn February 18, 2026 at 11:20 am upnorthwraslin saidFoley with the Hypothetical seed over Perham
Heck of a deal for foley with how Perham will have Pierz and how they did against Pierz previously. Not sure how foley will matchup against Scott west
No matter who wins between Foley & Scott West, they will take a hard L in the Semis
- On February 18, 2026 at 12:31 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 18, 2026 at 11:57 am Push the pace saidOn February 18, 2026 at 11:20 am upnorthwraslin said
Foley with the Hypothetical seed over Perham
Heck of a deal for foley with how Perham will have Pierz and how they did against Pierz previously. Not sure how foley will matchup against Scott west
No matter who wins between Foley & Scott West, they will take a hard L in the Semis
I don’t anticipate anyone in AA not having a hard L against Simley. I’d honestly say the finals already took place versus KM.
- On February 18, 2026 at 12:38 pm Push the pace saidOn February 18, 2026 at 12:31 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 18, 2026 at 11:57 am Push the pace saidOn February 18, 2026 at 11:20 am upnorthwraslin said
Foley with the Hypothetical seed over Perham
Heck of a deal for foley with how Perham will have Pierz and how they did against Pierz previously. Not sure how foley will matchup against Scott west
No matter who wins between Foley & Scott West, they will take a hard L in the Semis
I don’t anticipate anyone in AA not having a hard L against Simley. I’d honestly say the finals already took place versus KM.
Yeah, true! Crazy that after the section tourneys, only 1 other top 10 is in the tourney.
KGutormson
The Ramsdall boys got approved today! With them being on the roster, what is everyone’s GUESS…. will the coaches put them in at Team State since they are the better wrestlers? Or will the put in the two boys that got the team to State? Or will they both get even matches? Will they let them wrestle off for individuals?…. Time will only tell…
- On February 18, 2026 at 12:52 pm KGutormson said
The Ramsdall boys got approved today! With them being on the roster, what is everyone’s GUESS…. will the coaches put them in at Team State since they are the better wrestlers? Or will the put in the two boys that got the team to State? Or will they both get even matches? Will they let them wrestle off for individuals?…. Time will only tell…
Drama that is not going to help them at the state tournament. Maybe for a 3rd or 5th place match.
what would Be the point now. They made it without them in the lineup. If they had used them everyone would’ve assumed that’s the only reason. Same scenario now. The guys they would replace wrestled their butts off at sections to get the team there. If it was a backup or third stringer that got pinned in 10 seconds they were replacing I could see the logic. To each their own.
- On February 18, 2026 at 1:57 pm KGutormson said
I found out about this forum a month ago, because of the drama. Who’s kids shouldn’t actually be wrestling and bringing heat to all different schools… pretty low, let them all wrestle.
If I were the coaches, I’d wrestle the squad I have to save morale. It’s not going to make much of a difference, maybe 1-2 placing spots at most. Let the kids wrestle in individual sections this week.
- On February 18, 2026 at 12:56 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 18, 2026 at 12:52 pm KGutormson said
The Ramsdall boys got approved today! With them being on the roster, what is everyone’s GUESS…. will the coaches put them in at Team State since they are the better wrestlers? Or will the put in the two boys that got the team to State? Or will they both get even matches? Will they let them wrestle off for individuals?…. Time will only tell…
Drama that is not going to help them at the state tournament. Maybe for a 3rd or 5th place match.
Foley doesn’t even win a match against Simley until 145 if Kos is at 139. Then they still have Mincey at 152, and Salas at 172.
Ramsdalls or not, I can’t see Foley hanging with Simley. Even with those two in, I think they could have a really tough time getting through Scott West.
Here is a hypothetical line up between those two (Just pulling their line ups from sections):
107 Herrman dec Udermann 3-0
114 Bresnahan Maj Ruhoff 7-0
121 Lehman Maj Kipka 11-0
127 Ramsdall Fall Harding 11-6
133 Ramsdall Maj Schultz 11-10
139 Tousignant Maj DeMarais 15-10
145 Breeggeman Dec Wall 18-10
152 Britz Dec Hartmann 18-13
160 Wilhelmi Fall Judge 18-19
172 Williams Maj Gutormson 22-19
189 Balk Dec Rasmussen 25-19
215 Harris Maj Schultz 25-23
285 Olson Dec Rudnitski 28-23 SW
Toss matches look like 145, 152, 189, 285
I think you’ve laid out the only scenario where Scott west could win and it would not only require winning every toss up, but also the foley coaches making very strange moves. Gutormson has wrestled like 6 matches at 172 pounds this year but you have him wrestling Williams and then foley also losing 189? Also why would you bump wall off of Tousignant? Even if you do that Demarais has a handful of ranked wins and is ranked himself, so that’s more of a toss up to me. Foleys 107, Molitor, wrestled one match at sections, probably sick or hurt since he didn’t wrestle any more, but if he’s healthy that 107-121 bump would be risky since he had a solid first half of the season. If Molitor’s healthy I have it
107 Bresnahan major Molitor 0-4 SW
114 Lehman fall Ruhoff 0-10 SW
121 Ramsdell fall Jackson 6-10 SW
127 Ramsdell fall Harding (could see both 121 and 127 being techs) 12-10 F
133 Brunn decision shultz (toss up I give to Brunn because he wrestled a very good section tourney) 15-10 F
139 wall major Tousignant (could be decision) 19-10 F
145 Breggeman major Demarais ( could be decision) 19-14 F
152 Britz major Hartmann (could be decision) 23-14 F
160 Wilhelmi tech Judge 28-14 F
172 Williams fall Rasmussen 28-20 F
189 Gutormson fall Balk 34-20 F
215 Harris dec Schultz 37-20 F
285 Olsen dec Rudnitski (not familiar enough with either; a toss up) 37-23 F
toss ups at 133 and Heavy. Scott west probably does do the bump down low because they have to, but I think there’s just as much chance it hurts them as it helps them, plus foley wins even if that works out.
I didn’t see that you mentioned this was exactly pulled from sections, got confused with the ramsdells being in there, so your lineups make a little more sense. Foleys lineup for Becker just happens to heavily favor Scott west. That being said, I also think foley wins no more than 5 against Simley (which might be more than anyone else at state).
Probably more than you’d think with the teams that made it. It depends on what you consider to be a transfer.
maybe:
Sspnew ulm
pierz
Nope:
simley
perham
scott west (not sure of transfer but a coop that could probably have been two teams for quite some time. Coop whole other topic on its own)
foley
totino ( all are kinda transfers or at least from the surrounding youth programs)
- On February 18, 2026 at 6:55 pm Push the pace said
Probably more than you’d think with the teams that made it. It depends on what you consider to be a transfer.
maybe:
Sspnew ulm
pierz
Nope:
simley
perham
scott west (not sure of transfer but a coop that could probably have been two teams for quite some time. Coop whole other topic on its own)
foley
totino ( all are kinda transfers or at least from the surrounding youth programs)
Pierz is all home grown and either the smallest school in Class AA or close to it.
- On February 18, 2026 at 6:55 pm Push the pace said
Probably more than you’d think with the teams that made it. It depends on what you consider to be a transfer.
maybe:
Sspnew ulm
pierz
Nope:
simley
perham
scott west (not sure of transfer but a coop that could probably have been two teams for quite some time. Coop whole other topic on its own)
foley
totino ( all are kinda transfers or at least from the surrounding youth programs)
Zero chance anyone is transferring to SSP to wrestle.
There’s a difference between a specific athletic transfer and a family moving which happens for a variety of reasons.
Scott west doesn’t have any “transfers.” They’ve built a well oiled machine in turning out state teams, individual champions, placers, D1 and D3 All Americans, complaining about a co-op when it’s significantly smaller than many AA teams is sour grapes.
In the past 30 years in AA – the only 2 teams to be better are Simley and Kasson, which are actually riddled with “transfers”
I was answering the question of if any of the teams had zero transfers. Maybe was meaning more of ones that likely don’t have transfers. Regarding Scott west definitely no sour grapes. Simply stating they are a coop of two seperate schools. One with 400 plus kids and one with over 500. They’ll never split. They’d be less competitive and they’ve already had it established for both schools their youth is combined. As I said the difference in coops for survival and competitiveness is a seperate topic in itself. Nothing against their team. They’re a talented team and wish them luck at state
- On February 18, 2026 at 7:15 pm Section1AAFan said
There’s a difference between a specific athletic transfer and a family moving which happens for a variety of reasons.
Scott west doesn’t have any “transfers.” They’ve built a well oiled machine in turning out state teams, individual champions, placers, D1 and D3 All Americans, complaining about a co-op when it’s significantly smaller than many AA teams is sour grapes.
In the past 30 years in AA – the only 2 teams to be better are Simley and Kasson, which are actually riddled with “transfers”
How many are riddled on Simley?
- On February 18, 2026 at 7:31 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 18, 2026 at 7:15 pm Section1AAFan said
There’s a difference between a specific athletic transfer and a family moving which happens for a variety of reasons.
Scott west doesn’t have any “transfers.” They’ve built a well oiled machine in turning out state teams, individual champions, placers, D1 and D3 All Americans, complaining about a co-op when it’s significantly smaller than many AA teams is sour grapes.
In the past 30 years in AA – the only 2 teams to be better are Simley and Kasson, which are actually riddled with “transfers”
How many are riddled on Simley?
This post was referring to the past 30 years. Tons of respect for Simley, would likely be state champs most years without transfers. No hate here. They build tons of champions in house.
- On February 18, 2026 at 7:38 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 18, 2026 at 7:31 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 18, 2026 at 7:15 pm Section1AAFan said
There’s a difference between a specific athletic transfer and a family moving which happens for a variety of reasons.
Scott west doesn’t have any “transfers.” They’ve built a well oiled machine in turning out state teams, individual champions, placers, D1 and D3 All Americans, complaining about a co-op when it’s significantly smaller than many AA teams is sour grapes.
In the past 30 years in AA – the only 2 teams to be better are Simley and Kasson, which are actually riddled with “transfers”
How many are riddled on Simley?
This post was referring to the past 30 years. Tons of respect for Simley, would likely be state champs most years without transfers. No hate here. They build tons of champions in house.
True, over the past 30 years, they have had some transfers. Mostly, they are coming in 7th/8th grade; once in a while, a HS kid transfers. They do build hammers in their youth program, and the good ones also go to Pinnacle. My 3 sons wrestled for Simley, so I am familiar.
- On February 18, 2026 at 8:28 pm ladywrestledown said
Oh, okay thanks for the info. I guess I’m not sure the definition of “homegrown” then.
Just meant they all came from the Pierz Youth developmental program. They are all home taught and developed. Nobody transferred to Pierz from another program to wrestle.
- On February 18, 2026 at 8:18 pm AA said
- The ramsdell brothers are at 121 and 127 so how will the match go at 121 against Scott west?
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Would guess a decision for Lehman of Scott west at 121</p>
and a pin for the other ramsdell at 127but it’s high school wrestling, who knows. Anything can happen
Username67
Do people really care about the battle for third in team state? Do the transfers even make Foley’s lineup that much better? Team wise it doesn’t change much, maybe secures the win against Scott West (still losable) and makes the Pierz dual more competitive assuming Pierz loses to New Ulm. They still can’t beat Simley even with the transfers. It just doesn’t change dual results much. Even individually it doesn’t change much. I mean Foley has what, maybe 1 state placer this year? The transfers just don’t move the needle for me.
- On February 19, 2026 at 10:34 am Username67 said
Do people really care about the battle for third in team state? Do the transfers even make Foley’s lineup that much better? Team wise it doesn’t change much, maybe secures the win against Scott West (still losable) and makes the Pierz dual more competitive assuming Pierz loses to New Ulm. They still can’t beat Simley even with the transfers. It just doesn’t change dual results much. Even individually it doesn’t change much. I mean Foley has what, maybe 1 state placer this year? The transfers just don’t move the needle for me.
It was realistically only a hot topic for 6aa with how they could’ve increased their chances of making it past Becker with them. Which they made it without them. Granted I’m sure there were some movements in the lineup and match strategies Becker would’ve adjusted quite a bit strategy wise.
- On February 19, 2026 at 1:10 pm AA said
what is someones full run out simley vs Foley?
Trying to be conservative on bonus and give foley some benefit of the doubt. Even gave them the last 2 toss ups.
107- Salas Major Udermann 4-0
114- Kranz Pin Ruhoff 10-0
121- Mincey Major Ramsdell 14-0
127 – safronov major Ramsdell 18-0
133- Jackson Tech Braun 23-0
139- Demarais Dec short 23-3
145 – Kos Dec Wall 26-3
152 Mincey Major Britz 30-3
160 Wilhelmi Pin Harms 30-9
172 Salas Tech Rasmussen 35-9
189 – Gutormsom tech watts 35-14
215 – Harris Dec Elestundo 35-17
heavy Rudnitski Dec Conteras 35-20
You are being very conservative on the Simley point spread I see it more like 41-17 . Foley will beat Scott West with the transfers but doubt they win without them . New Ulm / Pierz match I would say goes down to Hwt . Someone said Foley will have one place winner i would say 3 for sure . Wilhelmi has been on fire as of late. Will be interesting to see if Foley 172/189 pounder goes 89’for individual and still cuts to make team at 172.
plinko348
MovingForward
littlewrastlar03
Where are you specifically looking?
NSPN has live stream. With a small fee though. https://prepspotlight.tv/MSHSL
StepThruTurkey
On February 23, 2026 at 1:22 pm MovingForward saidAny of the class AA schools have hometown radio stations covering them at state this year that can be heard online?
You Are There Sports will be covering the Pierz Pioneers at State. Go to your app store and search for the You Are There Sports free app or go to youaretheresports.com and there’s a Listen Live link
HeadlocksShouldBeIllegal
I would think that Ingsted Media out of Southwestern MN will do New Ulm and Scott West. App is “Made in MN”. Click on the community (New Ulm or New Prague) for the local radio stations and then there is a Listen Live button.
Clearly you have to pre-listen this week to confirm they are going to be there.
- On February 23, 2026 at 9:15 pm BBC said
Foley 30 Simley 29 I think people might be underestimating Foley, who would have thought they would have beat Becker twice.
That is some serious Hopium! Becker is not on the same level as Simley. If Foley could only put up 17 points on Moundsview, which is a common opponent, and Simley put up 45 on them, how will Foley stop them?
Will Short is the best coach at match-ups in Minnesota and never takes anyone lightly; Foley is just in the way if they get past Scott West
- On February 24, 2026 at 11:51 am DevilDogDigital saidOn February 23, 2026 at 9:15 pm BBC said
Foley 30 Simley 29 I think people might be underestimating Foley, who would have thought they would have beat Becker twice.
That is some serious Hopium! Becker is not on the same level as Simley. If Foley could only put up 17 points on Moundsview, which is a common opponent, and Simley put up 45 on them, how will Foley stop them?
Will Short is the best coach at match-ups in Minnesota and never takes anyone lightly; Foley is just in the way if they get past Scott West
Simley has great coaches and is great at match-ups for sure, but as long as Jim Jackson is still coaching I’d say he is the best at match-ups.
In 2003 when AV beat Simley in the state finals, Simley was quoted as saying (paraphrasing here) “They (AV) beat us on the scales (meaning matchups).”
- On February 24, 2026 at 12:29 pm truefuture saidOn February 24, 2026 at 11:51 am DevilDogDigital saidOn February 23, 2026 at 9:15 pm BBC said
Foley 30 Simley 29 I think people might be underestimating Foley, who would have thought they would have beat Becker twice.
That is some serious Hopium! Becker is not on the same level as Simley. If Foley could only put up 17 points on Moundsview, which is a common opponent, and Simley put up 45 on them, how will Foley stop them?
Will Short is the best coach at match-ups in Minnesota and never takes anyone lightly; Foley is just in the way if they get past Scott West
Simley has great coaches and is great at match-ups for sure, but as long as Jim Jackson is still coaching I’d say he is the best at match-ups.
In 2003 when AV beat Simley in the state finals, Simley was quoted as saying (paraphrasing here) “They (AV) beat us on the scales (meaning matchups).”
Okay, Will Short is the top AA coach in Minnesota
- On February 23, 2026 at 9:15 pm BBC said
Foley 30 Simley 29 I think people might be underestimating Foley, who would have thought they would have beat Becker twice.
What are you smoking?
foley will lose every match through 152 besides 139. Will likely get bonused in almost all of them too… that’s if they even make it to the semis.
BigJohn88323
- On February 24, 2026 at 8:20 pm BigJohn88323 said
Im actually 16 years sober. Just accomplished that feat last month thank you very much
Congrats to you on your sobriety.
Obviously I was joking, but what you said in the first sentence in your last post doesn’t make much sense.
The rest was kinda funny, too! But I get it you want Foley to win.
Okay, can you answer one more question. Show where Simley will be held to 29 points.That has me curious.
therealist
- On February 25, 2026 at 8:38 pm Push the pace saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:22 pm Hardcrossface89 said
It’s time simply goes to AAA where they belong, this is a little ridiculous!
I don’t disagree. Would make any titles they win mean alot more
Those transfers didn’t help much, did they? The hopium was fun to watch on this forum.
- On February 25, 2026 at 8:46 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:38 pm Push the pace saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:22 pm Hardcrossface89 said
It’s time simply goes to AAA where they belong, this is a little ridiculous!
I don’t disagree. Would make any titles they win mean alot more
Those transfers didn’t help much, did they? The hopium was fun to watch on this forum.
Yup. I guess two transfers in 100 years didn’t match up with a history of it for the past 30 years. Congrats on beating Foley. Really impressed?? Wonder why they won’t move to AAA. They could opt up. Maybe scared of stma?
If Foley can only put 3 points up against a 7-6 wrestler, and a 30-win wrestler loses to a 17-win wrestler, it is not Simley’s fault. Forgot to add Wilhelmi got stuck, too! The only match I was surprised by was Watts getting pinned. I thought it was a toss-up.
Great job, Simley! Coach Short has his boys ready to wrestle.
- On February 25, 2026 at 9:16 pm Push the pace saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:46 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:38 pm Push the pace saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:22 pm Hardcrossface89 said
It’s time simply goes to AAA where they belong, this is a little ridiculous!
I don’t disagree. Would make any titles they win mean alot more
Those transfers didn’t help much, did they? The hopium was fun to watch on this forum.
Yup. I guess two transfers in 100 years didn’t match up with a history of it for the past 30 years. Congrats on beating Foley. Really impressed?? Wonder why they won’t move to AAA. They could opt up. Maybe scared of stma?
The 4 years my son wrestled varsity for Simley, they beat STMA every season, so nope, they aren’t scared. I didn’t hear anyone whining and complaining last year when they had a down year.
You saw tonight what great coaching does. Coach Short has his team prepared, and they train harder than any other AA team.
- On February 25, 2026 at 9:16 pm Push the pace saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:46 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:38 pm Push the pace saidOn February 25, 2026 at 8:22 pm Hardcrossface89 said
It’s time simply goes to AAA where they belong, this is a little ridiculous!
I don’t disagree. Would make any titles they win mean alot more
Those transfers didn’t help much, did they? The hopium was fun to watch on this forum.
Yup. I guess two transfers in 100 years didn’t match up with a history of it for the past 30 years. Congrats on beating Foley. Really impressed?? Wonder why they won’t move to AAA. They could opt up. Maybe scared of stma?
Why would they bump up? They’re an AA school. They deserve to be the champs if they’re the best team.
- On February 26, 2026 at 1:15 pm DevilDogDigital saidOn February 26, 2026 at 12:27 pm truefuture said
4AA and 5AA went a combined 10-42 in the first round today. It would be nice if Simley fell back into 4AA next go around.
Isn’t realignment every 3 years?
I thought it was every 2 years but could be wrong. The biggest thing would be to even out the number of teams per class which would bolster AAA that is so top heavy currently but also would hopefully involve adjusting section lines decently or the weak AA sections would actually be even worse. Not to be negative, but the 10-42 you could also add on some especially at the lower weights likely had better seeds due to being returning entrants and many others in the brackets being first time entrants and not seeing them on their schedule for head to head matches. So that’s 10-42 with the deck somewhat stacked in their favor.
Realignment is every two years, but every six years they alternate between starting in the southwest corner of the state vs the southeast corner of the state. I don’t know where they are within those six year cycles currently, that info may be available somewhere.
The best thing to happen would be for some of the metro programs to improve, but it takes a lot of investment. Mpls Roosevelt has seen a nice resurgence since Drew Gau took over and that’s no coincidence. Just need to the same thing to happen at 1/2 dozen other schools but you need the people to make it happen first.
upnorthwraslin
tony.sar
What a ridiculous post. It was great matchup. Anyone watching knows this.
You’re calling out a kid on a public forum…as an adult.
I expect more from adults especially those associated with the team leadership/coaching staff.
I’d be ticked if my wife posted after a loss.
Good luck to all the athletes competing. May they not have to cross paths with such a poor representation of sportsmanship.
- On February 26, 2026 at 5:48 pm upnorthwraslin said
I guess should have left the Ramsdells in Little Falls, took away from spots from kids who earned them, and cost them third place, anybody know why them and Scott West got the seed over Foley.
They didn’t cost them 3rd place, if you don’t have anything positive to post on here then get off! Both teams wrestled well.
Watching the footage with what I would consider an impartial opinion (could give a crap less which team wins) that was a mat return not a throw. Definitely did not seem to be an intentional slam, it the kids wasn’t moving well before the coach got out there.
foley will say it was legal & Pierz will say slam. Technically he lifted him with the match in hand and brought the risk of allowing the guy to lay down if slammed. Not sure if he could’ve continued. Only he’ll know that, but he definitely didn’t try to get slammed. Crappy end of the match for both guys.race125
On February 26, 2026 at 6:21 pm ladywrestledown saidSilly goose. They would lose 6 points and we would have at least gotten 5. Ramsdell was teaching him for sure
Hard to say he’s getting a TF for sure when it’s 10-3. I don’t know what he’s teaching him but hopefully math cause that’s still only 11 not 12 points.
Gosh seems like the wrestling world and your area are both small worlds as even your fellow folks from Foley are calling this out – some even seeing it first hand.’Oopsie daisy. A tad bit late to claim innocence. I’m just bummed for all of these kids from both communities because how the adults are handling it. We should be better humans for our kids.
falconsforever1984
Boonies
Agree Boonies and everyone who transfers knows what’s at risk with MSHSL making the decision or they should know.
I’m 100% aware if my high schoolers needed a transfer they are not ENTITLED to compete, as I/the kids are not the decision makers.
Mid-season transfers are just subject to more scrutiny for good reason.
- On February 26, 2026 at 8:56 pm StanbyGranby98 said
While that may be true, let’s not kid ourselves. This is questionable to say the least. It goes against the spirit of the sport.
In my mind the spirit of this sport evolves as the years go on.. if you find a better opportunity you should be able to take it.. not get stuck in purgatory on a low level squad just for “the spirit of the sport..”
StanbyGranby98
No horse in the race. Had to go watch it for myself. Did it look like a slam? No. But if you’re going to lift someone like that its your responsibility to return them safely to the mat. Worst position to be is those two refs. If you call it you shouldnt have. If they didnt call it, they should have. There is no win.
It looked to me like there was injury time left. I wonder if the trainer had a say on him not being able to continue and could that have led to the DQ?
As for the “bite” at 189…when you give someone a grinding crossface across the mouth and they are tired and sucking air that happens. Didnt look like a bite at all, just a crossface that got in there and that happens. I would be more questioning why he took him down and let him up so many times when he needed the pin. Lots of wasted points and only got one turn before the tech when your team needed 6
AA
While I do not commend grown adults booing a child for a slam. You Foley fans, need to take a hard look in the mirror and realize what you are saying about a kid who is concussed and not wrestling tomorrow. Ladywrestledown should take her account down and not post again, and you even had the nerve to say lets not talk crap about kids and say he faked an injury.
Did anyone else think it was just a mat return? I’m just neutral in this whole thing. But to me it was a mat return and the kid didn’t brace the fall. His hands were free, and his head bounced off the mat. 100% probably has a concussion. Also, I think it was legal, and a series of unfortunate events.
It’s embarrassing to hear/listen to Foley fans that have NO clue about the sport. I understand that everyone has an opinion ! but stop blaming MSHL, refs, slams, and whatever else is the problem. (Unfortunately, the program is known for their social media/ theater program.) Stop looking for excuses every time something happens negatively,
Foley has had a great year! And should be proud!! So, stop ruining it!
- On February 26, 2026 at 11:09 pm Whiteboard said
It’s embarrassing to hear/listen to Foley fans that have NO clue about the sport. I understand that everyone has an opinion ! but stop blaming MSHL, refs, slams, and whatever else is the problem. (Unfortunately, the program is known for their social media/ theater program.) Stop looking for excuses every time something happens negatively,
Foley has had a great year! And should be proud!! So, stop ruining it!
Oh give Me a break and get off your high horse. These kids had a duel stolen from them by poor officiating and very, very suspect sportsmanship by a team that I think is saltier than any Foley Fan could be. Making it to state is not a guarantee for every team or every kid every year when you get down there to have things be taken from you by poor officiating and classless coaches is very disheartening.
It’s plain and simple unfortunately. Intent has nothing to do with the rule as it is subjective. If you lift your opponent you just opened up risk. Had the kid blatantly faked it still wouldn’t have mattered.
from coaching various sports my feedback to the athletes, fans, parents- the refs didn’t cost you a dual and nothing was stolen. There obviously is always 100 other things that a team could have done differently in a match or a game. One call can’t be an excuse for a whole dual. It was early on and plenty of time for adjustments and strategy and others to step up.
Both teams had dang good seasons and should be proud of themselves. I wouldn’t give the athletes the excuse the rest of their lives that they got robbed. They’ll have many similar experiences in their work lives, relationships, etc… I personally would not have predicted either team making it to state during the beginning of the season let alone being in the top four of the state.
GLC1969
Funny reading parents complaining about officials. Very tough job. You can sit in the stands and complain or join in and help. 13 weights if this 1 match lost the dual dont blame the refs. Old school way of thinking is dont let the refs control the outcome. New school is blame someone and complain. I didn’t see Simley complain last year (population 35000), they took it and came back this year. As for these kids work hard and something was taken crowd EVERYONE WORKS HARD. You are not given anything in wrestling. Come back next year and compete.
- On February 27, 2026 at 6:10 am GLC1969 said
Funny reading parents complaining about officials. Very tough job. You can sit in the stands and complain or join in and help. 13 weights if this 1 match lost the dual dont blame the refs. Old school way of thinking is dont let the refs control the outcome. New school is blame someone and complain. I didn’t see Simley complain last year (population 35000), they took it and came back this year. As for these kids work hard and something was taken crowd EVERYONE WORKS HARD. You are not given anything in wrestling. Come back next year and compete.
Why are you citing the population of IGH? Simley has an enrollment that is 200 more than New Ulm, 300 more than Foley and 450 more than Pierz.
thewhizzerd66
As someone who has attended, been a fan of and reported on high school wrestling more than probably most of the people on this thread here are my thoughts –
It is your job to protect your opponent at all times, that is more important than winning or anything else. I am not saying he tried to hurt him on purpose but it is his job to protect him. Respecting your opponents should be taught from day 1. The ref made the right call.
High school wrestling is not Freestyle or Greco (thankfully), we don’t need all those high flying dangerous moves. High school wrestling should be about basic techniques, respecting your opponents (and the rules) and having fun.
How Foley fans are reacting to this incident is right on par for their past behaviour.
Of course Simley actually has an enrollment over 1000, but they get that number knocked down to their low 800s due to their educational benefit (free and reduced lunch). I’m sure their benefit is higher than the vast majority of AA schools. Realistically Simley would have to get to 1400 students or so to AAA. I don’t see that high school growing by 30 percent anytime soon. They will be AA for a very long time.
- On February 27, 2026 at 7:58 am thewhizzerd66 said
As someone who has attended, been a fan of and reported on high school wrestling more than probably most of the people on this thread here are my thoughts –
It is your job to protect your opponent at all times, that is more important than winning or anything else. I am not saying he tried to hurt him on purpose but it is his job to protect him. Respecting your opponents should be taught from day 1. The ref made the right call.
High school wrestling is not Freestyle or Greco (thankfully), we don’t need all those high flying dangerous moves. High school wrestling should be about basic techniques, respecting your opponents (and the rules) and having fun.
How Foley fans are reacting to this incident is right on par for their past behaviour.
It’s definitely scary when it comes to head/neck injuries with high school kids, but Foley didn’t do anything wrong. That was a completely legal mat return, arm was not trapped.
I’ve read the comments regarding the Pierz-Foley mat return controversy – some thoughtful, some passionate, some emotional and some ridiculous. This will be my only comment on the subject.
Accidental or on purpose, intentional or unintentional, it’s all irrelevant. The rule is very simple. If a wrestler lifts another wrestler off the mat it is HIS responsibility to return that wrestler to the mat SAFELY. Intent is not a part of the equation. The Pierz wrestler was not returned to the mat safely, therefore it is a technical foul. If a wrestler is unable to continue the match due to a technical foul, he is awarded the match by disqualification. There is no judgment involved. The State Meet trainer has the sole authority and responsibility of determining whether the injured wrestler can continue, not the coach, wrestler or team trainer. The State Meet trainer determined that the Pierz wrestler could not continue due to the technical foul, therefore he was awarded the match.
There is a completely different rule regarding one wrestler intentional trying to injure another wrestler. This isn’t that and is not covered by that rule.
I don’t know that anyone looking at this objectively thinks the Foley wrestler was intentionally trying to injure the Pierz wrestler. We all have mistakes in life that we did not mean to do or have any intention of doing, but we still suffer the consequences of those mistakes, large or small. Not being intentional does nor erase the mistake. Unfortunate.
- On February 27, 2026 at 8:46 am Lovebeingretired said
I’ve read the comments regarding the Pierz-Foley mat return controversy – some thoughtful, some passionate, some emotional and some ridiculous. This will be my only comment on the subject.
Accidental or on purpose, intentional or unintentional, it’s all irrelevant. The rule is very simple. If a wrestler lifts another wrestler off the mat it is HIS responsibility to return that wrestler to the mat SAFELY. Intent is not a part of the equation. The Pierz wrestler was not returned to the mat safely, therefore it is a technical foul. If a wrestler is unable to continue the match due to a technical foul, he is awarded the match by disqualification. There is no judgment involved. The State Meet trainer has the sole authority and responsibility of determining whether the injured wrestler can continue, not the coach, wrestler or team trainer. The State Meet trainer determined that the Pierz wrestler could not continue due to the technical foul, therefore he was awarded the match.
There is a completely different rule regarding one wrestler intentional trying to injure another wrestler. This isn’t that and is not covered by that rule.
I don’t know that anyone looking at this objectively thinks the Foley wrestler was intentionally trying to injure the Pierz wrestler. We all have mistakes in life that we did not mean to do or have any intention of doing, but we still suffer the consequences of those mistakes, large or small. Not being intentional does nor erase the mistake. Unfortunate.
Okay, genuine question: If the arm is not trapped, doesn’t that put the responsibility on the wrestler getting returned to brace himself? I know if you return someone with the arm trapped then it’s obviously illegal and dangerous, but if you don’t have the arm trapped, and there isn’t any other malicious intent, doesn’t that put it on the wrestler getting returned? Genuinely wondering, not entirely sure what the rule is there.
To the people that say one match doesn’t decide a dual and 12 other weights could’ve helped blah blah blah.. Who gets blamed when it comes down to heavyweight and the heavyweight gets pinned to lose the dual? The heavyweight does. Who gets blamed in an NFL game when a kicker can hit a walk off field goal to win the game but misses? The kicker gets blamed.
When the lights are bright it’s the job as the individual athlete to show up and execute.
- On February 27, 2026 at 9:11 am thewhizzerd66 said
To the people that say one match doesn’t decide a dual and 12 other weights could’ve helped blah blah blah.. Who gets blamed when it comes down to heavyweight and the heavyweight gets pinned to lose the dual? The heavyweight does. Who gets blamed in an NFL game when a kicker can hit a walk off field goal to win the game but misses? The kicker gets blamed.
When the lights are bright it’s the job as the individual athlete to show up and execute.
I bet you don’t know anything about pressure… just some old blow hard..
- On February 27, 2026 at 9:11 am thewhizzerd66 said
To the people that say one match doesn’t decide a dual and 12 other weights could’ve helped blah blah blah.. Who gets blamed when it comes down to heavyweight and the heavyweight gets pinned to lose the dual? The heavyweight does. Who gets blamed in an NFL game when a kicker can hit a walk off field goal to win the game but misses? The kicker gets blamed.
When the lights are bright it’s the job as the individual athlete to show up and execute.
Both schools should take some notes from watching the Simley kids, who all showed up and showed out! Parents should watch how that Simlety wrestling community acts, too. They act like winners, not a bunch of victims.
- On February 27, 2026 at 9:44 am DevilDogDigital saidOn February 27, 2026 at 9:11 am thewhizzerd66 said
To the people that say one match doesn’t decide a dual and 12 other weights could’ve helped blah blah blah.. Who gets blamed when it comes down to heavyweight and the heavyweight gets pinned to lose the dual? The heavyweight does. Who gets blamed in an NFL game when a kicker can hit a walk off field goal to win the game but misses? The kicker gets blamed.
When the lights are bright it’s the job as the individual athlete to show up and execute.
Both schools should take some notes from watching the Simley kids, who all showed up and showed out! Parents should watch how that Simlety wrestling community acts, too. They act like winners, not a bunch of victims.
Easy to say when you won, I’ve been in a gym when they are on the other end in the past and lets just say the actions arent quite the same… Sometimes the best option is to scroll on when not invovled…
- On February 27, 2026 at 10:12 am Twisted saidOn February 27, 2026 at 9:44 am DevilDogDigital saidOn February 27, 2026 at 9:11 am thewhizzerd66 said
To the people that say one match doesn’t decide a dual and 12 other weights could’ve helped blah blah blah.. Who gets blamed when it comes down to heavyweight and the heavyweight gets pinned to lose the dual? The heavyweight does. Who gets blamed in an NFL game when a kicker can hit a walk off field goal to win the game but misses? The kicker gets blamed.
When the lights are bright it’s the job as the individual athlete to show up and execute.
Both schools should take some notes from watching the Simley kids, who all showed up and showed out! Parents should watch how that Simlety wrestling community acts, too. They act like winners, not a bunch of victims.
Easy to say when you won, I’ve been in a gym when they are on the other end in the past and lets just say the actions arent quite the same… Sometimes the best option is to scroll on when not invovled…
You put your garbage out there for everyone to see, man. Nobody made you do that, did they?
If that is your comeback, and it’s not, yeah, we are acting like a bunch of 2-year-olds, and we didn’t even wrestle the match because we are the parents. It’s crazy, man! The season ended after that match was over. Remember the state tournament experience because not every team gets to go downtown St Paul to wrestle.
It is about the kids, not you or any of the other parents.
Doesn’t matter if the arm was trapped or not in this situation. That’s two different things. If an arm is trapped the ref should blow the whistle before the return. This isnt freestyle. A mat return is treated no different than a double leg where you pick the guy up. You pick them up it becomes your responsibility regardless of intent.
regarding do you blame the hwt or a kicker in football. No. 100% of the time. If anyone blamed a hwt on a team I’d ask what about everyone else’s matches?
We had a dual this year where our 215 had to bump up to hwt with our hwt out. He had to get a pin to force a tie and us winning by criteria. It was amazing what he did pinning someone 40lbs bigger that knew all he had to do was not get pinned. You know who I credit the most with that win? A 8th grade 133 getting his butt kicked for three periods and fighting off his back against a senior three times to get techd and not pinned. Had he gotten pinned the dual would’ve been over before hwt. Win together and lose together.
Again crazy how PARENTS make the state tournament bad experience. Coached, wrestled and officiated at all levels. IMO the kids will forget tomorrow, parents will always make the excuses. Not everyone gets a trophy. The state tournament should be something they remember win or lose.
- On February 27, 2026 at 11:46 am GLC1969 said
Again crazy how PARENTS make the state tournament bad experience. Coached, wrestled and officiated at all levels. IMO the kids will forget tomorrow, parents will always make the excuses. Not everyone gets a trophy. The state tournament should be something they remember win or lose.
Well they’ll never forget it now that they got screwed…
- On February 27, 2026 at 11:46 am GLC1969 said
Again crazy how PARENTS make the state tournament bad experience. Coached, wrestled and officiated at all levels. IMO the kids will forget tomorrow, parents will always make the excuses. Not everyone gets a trophy. The state tournament should be something they remember win or lose.
Well they’ll never forget it now that they got screwed…
jnelson
Why??
There are 15-20 AA schools bigger then Simley.
Simley doesn’t dominate in Hockey, Football, Baseball, Lacrosse or any other sport, so why do you uninformed haters feel they need to change? By the way most years Kasson is the best competition in the State, and are typically one of the best coached teams as well. I know the coaching staff at Simley has a huge amount of respect for Kasson even if you don’t!!
- On February 27, 2026 at 2:17 pm StanbyGranby98 saidOn February 27, 2026 at 7:39 am GLC1969 said
It was sited in a previous post. Someone in class AA thinks they Should be in AAA
They should be.
Why, when there enrollment is clearly in AA? There are 20 schools that would go to AAA before them under current MSHSL enrollment numbers.
- On February 27, 2026 at 11:40 am thewhizzerd66 said
You just proved my point.
you’re giving credit to one wrestler, the 133 pounder. He did his job.
Good gosh. If it makes you feel better say I proved your point. I said someone I give the most credit to. If you want to break it down all 13 guys matches were equally important in the outcome. If our 114 pinned his guy we would have had an extra point. Next team he’ll have to find his own way home there won’t be room on the bus for him.
regarding the tournament being a black eye for foley I can only imagine how Becker felt watching and some of the things they could’ve done better at sections. Had they won sections they likely are in the championship match with Simley looking at the matchups with the other teams that made it. Let the kids be happy with being top four in the state. They didn’t get screwed out of anything. If that’s getting screwed good luck in life as an adult.
- On February 27, 2026 at 3:40 pm jnelson said
Why??
There are 15-20 AA schools bigger then Simley.
Simley doesn’t dominate in Hockey, Football, Baseball, Lacrosse or any other sport, so why do you uninformed haters feel they need to change? By the way most years Kasson is the best competition in the State, and are typically one of the best coached teams as well. I know the coaching staff at Simley has a huge amount of respect for Kasson even if you don’t!!I also don’t buy the arguments that their enrollment numbers are off with free and reduced lunches. That’s an outdated argument. Everyone gets it free nowadays in mn, and those that qualify aren’t going to fill out paperwork that’s meaningless to help the sports team be in a lower class size. Their success is largely due to the shorts and tradition. For new neighborhoods to attract enrollment they’re near Eagan, lakeville, etc all that are growing rapidly. Their advantage over other schools the same size is that they get kids moving there for wrestling.
- On February 27, 2026 at 5:46 pm jnelson said
Those numbers are not taking free and reduced lunch in as a factor at all, to your point.
For every athlete Simley gains they loose one to St Thomas, Rosemont, Eagan for Hockey or Football and Basketball.
Seems like a non issue..100% agree. Everyone spouts off about free and reduced and it’s annoying that they don’t understand how it works. Parents in our community have said if more people filled out the forms we could be in a different class for certain sports. I’ve asked them what incentive there would be for the people to fill them out on their end and what would we do launch a campaign targeting lower income people in the community. What a terrible look and pointless exercise. The only way Simley moves out of AA is if their section becomes too much and AAA gives them a more advantageous section which probably won’t happen any time soon.
1/3 of that population is in the Eagan school dist. (east side of IGH and all brand new homes)
1/3 of that population is in the Rosemont dist. (south side of IGH is in the Rosemont dist)
and there are 3 private high schools with in 3 miles of Simley, there are 3 different high school busses in my sub division every morning.
If Simley actually was ALLOWED to keep all the kids in Inver Grove Heights just from going to Rosemont and Eagan Simley would increase the student body by over 400 HS kids and be AAA. Everyone would love to see it get redistricted to include all the new neighborhoods and tax base back into the main district, it would make Simley a AAA powerhouse.
BeastFromTheEast
Someone should just get an opinion from the wrestler a couple years from now. He will either regret faking and wish he continued in team not knowing he wouldn’t be able to continue in individual, or it will be an honest injury that he lost chances of an individual medal on. Too hard to speculate without knowing exactly how he feels, but it sucks he couldn’t compete today.
- On February 28, 2026 at 9:02 am whiskeytango said
Looks like the Becker individuals came to wrestle this weekend ! Can Kujawa beat Jelly? Should be some great championship matches coming up . Also to the Foley mom who posted on her facebook page about a kid being a pssy you should be ashamed!
I’m embarrassed for her. Not surprised though. Some of these parents seem to think that watching from the sidelines for years is the same as actually competing. Yikes!
camjohe
The kid’s head legitimately bounced off the mat. Regardless of the Foley kid’s role, the injured kid not continuing shouldn’t shock anyone. MSHSL is taking head injuries seriously. And rightfully so.
Separately, my boys would be incredibly embarrassed if I were to post some of the stuff parents are posting in this thread. Let the teams (as in, the wrestlers that are actually competing) take some pride in their accomplishments. I can guarantee there are kids on the Foley squad that are proud of how they wrestled and placing 4th.
Not surprised one bit. If anyone knows anything about the history of Foley wrestling it is tarnished with terrible behaviour from the fans and parents.
To Falconsforever who said this tournament would leave a black eye on the sport, you need to take a deeper look into your fan base and really take a look who is leaving a black eye on this sport. I promise you it isn’t the coaches, wrestlers, refs or the MSHSL..
- On February 28, 2026 at 9:02 am whiskeytango said
Looks like the Becker individuals came to wrestle this weekend ! Can Kujawa beat Jelly? Should be some great championship matches coming up . Also to the Foley mom who posted on her facebook page about a kid being a pssy you should be ashamed!
congrats to Becker, that’s the trade off to not making it as a team. Foley is also feeling the trade off on the individual side.
making it to state as a team is a huge disadvantage, and always has been.
You think these guys can’t handle an extra 3 matches at most?
Most of the kids these days are used to wrestling at Cadet and Junior Duals, Fargo, ect.. These guys are used to wrestling 5-6 matches a day for multiple days. Some of these kids at wrestle 12-13 matches in a couple days. I think they can handle team state.
- On February 28, 2026 at 12:22 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 28, 2026 at 9:02 am whiskeytango said
Looks like the Becker individuals came to wrestle this weekend ! Can Kujawa beat Jelly? Should be some great championship matches coming up . Also to the Foley mom who posted on her facebook page about a kid being a pssy you should be ashamed!
congrats to Becker, that’s the trade off to not making it as a team. Foley is also feeling the trade off on the individual side.
making it to state as a team is a huge disadvantage, and always has been.
Excuses are like buttholes. Everyone has one and they all stink!
- On February 28, 2026 at 12:33 pm thewhizzerd66 said
Not surprised one bit. If anyone knows anything about the history of Foley wrestling it is tarnished with terrible behaviour from the fans and parents.
To Falconsforever who said this tournament would leave a black eye on the sport, you need to take a deeper look into your fan base and really take a look who is leaving a black eye on this sport. I promise you it isn’t the coaches, wrestlers, refs or the MSHSL..
Honestly the blatant attack on the integrity of our fan base on here makes me question a lot of this groups moral compass… we have a fan base that has been and will always be loyal to its athletes and we WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR IT!!!
- On February 28, 2026 at 12:33 pm thewhizzerd66 said
Not surprised one bit. If anyone knows anything about the history of Foley wrestling it is tarnished with terrible behaviour from the fans and parents.
To Falconsforever who said this tournament would leave a black eye on the sport, you need to take a deeper look into your fan base and really take a look who is leaving a black eye on this sport. I promise you it isn’t the coaches, wrestlers, refs or the MSHSL..
Honestly the blatant attack on the integrity of our fan base on here makes me question a lot of this groups moral compass… we have a fan base that has been and will always be loyal to its athletes and we WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR IT!!!
WOW we are now resorting to name calling? Get a grip you’re pathetic..
You’re right, the name calling was uncalled for. I apologise for bringing myself down to your level but some people truly don’t understand how they sound and look when they are willing to die a on hill that isn’t even worth it. I am not going to waste anymore time dealing with you right now.
Good luck the rest of the season.
- On February 28, 2026 at 12:22 pm Section1AAFan saidOn February 28, 2026 at 9:02 am whiskeytango said
Looks like the Becker individuals came to wrestle this weekend ! Can Kujawa beat Jelly? Should be some great championship matches coming up . Also to the Foley mom who posted on her facebook page about a kid being a pssy you should be ashamed!
congrats to Becker, that’s the trade off to not making it as a team. Foley is also feeling the trade off on the individual side.
making it to state as a team is a huge disadvantage, and always has been.
Preposterous statement of the year goes to…..
- On February 28, 2026 at 4:09 pm falconsforever1984 said
Those STMA kids sure seem to be burnt out today…
I mean, they didn’t really have a great individual tournament for them. I’m sure they would have done at least a little better with no team portion first. I’m sure STMA would love to wrestle team on a different weekend.
- On March 1, 2026 at 7:53 am thewhizzerd66 said
“Done at least a little better”? They had 5 guys in the finals. I’m guessing no other team had that many.
Yes, when you compare how far STMA is ahead of the field, I think they underperformed a little in individuals. They had two number one seeds go down in the finals. They had two guys lose in the blood round. They had a returning finalist lose 1-0 in the semis.
It was an individual tournament for them considering the guys they have, but not great or anything.
- On March 1, 2026 at 8:14 am GLC1969 said
They had 6 in the finals 4 champs 2 runners up a 3rd and a 4th. Yeah they under performed my god they are not Penn State
Who over performed for STMA? I havnt head any reasoning as to why they had a good individual tournament that actually takes into account the guys they have.
If Penn State has two national champs this year and wins the tournament by 15 points, they did not have a good tournament relative to their expectations.
Let’s ad some nuance here people. Who over performed for STMA?
All this crazy talk has pushed me down a rabbit hole!
I took some time this morning to looked up how some of the wrestling powerhouse states run their divisions compared to MN.MN A 77 Teams, AA 96 Teams, AAA 64 Team (super soft) 237 total w/2 divisions we would still be one of the easiest states with only 118 teams in each division.
IL 3A 179 Teams, 2A 160 Teams, 3A 160 TeamsPA AA 228 Teams, AAA 247 Teams
Ohio D1 164 Teams, D2 163 Teams, D3 164 Teams
Mich 4 divisions with 119-120 Teams each.
NJ 1 Division with 300+ teams
Indiana 1 Division with 250+ teams.After looking this up MN should have stayed a 2 division state and should consider going back to it. Moving forward it would be interesting to see AA split in half and we have a big school and Small school system since we have such light numbers across the board. 64 teams in AAA??? That’s kinda silly when you look at it.
- On March 1, 2026 at 9:55 am jnelson said
All this crazy talk has pushed me down a rabbit hole!
I took some time this morning to looked up how some of the wrestling powerhouse states run their divisions compared to MN.MN A 77 Teams, AA 96 Teams, AAA 64 Team (super soft) 237 total w/2 divisions we would still be one of the easiest states with only 118 teams in each division.
IL 3A 179 Teams, 2A 160 Teams, 3A 160 TeamsPA AA 228 Teams, AAA 247 Teams
Ohio D1 164 Teams, D2 163 Teams, D3 164 Teams
Mich 4 divisions with 119-120 Teams each.
NJ 1 Division with 300+ teams
Indiana 1 Division with 250+ teams.After looking this up MN should have stayed a 2 division state and should consider going back to it. Moving forward it would be interesting to see AA split in half and we have a big school and Small school system since we have such light numbers across the board. 64 teams in AAA??? That’s kinda silly when you look at it.
Nice breakdown. I’ve been clamoring for two classes on here for a while. People in general don’t want to hear it.
poorwrestler
On March 1, 2026 at 10:03 am truefuture saidOn March 1, 2026 at 9:55 am jnelson saidAll this crazy talk has pushed me down a rabbit hole!
I took some time this morning to looked up how some of the wrestling powerhouse states run their divisions compared to MN.MN A 77 Teams, AA 96 Teams, AAA 64 Team (super soft) 237 total w/2 divisions we would still be one of the easiest states with only 118 teams in each division.
IL 3A 179 Teams, 2A 160 Teams, 3A 160 TeamsPA AA 228 Teams, AAA 247 Teams
Ohio D1 164 Teams, D2 163 Teams, D3 164 Teams
Mich 4 divisions with 119-120 Teams each.
NJ 1 Division with 300+ teams
Indiana 1 Division with 250+ teams.After looking this up MN should have stayed a 2 division state and should consider going back to it. Moving forward it would be interesting to see AA split in half and we have a big school and Small school system since we have such light numbers across the board. 64 teams in AAA??? That’s kinda silly when you look at it.
Nice breakdown. I’ve been clamoring for two classes on here for a while. People in general don’t want to hear it.
Two classes absolutely needed for team. I’d love one class for individuals but we’ll never get that.
- On March 1, 2026 at 10:23 am GLC1969 said
Thorn seeded 4th, Bergeron seeded 2nd does that work
That works great, thank you for furthering the discussion.
Now how about the other way? Bergeron (121) was seeded 1st. Murphy was seeded 1st. Schultz and Mills lost coin flip matches in the semis. Scully and Harris lost coin flip matches in the blood round.
And let’s be real, Thorn had a nice tournament but that four seed wasn’t accurate (107 seeds will always be off with this format for seeding) and Bergeron (132) had a good tournament but did get the benefit of Beissel being on one leg.
Again, not saying it was any disaster of an individual tournament for STMA, but it was simply ok, and I’m guessing without team they win a few more matchers on the individual side.
I disagree Shultz lost back to back weeks to the same kid probably over seeded this year. Mills had a great tournament. Biesell getting hurt is unfortunate but I know he would never use it as an excuse. I give you coin flip at 121. 189 Ward being seeded 3 is because it’s his 1st year in Minnesota. When the team points come out it will show they had a great tournament. They are the most dominate team in Minnesota THIS YEAR. Not one of there state champs graduate, and who know what happens next year. To say the under performed is kind of a slap in the face at AAA. There are other good kids outside of STMA.
- On March 1, 2026 at 1:00 pm GLC1969 said
I disagree Shultz lost back to back weeks to the same kid probably over seeded this year. Mills had a great tournament. Biesell getting hurt is unfortunate but I know he would never use it as an excuse. I give you coin flip at 121. 189 Ward being seeded 3 is because it’s his 1st year in Minnesota. When the team points come out it will show they had a great tournament. They are the most dominate team in Minnesota THIS YEAR. Not one of there state champs graduate, and who know what happens next year. To say the under performed is kind of a slap in the face at AAA. There are other good kids outside of STMA.
AAA isn’t deep like AA.
Mills was absolutely a title contender, taking fourth isn’t a great tournament for him.
Ward was a state champ in MN last year fyi.If a great team wins the individual scoring does that necessarily mean they had a great tournament?
You could convince STMA preformed to expectations over all individually. But they definitely didn’t exceed them or have a great tournament relative to expectations.
Great teams can have average tournaments relative to what they are capable of. Happens all the time.
Finally, I’m sure STMA themselves would love to have the team tournament not right before individuals.
STMA did pretty dang good
107 thorn wins title, was not favored to after back to back losses to Lawrence. Exceeds expectations
114 Thoennes was predicted to win but don’t think most people saw him pinning Ethan p twice in a minute this week. Slightly above
121 Grant Bergeron 1 seed losses to tough kid in finals. Sky isn’t falling
127 Eli Schultz 3 seed finished 3rd. After losing to bainbridge in team and losing in section finals he wasn’t being picked to win.
met expectations133 Brody Bergeron state champ Exceeds expectations
139 Chase mills loses to state champ in semis and loses to Nick strand after beating him day before. Neither are bad losses
145 Lincoln dominant state champ
152/160 both 1-2 blah not much was expected
172 scully blood rd loss i expected more. Failed expectations
189 Jon Murphy 2 top 10 guys in nation. Tough loss not gonna call him failure for losing to a stud.
220 Harris freshmen wrestling 220 loses to state champ and tough kid in lumby when you saw the bracket did you predict a medal?
- On March 1, 2026 at 11:35 am poorwrestler saidOn March 1, 2026 at 10:03 am truefuture saidOn March 1, 2026 at 9:55 am jnelson said
All this crazy talk has pushed me down a rabbit hole!
I took some time this morning to looked up how some of the wrestling powerhouse states run their divisions compared to MN.MN A 77 Teams, AA 96 Teams, AAA 64 Team (super soft) 237 total w/2 divisions we would still be one of the easiest states with only 118 teams in each division.
IL 3A 179 Teams, 2A 160 Teams, 3A 160 TeamsPA AA 228 Teams, AAA 247 Teams
Ohio D1 164 Teams, D2 163 Teams, D3 164 Teams
Mich 4 divisions with 119-120 Teams each.
NJ 1 Division with 300+ teams
Indiana 1 Division with 250+ teams.After looking this up MN should have stayed a 2 division state and should consider going back to it. Moving forward it would be interesting to see AA split in half and we have a big school and Small school system since we have such light numbers across the board. 64 teams in AAA??? That’s kinda silly when you look at it.
Nice breakdown. I’ve been clamoring for two classes on here for a while. People in general don’t want to hear it.
Two classes absolutely needed for team. I’d love one class for individuals but we’ll never get that.
I disagree with the argument of less classes. Number one our section alignment is already terrible resulting in teams like Kasson sitting at home when they’d be a top 1-3 team. Along with individuals in strong sections not making it that would place and have techd some that qualify without even trying. If we went to two they wouldn’t have the fans rate who makes it we’d further have good wrestlers and teams at home while the weaker sections would get pounded even more. As we saw this weekend you also never know what’s going to happen under the bright lights in that environment. Some thrive and compete levels up and some struggle.
Get after it
I also disagree with less classes. It’s fine right now.
Same as when we switched to one less weight , disagreed with that too. I think stop trying to cut more out of the sport. To me that’s going the wrong way. Grow it!I think for wrestling as a whole more is better.
And I’m not advocating for another class, just saying I prefer three classes over two and for a lot of different reasons.
I completely respect that opinion, but MN wresting is not growing we are down to only 237 schools (down around 100 schools) we are not growing wrestling. I am very well studied in this debate, so i can tell you with great confidence that the only growth in men’s wrestling is coming from non traditional wrestling states like Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and several more.
Every traditional wrestling state has dropped numbers and continue to drop each year.
I appreciate giving kids opportunity’s and i want them to be able to live out there young dreams as well. But with that said Minnesota is one of the easiest states to make the state tournament!!!
Nationally, the better wrestling states are between 120-250 schools per division to make the state tournament, at AAA we are barely half of that at Only 66?? That’s crazy easy..
I am not suggesting we go to only 1 division, even though the numbers kind of support that.
AAA 120 Teams & AA 117 teams, it would still be easier then almost all traditional wrestling states.By the way almost everyone I talk to thinks the Talent level is way to watered down and a change would great and theb the 3 division system is Not working, we were a 2 class system in the 1990’s and the numbers were stronger. Just saying
I agree we should go back to 14 weight classes.
You dont “grow a sport” simply by making more spots. You water down competition.
Tell me the last time you sat rhough a JV dual, like an actuall good JV dual outside of a handful of programs that can field that.
You’ve added weights, that handed away Varsity spots, now you have kids that simply get the idea of I need to be on Varsity or I wont go out cause wresting is long and grueling, by simply adding spots, you made JV competition unimportant and kids arent coming out to be on JV.
seems odd to want more weight classes and less overall classes. Where the weight classes have been added in the past made the typically easier weight classes even easier. If you ask me all less classes would do is further the co-op by choice situations for competitiveness. How many more programs would combine to stand a chance and how many more transfers would there be.
I agree with the 13 weight classes. Where would you put the 14th again up to into a area that is not supported by any college weight class.
jnelson you of all people should know that more larger weights makes it harder for tweeners. College is not going to add any weight classes.Minnesota is definitely a 2 class state. Money is what is driving this. For those who say we are taking opportunities from kids have not been watching the product on the mat. I am all for giving a wrestler a chance, but not everyone should be a varsity wrestler.
Dairyman06
I guess my question is…Why do you guys care so much? Who’s winning titles that’s “not any good” in any class?
I can guarantee you it’s not easier in win here over those other states that have more schools per class as mentioned above. Can’t people just be happy for the kids to complete on the big stage the day after the tournament rather than try to cut the whole thing down EVERY FREAKING YEAR.
I understand the stance, but I think you guys are dumb if you think the Mhsl is going to make fewer opportunities for kids. I can tell you now they’d be more likely to add another class than take one away. That is how far off you are from your thought process.
They don’t care about the level of competition at each weight. They don’t care if a bracket or two is “easier.” They care about the functionality of the tournament, and the student athlete experience
You mean besides them being the only state in the Midwest to drop from 14 to 13 weight classes?
They eliminated double elimination wrestle backs?
They tried to eliminate the state tournament during Covid and had to be sued in court to stop it? They did kill football that year? How many states did that?
Not sure we are talking about the same high school league?
Amen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
- On March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace said
Amen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole imo.
kenny.geiser
Two quick points
- Foley getting seeded over Perham is utterly crazy by any metric wrestling coaches have ever used when seeding a tournament. This has to be addressed. They could be ranked ahead, you could think they are the better team, but in no seeding ever should they hjave been seeded higher than Perham
- Wrestling is growing in Minnesota. I see this anecdotally at all the youth events I have been to the past few years. For example, a few weeks back we had a full 16 team event (Thief River Falls), Wadena had over 400 kids, Long Prairie had an 8 team event, and Perham hosted a MNUSA qualifier. And by the numbers, boys wrestling has grown the past few years in Minnesota. So the argument for less classes is silly to me.
- On March 2, 2026 at 10:37 am kenny.geiser said
Two quick points
- Foley getting seeded over Perham is utterly crazy by any metric wrestling coaches have ever used when seeding a tournament. This has to be addressed. They could be ranked ahead, you could think they are the better team, but in no seeding ever should they hjave been seeded higher than Perham
- Wrestling is growing in Minnesota. I see this anecdotally at all the youth events I have been to the past few years. For example, a few weeks back we had a full 16 team event (Thief River Falls), Wadena had over 400 kids, Long Prairie had an 8 team event, and Perham hosted a MNUSA qualifier. And by the numbers, boys wrestling has grown the past few years in Minnesota. So the argument for less classes is silly to me.
Take all the seedings away and do it like they did back in the day,draw the teams out of the hat years prior you knew what sections were wrestling each other years in advance.Seedings don’t mean crap,if you think your teams that good seedings don’t matter.And don’t just seed 5 teams seed them all!
- On March 2, 2026 at 10:37 am kenny.geiser said
Two quick points
- Foley getting seeded over Perham is utterly crazy by any metric wrestling coaches have ever used when seeding a tournament. This has to be addressed. They could be ranked ahead, you could think they are the better team, but in no seeding ever should they hjave been seeded higher than Perham
- Wrestling is growing in Minnesota. I see this anecdotally at all the youth events I have been to the past few years. For example, a few weeks back we had a full 16 team event (Thief River Falls), Wadena had over 400 kids, Long Prairie had an 8 team event, and Perham hosted a MNUSA qualifier. And by the numbers, boys wrestling has grown the past few years in Minnesota. So the argument for less classes is silly to me.
It’s about keeping those kids through high school. Unfortunately wrestling sees a lot of attrition.
The too easy vibe from some I believe is due to the number of teams in AA versus AAA and section alignment. There were some pretty good wrestlers with impressive records sitting in the stands last weekend watching guys place they’ve beaten or non placers they would easily beat. By removing some that are not as tough all it would actually do is further eliminate more of those that could do well there.
- On March 2, 2026 at 10:41 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 10:37 am kenny.geiser said
Two quick points
- Foley getting seeded over Perham is utterly crazy by any metric wrestling coaches have ever used when seeding a tournament. This has to be addressed. They could be ranked ahead, you could think they are the better team, but in no seeding ever should they hjave been seeded higher than Perham
- Wrestling is growing in Minnesota. I see this anecdotally at all the youth events I have been to the past few years. For example, a few weeks back we had a full 16 team event (Thief River Falls), Wadena had over 400 kids, Long Prairie had an 8 team event, and Perham hosted a MNUSA qualifier. And by the numbers, boys wrestling has grown the past few years in Minnesota. So the argument for less classes is silly to me.
It’s about keeping those kids through high school. Unfortunately wrestling sees a lot of attrition.
Right. But starting with more should help us end up keeping more. Also, the numbers have increased at the high school level according the the NFHS reports. I would argue our bigger problem is schools combining. Coops- they eliminate wrestlers and opportunities.
- On March 2, 2026 at 10:53 am kenny.geiser saidOn March 2, 2026 at 10:41 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 10:37 am kenny.geiser said
Two quick points
- Foley getting seeded over Perham is utterly crazy by any metric wrestling coaches have ever used when seeding a tournament. This has to be addressed. They could be ranked ahead, you could think they are the better team, but in no seeding ever should they hjave been seeded higher than Perham
- Wrestling is growing in Minnesota. I see this anecdotally at all the youth events I have been to the past few years. For example, a few weeks back we had a full 16 team event (Thief River Falls), Wadena had over 400 kids, Long Prairie had an 8 team event, and Perham hosted a MNUSA qualifier. And by the numbers, boys wrestling has grown the past few years in Minnesota. So the argument for less classes is silly to me.
It’s about keeping those kids through high school. Unfortunately wrestling sees a lot of attrition.
Right. But starting with more should help us end up keeping more. Also, the numbers have increased at the high school level according the the NFHS reports. I would argue our bigger problem is schools combining. Coops- they eliminate wrestlers and opportunities.
Agreed. When someone posted earlier that there are less teams it is 100% due to co-ops. Many of these co-ops aren’t due to not fielding a full team, but looking to be able to be competitive. There are several examples of teams that would be middle of the section on their own but combined.
- On March 2, 2026 at 9:50 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace said
Amen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole
On March 2, 2026 at 9:50 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace saidAmen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole imo.
Too easy? Lol. Dude, it’s not that easy…ever. A kid might have an abnormal section tournament and make it through, but it’s never easy.
If an athlete is going to quit because they don’t see themselves making the state tournament, I’m not so sure wrestling is the right sport for them anyhow. I do love the sport, but what a humbling s.o.b. it can be!
- On March 2, 2026 at 11:01 am Dairyman06 saidOn March 2, 2026 at 9:50 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace said
Amen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole
On March 2, 2026 at 9:50 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace saidAmen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole imo.
Too easy? Lol. Dude, it’s not that easy…ever. A kid might have an abnormal section tournament and make it through, but it’s never easy.
If an athlete is going to quit because they don’t see themselves making the state tournament, I’m not so sure wrestling is the right sport for them anyhow. I do love the sport, but what a humbling s.o.b. it can be!
Not easy in a general sense, I mean easy relative to other individual sports in MN. The numbers back that up. Of course wrestling isn’t easy.
Kids shouldn’t feel like their season/career is a failure if they don’t make it to state. But sure a large percentage of kids make it in wrestling currently I think it’s hard not to feel that way currently.
Let’s emphasize things outside of state.
- On March 2, 2026 at 10:38 am Section1AAFan said
Way too early sections champs 2027 predictions heading into the off season.
Section 1 – Simley
Section 2 – Scott West
Section 3 – New Ulm
section 4- SSP
Section 5 – Totino
section 6- Becker
section 7 – Pierz
section 8- Perham
T
On March 2, 2026 at 10:38 am Section1AAFan saidWay too early sections champs 2027 predictions heading into the off season.
Section 1 – Simley
Section 2 – Scott West
Section 3 – New Ulm
section 4- SSP
Section 5 – Totino
section 6- Becker
section 7 – Pierz
section 8- Perham
This will be interesting in some sections next season.
section 1- Simley, KM, ZM per usual
2- new Prague likely to give Scott west a fight. Watertown loses a lot of horse power
3- new Ulm and Marshall both graduate a fair amount of seniors. Along with United graduating quite a few and Nls will be down.
4- ssp softer section5- totino unless Roosevelt keeps progressing. They could have a chance. Totino graduating 3 finalists!
6- likely Becker at the moment but they’ll be down from this year. Them and foley graduating some key wrestlers/weights. Hlww likely to be similar along with Rocori and Zimmerman. DCL likely progressing
7- Grand Rapids edges out pierz, little falls should be decent
8 – Perham, minnewaska returning more than dgf
- On March 2, 2026 at 10:43 am Push the pace said
The too easy vibe from some I believe is due to the number of teams in AA versus AAA and section alignment. There were some pretty good wrestlers with impressive records sitting in the stands last weekend watching guys place they’ve beaten or non placers they would easily beat. By removing some that are not as tough all it would actually do is further eliminate more of those that could do well there.
Moving a dozen AA teams to AAA would be great I think, but how to do you convince the MSHSL that wrestling is the one sport where school size doesn’t correlate to competitiveness, and also get them to care about that fact?
- On March 2, 2026 at 1:20 pm truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 10:43 am Push the pace said
The too easy vibe from some I believe is due to the number of teams in AA versus AAA and section alignment. There were some pretty good wrestlers with impressive records sitting in the stands last weekend watching guys place they’ve beaten or non placers they would easily beat. By removing some that are not as tough all it would actually do is further eliminate more of those that could do well there.
Moving a dozen AA teams to AAA would be great I think, but how to do you convince the MSHSL that wrestling is the one sport where school size doesn’t correlate to competitiveness, and also get them to care about that fact?
The key would not be competitiveness from who’s good and who’s not. It would be by participation per section bracket. Compare the number of kids per bracket for each class. I’m not sure how accurate it was but I was told AA had almost 2 more kids on average per section bracket than AAA. If the state tournament is not as level as able teams should pretty much treat the Xmas tournament as the state tournament
- On March 2, 2026 at 1:31 pm Push the pace saidOn March 2, 2026 at 1:20 pm truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 10:43 am Push the pace said
The too easy vibe from some I believe is due to the number of teams in AA versus AAA and section alignment. There were some pretty good wrestlers with impressive records sitting in the stands last weekend watching guys place they’ve beaten or non placers they would easily beat. By removing some that are not as tough all it would actually do is further eliminate more of those that could do well there.
Moving a dozen AA teams to AAA would be great I think, but how to do you convince the MSHSL that wrestling is the one sport where school size doesn’t correlate to competitiveness, and also get them to care about that fact?
The key would not be competitiveness from who’s good and who’s not. It would be by participation per section bracket. Compare the number of kids per bracket for each class. I’m not sure how accurate it was but I was told AA had almost 2 more kids on average per section bracket than AAA. If the state tournament is not as level as able teams should pretty much treat the Xmas tournament as the state tournament
But the MSHSL already knows there are less teams in AAA and has designed it that way, as the do for all sports. They purposely put less teams in bigger classes bc in theory the bigger schools are stronger teams. This holds true in basically every sport besides wrestling. You would have to convince wrestling is the exception and get them to care about that.
- On March 2, 2026 at 9:50 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace said
Amen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole imo.
I’ve seen a lot of good kids quit wrestling and “not making state” was never the reason. Kids quit because wrestling is hard and it isn’t for everyone.
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ - On March 2, 2026 at 2:24 pm Larson311 saidOn March 2, 2026 at 9:50 am truefuture saidOn March 2, 2026 at 8:54 am Push the pace said
Amen to that. It is nauseating of the back in the day, it’s watered down, less classes crowd. Couple opinions on it.
1. regarding national competition other areas of the country have improved. The sport has grown nationally. For the back in the 2 class system crowd how many wrestled out of the season back then? How many MN guys from that generation won national titles and wrestled D1 outside the gophers? You can’t compare generations if a lot of those guys had the training opportunities of today they would’ve been even better. It’s apples and oranges.
2. when I look at the current youth- young high school kids there are a decent amount doing big things on the national stage. Get off the Davenport and go down to the freestyle state or watch northern plains and tell me the kids aren’t as good nowadays.
3. the northland is improving. The club opportunities in my opinion caused the metro or near metro and southern areas to jump the past how many years. Back in the days of Frazee and other northern teams being tough there was a bit of a lull until staples and others have risen. From what I’ve seen hs wise and youth in the past couple years Hayden Zillmer and Jack Pine Savage are going to have a huge effect on the competition level coming from the north. Kids going there have jumped a ton the past few years. I have no ties to him or the club. my son wrestles for a completely different club.
4. there are some pretty passionate coaches getting involved with inner city programs. If a couple of those programs can take off and get some of the weaker sections more competitive the competition level will only get better. It wasn’t long ago Bloomington Kennedy was having several crazy good wrestlers. Imagine if they would’ve been AA then and not battling valley.
My argument is that three classes makes qualifying for state as an individual too easy, and it becomes the goal for most wrestlers, to the point where if they don’t think it’s going to happen for them they quit wrestling before finishing their high school career.
State is so much harder to qualify in other individual/team hybrid sports, to the point where most kids arnt expecting to participate in the state tournament at any point, yet stick out an entire career and reap lots of benefits from the sport that have nothing to do with the state tournament.
In wrestling we put so many eggs in the state tournament basket that I think it hurts the sport. Making qualifying for state a rarer accomplishment and taking the focus off of it to some degree would help MN wrestling as a whole imo.
I’ve seen a lot of good kids quit wrestling and “not making state” was never the reason. Kids quit because wrestling is hard and it isn’t for everyone.
Yes and it’s harder with a “state or bust” mentality, which I fear MN leans into a little too much.
I’m not talking about the kids who come out for wrestling and after a week realize it’s not for them. There will always be those (and that’s fine). I’m talking about the kids we lose prior to the 9th-12 grade season that have already been in wrestling. What can we do to keep those kids out all the way through high school?
Truefure,
A bit of tung and cheek here, but how do all of the other states do it then? (Why don’t they all quit when its 5x harder) Are we just raising softer kids in MN? That truly could be a big part of the problem? 268 per division to only 66??? just saying
I know locally myself and other dads that have pushed our kids a bit, probably get looked at as insane, but when we are out east they look at us dads like we are a bunch of Kitty Cats (keeping it clean).
And by no means do I think we need to look at HS wrestling as a training ground for College wrestlers, i truly do understand that HS sports are about development and participation as a tool to keep kids in school.
But the fact is we have the easiest path to state among any traditional wrestling state out there and it has not added numbers at all.
Wisconsin has added schools over the last 10 years and is once again over 100 schools in each of the 3 divisions but that is not happening hear.
I think we can all agree what we are doing isn’t working, but I am not saying I have the answer either.True some sections are deeper than others but having a 6-man bracket in an 11 team section is ridiculous. Thats why there exists a state or break mentality. People say it doesn’t exist, but you can see it. State is used as the definition of good and not good amongst those that matter (themselves). And unfortunately thats our reality. The gap between great and novice has widened severally with the top 1% becoming almost the top 10%. Many rural schools/families don’t have the means to succeed against this level of competition. At one time, the kids could’ve been 20-16 before sections is more often like 10-26. Therefore a lot of them quit.
Personally as a former wrestler and coach, I wouldnt mind going back to 36/16 events or 45/20 events (last 4 must be duals only). Start the post-season earlier. Many tournaments become repetitive with the teams that go unless you choose to travel and spend 💰.
Id rather see girls individual sections paired with boys team sections on one weekend/week.
2nd week, run boys sub-section individual on a Tuesday (8 team maximum). Top 4 qualify for sections on Friday (8 man bracket~1’s vs 4’s and 2’s vs 3’s). Girls team section on Saturday.
3rd week is Girls Individual State w/ Boys Team State
Final Week is Girls Team and Boys Individual.
Wisconsin does not allow 7th and 8th grade participation. I think that has a lot to do with it. You mention the “state or break” mentality- Kids know by ninth grade if they are “good enough” or not and that is where we lose many.
Not arguing to get rid of 7th and 8th participation, just noting that is part of our problem- we have pushed being a three, four or five time champ as “normal” when it used to be that winning two was considered amazing. Here’s my “back in day comment”- back in day if you went to a regular season tournament and there was a defending state champ in any weight class, that was a top notch tournament and very impressive. Nowadays- if you go to a regular season tournament and there are not multiple defending state champs entered, that is somewhat strange! Old man rant over!
I also agree with your comment about the top and middle wrestlers having much more separation today than in the past. Not sure of a “fix.”
thieleandsons
Part of that separation is the cost. Most high level wrestlers in high school wrestle year around at the clubs. Might be driving an hour each way, twice a week, say you have 3 kids, $300 a month plus all the other costs and travel. Most sports are having the same issue with the have and have nots. It is not the state or bust mentality, it is the ‘if I can’t put in the time of these other guys because I can’t afford it, why work this hard’ and by 9th grade they are out because they have no way to keep up.
This is easy. Team seeding criteria should go as followed:
1. One point for every head to head dual win over a section winner. (Regardless of class.)
2. 1/2 point for every placement over a section winner in individual tournaments. (Regardless of class)
3. One point for every head to head dual win over same class opponent.
4. One point on coaches vote for top 5 in Class. They can’t vote for their own team.
Take the top 5 and draw in the rest. That way teams will be incentivized to actual dual good teams, and or enter good tournaments. Also, won’t be heavily penalized if you lose. Going out and beating some random 7 letter acronym 15 times a season so your coach can claim your team is 24-0 on season shouldn’t be your claim to fame.
- On March 3, 2026 at 7:00 am letsbehonest said
All the talk about transfers on this thread, Perham should be happy they got the Roiko boys. They don’t make it to the tournament without them. Roikos old team looked just fine without them.
Was there other factors to the transfer besides competitive teams? Kind of a weird transfer if not because it’s not like the teams are that much different.
- On March 3, 2026 at 1:43 pm Twisted said
You dont “grow a sport” simply by making more spots. You water down competition.
Tell me the last time you sat rhough a JV dual, like an actuall good JV dual outside of a handful of programs that can field that.
You’ve added weights, that handed away Varsity spots, now you have kids that simply get the idea of I need to be on Varsity or I wont go out cause wresting is long and grueling, by simply adding spots, you made JV competition unimportant and kids arent coming out to be on JV.
It doesn’t seem that long ago, but the time flies that it was over 20 years ago I remember not just having JV duals but having exhibitions in addition. The times have changed. Plenty is kid driven plenty parent driven in my opinion of being heavily involved in youth sports the past 8 years. Same as in the classroom. Too many parents snowplow as many obstacles as possible for kids to work angles for them versus pushing their kids or letting them find their own way. Which has lead to those that push their kids having some at a super high level and the disparity between top performers and average. There’s also way more activities kids can switch to nowadays. I’m not sure what the solution is. I’d admit that you have a point that we dramatize the 4x 3x to the point that a 1x doesn’t get the attention it should. Granted I don’t think it’s watered down overall. I think the disparity section to section has gotten worse where some qualify for state that wouldn’t have before. I can tell you 100% we have some backups that could’ve made it to state out of some sections. That doesn’t mean the overall talent level is watered down.
- On March 4, 2026 at 10:11 am Push the pace said
It doesn’t seem that long ago, but the time flies that it was over 20 years ago I remember not just having JV duals but having exhibitions in addition. The times have changed. Plenty is kid driven plenty parent driven in my opinion of being heavily involved in youth sports the past 8 years. Same as in the classroom. Too many parents snowplow as many obstacles as possible for kids to work angles for them versus pushing their kids or letting them find their own way. Which has lead to those that push their kids having some at a super high level and the disparity between top performers and average. There’s also way more activities kids can switch to nowadays. I’m not sure what the solution is. I’d admit that you have a point that we dramatize the 4x 3x to the point that a 1x doesn’t get the attention it should. Granted I don’t think it’s watered down overall. I think the disparity section to section has gotten worse where some qualify for state that wouldn’t have before. I can tell you 100% we have some backups that could’ve made it to state out of some sections. That doesn’t mean the overall talent level is watered down.
There is simply too much of a focus put on winning at all ages. Kids play sports because it is fun and they want to hangout with friends. Obviously winning will be part of it but it cannot be the focus or main reason kids play sports. I see this wayyyyy too often with parents and it sucks to see.
- On March 4, 2026 at 10:24 am Welp saidOn March 4, 2026 at 10:11 am Push the pace said
It doesn’t seem that long ago, but the time flies that it was over 20 years ago I remember not just having JV duals but having exhibitions in addition. The times have changed. Plenty is kid driven plenty parent driven in my opinion of being heavily involved in youth sports the past 8 years. Same as in the classroom. Too many parents snowplow as many obstacles as possible for kids to work angles for them versus pushing their kids or letting them find their own way. Which has lead to those that push their kids having some at a super high level and the disparity between top performers and average. There’s also way more activities kids can switch to nowadays. I’m not sure what the solution is. I’d admit that you have a point that we dramatize the 4x 3x to the point that a 1x doesn’t get the attention it should. Granted I don’t think it’s watered down overall. I think the disparity section to section has gotten worse where some qualify for state that wouldn’t have before. I can tell you 100% we have some backups that could’ve made it to state out of some sections. That doesn’t mean the overall talent level is watered down.
There is simply too much of a focus put on winning at all ages. Kids play sports because it is fun and they want to hangout with friends. Obviously winning will be part of it but it cannot be the focus or main reason kids play sports. I see this wayyyyy too often with parents and it sucks to see.
I agree and disagree based on the context. Regarding winning kids need to win more than they lose to keep interest typically, but there is too much emphasis on being a Midwest tour all star, 3rd grade world champ, etc… with many of them quitting before hs.
Half the comments on this thread have been that it’s too watered down and should have a 2 class system. Which I’m concluding is a bunch of older guys that were in the 2 class system or people whose kids are done. The mshsl is going to be more concerned with opportunities for kids and participation not someone who didn’t make it to state in the 2 class system in 1989 and is bitter that a modern guy that couldn’t have scored a point on one of the Wurms back in the day is down at state nowadays. Maybe it’s not watered down nowadays maybe the old system sucked and kept a lot of good wrestlers at home back in the day from tough sections/districts. Regarding competing with other states it will be a challenge and always has. Look at how many big competitions a kid in Illinois can drive to compared to us, etc…. One thing that may help is if our top teams could compete more out of state, but that would have some negatives here and also further people transferring to the top programs for the opportunity.
You bring up the word oppertunites, what oppertunities in wrestling have ever been taken away from kids? MATCHES are Oppertunities and always have been. Its the new mindset of assuming only matches on Varsity matter, is a problem.
I dont know a Coach that wouldnt find a kid as many oppertunies (matches) as a kid can handle and benefit from in a year. So being concerned with oppertunies (matches) is great, except thats not the real concern. Its the midset of where they have to be (Varsity or they arent important) instead of earning their way there.
JV Matches and Exhibition matches are important to and they should be viewed that way, not as they are current day.
- On March 4, 2026 at 12:14 pm Push the pace saidOn March 4, 2026 at 10:24 am Welp saidOn March 4, 2026 at 10:11 am Push the pace said
It doesn’t seem that long ago, but the time flies that it was over 20 years ago I remember not just having JV duals but having exhibitions in addition. The times have changed. Plenty is kid driven plenty parent driven in my opinion of being heavily involved in youth sports the past 8 years. Same as in the classroom. Too many parents snowplow as many obstacles as possible for kids to work angles for them versus pushing their kids or letting them find their own way. Which has lead to those that push their kids having some at a super high level and the disparity between top performers and average. There’s also way more activities kids can switch to nowadays. I’m not sure what the solution is. I’d admit that you have a point that we dramatize the 4x 3x to the point that a 1x doesn’t get the attention it should. Granted I don’t think it’s watered down overall. I think the disparity section to section has gotten worse where some qualify for state that wouldn’t have before. I can tell you 100% we have some backups that could’ve made it to state out of some sections. That doesn’t mean the overall talent level is watered down.
There is simply too much of a focus put on winning at all ages. Kids play sports because it is fun and they want to hangout with friends. Obviously winning will be part of it but it cannot be the focus or main reason kids play sports. I see this wayyyyy too often with parents and it sucks to see.
I agree and disagree based on the context. Regarding winning kids need to win more than they lose to keep interest typically, but there is too much emphasis on being a Midwest tour all star, 3rd grade world champ, etc… with many of them quitting before hs.
Half the comments on this thread have been that it’s too watered down and should have a 2 class system. Which I’m concluding is a bunch of older guys that were in the 2 class system or people whose kids are done. The mshsl is going to be more concerned with opportunities for kids and participation not someone who didn’t make it to state in the 2 class system in 1989 and is bitter that a modern guy that couldn’t have scored a point on one of the Wurms back in the day is down at state nowadays. Maybe it’s not watered down nowadays maybe the old system sucked and kept a lot of good wrestlers at home back in the day from tough sections/districts. Regarding competing with other states it will be a challenge and always has. Look at how many big competitions a kid in Illinois can drive to compared to us, etc…. One thing that may help is if our top teams could compete more out of state, but that would have some negatives here and also further people transferring to the top programs for the opportunity.
Interesting conclusion you assumed. I am a “move back to two classes guy” and I wrestled under three classes and have kids coming up.
Good athletes not qualifying for state isn’t bad. In fact it happens all the time in other MSHSL sports. The idea/goal that every good wrestler should end up in the state tournament will/is hurting more than it is helping imo.
What wrestler that is a ‘good’ wrestler quits because they don’t make state? That is one of the weirdest takes I have ever heard. Kids don’t quit because they don’t make state, they quit because it is hard. They quit because they lose the desire. I guess I don’t understand how people can think the state tournament is watered down. Looking at numbers because of clubs and school, MN has so many national wrestlers all through the ranks and Minnesota’s best can hang with any of the other of the next top 5 states best. Honestly, MN wrestling is very underrated.
- On March 4, 2026 at 2:28 pm thieleandsons said
What wrestler that is a ‘good’ wrestler quits because they don’t make state? That is one of the weirdest takes I have ever heard. Kids don’t quit because they don’t make state, they quit because it is hard. They quit because they lose the desire. I guess I don’t understand how people can think the state tournament is watered down. Looking at numbers because of clubs and school, MN has so many national wrestlers all through the ranks and Minnesota’s best can hang with any of the other of the next top 5 states best. Honestly, MN wrestling is very underrated.
You are misunderstanding me. I am talking about kids who wrestle for several years, and then stop sometime between 7th and 12th grade and finish out their high school careers. Lots of kids try wrestling for a short and quit because it’s too hard. And that’s fine, unfortunately it’s not for everyone. But again, I’m talking about kids who have shown they can make it through a wrestling season(s) and then they stop at some point. Now I’ll agree there are still several factors as to why those kids may quit, but I think the “state tournament or bust” mentality that MN leans into leaves kids who feel they may end up on the “bust” side to hang it up prematurely.
At no point does my argument touch on how strong of a wrestling state MN is a whole. A state can have strong wrestling regardless of how many classes it has. That’s not what I’m discussing.
- On March 4, 2026 at 12:14 pm Push the pace saidOn March 4, 2026 at 10:24 am Welp said
There is simply too much of a focus put on winning at all ages. Kids play sports because it is fun and they want to hangout with friends. Obviously winning will be part of it but it cannot be the focus or main reason kids play sports. I see this wayyyyy too often with parents and it sucks to see.
I agree and disagree based on the context. Regarding winning kids need to win more than they lose to keep interest typically, but there is too much emphasis on being a Midwest tour all star, 3rd grade world champ, etc… with many of them quitting before hs.
Half the comments on this thread have been that it’s too watered down and should have a 2 class system. Which I’m concluding is a bunch of older guys that were in the 2 class system or people whose kids are done. The mshsl is going to be more concerned with opportunities for kids and participation not someone who didn’t make it to state in the 2 class system in 1989 and is bitter that a modern guy that couldn’t have scored a point on one of the Wurms back in the day is down at state nowadays. Maybe it’s not watered down nowadays maybe the old system sucked and kept a lot of good wrestlers at home back in the day from tough sections/districts. Regarding competing with other states it will be a challenge and always has. Look at how many big competitions a kid in Illinois can drive to compared to us, etc…. One thing that may help is if our top teams could compete more out of state, but that would have some negatives here and also further people transferring to the top programs for the opportunity.
I bolded the part I want to respond to. I think that is a culture issue with coaching and/or parents.
It’s a physical sport. There are not many kids that stick with the sport who are below .500 for a super long time. Maybe a handful of years but not for a youth career and beyond. I’m not saying winning is the priority. I’m saying it’s common sense and reality. In baseball if you have the crappiest battting average you strike out more you don’t get roughed up like wrestling. In track finish farther behind not roughed up. If a wrestler doesn’t progress it’s not a pleasant experience. For youth one solution is to target the correct competition and amount. Ben Askren had a great take of what’s the ideal winning percentage for a kid which several said 2/3rds. If they’re winning more than that go to harder tournaments or bump up ages, weights, or both. If they’re winning less than that target easier tournaments until they progress more. Not easy to do it to a direct percentage but I’ve seen several kids burn out getting roughed up at qualifier after qualifier because others on their team are going where an open here and there may make more sense. At this point I’m not sure what we’re trying to solve or how this correlates with 2 classes versus 3. I think we have a good thing going at the youth level through the highschool level in mn. If the argument is to be more competitive at the national level that would mean more kids traveling and competing at the bigger tougher tournaments. Not the easiest thing geographically and costly for the majority of people. I saw a great meme that was something like “I’m not traditionally poor, I’m my kid wrestles at the national level poor.” I get the argument that the harder it is to qualify the better kids will push more and find a way to make it. I don’t get how it would grow numbers.
- On March 4, 2026 at 5:34 pm Push the pace said
It’s a physical sport. There are not many kids that stick with the sport who are below .500 for a super long time. Maybe a handful of years but not for a youth career and beyond. I’m not saying winning is the priority. I’m saying it’s common sense and reality. In baseball if you have the crappiest battting average you strike out more you don’t get roughed up like wrestling. In track finish farther behind not roughed up. If a wrestler doesn’t progress it’s not a pleasant experience. For youth one solution is to target the correct competition and amount. Ben Askren had a great take of what’s the ideal winning percentage for a kid which several said 2/3rds. If they’re winning more than that go to harder tournaments or bump up ages, weights, or both. If they’re winning less than that target easier tournaments until they progress more. Not easy to do it to a direct percentage but I’ve seen several kids burn out getting roughed up at qualifier after qualifier because others on their team are going where an open here and there may make more sense. At this point I’m not sure what we’re trying to solve or how this correlates with 2 classes versus 3. I think we have a good thing going at the youth level through the highschool level in mn. If the argument is to be more competitive at the national level that would mean more kids traveling and competing at the bigger tougher tournaments. Not the easiest thing geographically and costly for the majority of people. I saw a great meme that was something like “I’m not traditionally poor, I’m my kid wrestles at the national level poor.” I get the argument that the harder it is to qualify the better kids will push more and find a way to make it. I don’t get how it would grow numbers.
Overemphasizing the state tournament makes kids who have been wrestling for a while, but don’t think they will ever make it to state, leave the sport. I think it’s fair to say the state tournament is emphasized more in wrestling than other high school sports. I don’t think that’s a positive thing.
There’s an over emphasis related to success of what’s doing good and winning at all levels, but if some are quitting because they don’t think they’ll make it to state wouldn’t making it harder to make it result in losing more numbers not adding? I don’t see how you’d remove the emphasis at this point.
Talk about not emphasizing winning and having success- Norway dominated the last two winter Olympics.
If you didn’t see this segment, check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIi6IqP7-bM
FYI- the story is similar in many European countries- the point of sports is for fun, health and friendship. We lost the point long ago.
- On March 4, 2026 at 6:21 pm Push the pace said
There’s an over emphasis related to success of what’s doing good and winning at all levels, but if some are quitting because they don’t think they’ll make it to state wouldn’t making it harder to make it result in losing more numbers not adding? I don’t see how you’d remove the emphasis at this point.
If it were harder to make it to state, wrestling wouldn’t have to have a state or bust mentality. As is it is so inclusive (80 percent of more of all teams have representation at state) that it’s the obvious goal to have.
Make it a smaller amount of participants overall (2 classes) and get rid of state participation as being the line between the have and have nots in wrestling. It would take time, but other MSHSL sports have tons of kids who complete all the way through high school who arnt even thinking about the state tournament, and are reaping all the benefits of that sport.
This is such a crazy take to me. Because they didn’t make it to state? I’ve never heard of that…even once. Maybe in a school like STMA where 3/4 of their team makes it every year and the couple that don’t feel like they’re not any good? But of all the kids I’ve wrestled with and coached, I’ve never heard of that.
Just a FYI…I bet 3× as many kids make it to state in football than do in wrestling each year.
Not really that crazy. Kids want to be on a winning team nowadays. They’d rather be on the bench of a successful team than a starter on a crappy one.
In these kids minds State=Good, the small victories are less noticeable when 624 boys qualify for state and it isnt you. Bigger sections and less classes brings smaller goals to light and allows one to build on them.
Making the state tournament harder won’t do anything but leave some kids out. There is already a massive ability gap in this sport. Taking away classes would do nothing of demoralize even more kids from joining. A lot of kids just have a goal of making the state tournament.
It’s not like recruiters care how you do at the state tournament. It’s about who you beat. If you have one of those kids, going and placing at super 32 or Fargo will do way more for recruitment than the state tournament.
Unlikely to change the mindset of what is good anytime soon. It’s a different time period. I watched the video posted on Norway. It was interesting. I can see large events and the population being centralized being a big thing for youth of free activities so the majority of youth try the majority of sports. It was interesting that they said at 13 they start to invest heavily in the chosen ones and the rest have a lifelong love of the activities. Seems very in favor of individual sports. Wouldn’t that be like if the majority of kids wrestled for free growing up and we took the 12&14u state champs and put all our resources into their training going forward for the age group?Kind of counter intuitive to be honest.
Think this thread is over analyzing things. I see a lot of kids at youth tournaments having a great time running around with their buddies. To be honest if we want growth to me it’s emphasizing the team component, fun, tradition, and people wanting to be part of something. Foley has always been a rival, but I will admit they do a great job of getting a bunch of kids to the hs level. They don’t generally have the multi time state champ or many years a champ or this year a place winner individually but kids stick with it because the culture is like what football is in most schools where kids will wait for a spot their junior or senior year. Over the years they don’t have as many 100 match winners as the majority of programs but a lot is to do with many not cracking the lineup at a young age. Nowadays some years that hurts them when they don’t go into a dual guranteed so many points but they took the section with zero individual play winners when Becker had 3- state finalists .
Regarding AA next year
1: is km any closer to Simley next season?
2: new Prague the leader ? How do they matchup with Scott west ?
3: new Ulm way out front? A lot of depth this year that will be even better next?
4: ssp anyone else close? Roosevelt?
5: Totino unless the section gets changed drastically anytime soon
6: Becker team to beat imo with foley graduating quite a few key kids. Dcl on the rise with some others
7: Grand Rapids Pierz battle it out again? Rock ridge super strong down low can they build up top?
8: Perham for awhile unless dl improves
I don’t have a whole lot to add but it seems like a lot of kids quit around middle school, that’s kinda when personalities develop and kids start making their own decisions of what they want to do, it’s also when a lot more sports become available and you lose kids to basketball or swimming or ice fishing and other hobbies, what have you.
I’d be curious for those who are involved in multiple sports if they see a similar difficulty to hold on to kids?
I’ve noticed it’s also the toughest time period for a lot of kids in that 7th grade year or so where you might be sent out there against much more developed seniors and they feel like they’re just getting beat up on and it’s hard to properly explain that situation to a kid and get through properly when it might happen again and again. I’ve seen some tough kids with solid skills who just were big as a 7th grader and were really tested mentally to keep going, even if they’d win over half their matches, they were getting physically beat up on a bit.
Obviously, coaches do their best to get the closest match ups they can on JV, but it’s kind of the reality of the situation when they already struggle to get the kids as much experience as they can.
- On June 14, 2026 at 11:31 am Section1AAFan said
Will Kasson be back on top this year over Simley with their few move ins?
Section 1aa finals with these 2 is always fun to attend.
I’ll take a guess at Rankings heading into pre-season
- Kasson
- Simley
- Perham
- Becker
- Scott West
- Zumbrota
- Foley
- Watertown-Mayer
- Grand Rapids
- New ulm
I’d hope Kasson would win it when 80% of their lineup has moved in. Definitely valley 2000’s vibes. Perham no offense seems high and Scott west. Zumbrota should be top 4 especially if Sommer is going there (not certain on that). Becker will be tougher this year than last. New Ulm should be higher they are very balanced. If skelly jumps
from Grand Rapids to km is a big swing each way. Water town lost a lot of horsepower the past two seasons.
Until Kasson can actually beat Simley, they should be #2.
Regardless, if they transfer in more kids since the end of this season for next year. You have to beat the champions on the mat.
I believe Simley only lost a couple of seniors from this year’s title team, and we know how prepared they are come tournament time, they will not roll over for anyone.
- On June 14, 2026 at 9:52 pm Push the pace saidOn June 14, 2026 at 11:31 am Section1AAFan said
Will Kasson be back on top this year over Simley with their few move ins?
Section 1aa finals with these 2 is always fun to attend.
I’ll take a guess at Rankings heading into pre-season
- Kasson
- Simley
- Perham
- Becker
- Scott West
- Zumbrota
- Foley
- Watertown-Mayer
- Grand Rapids
- New ulm
I’d hope Kasson would win it when 80% of their lineup has moved in. Definitely valley 2000’s vibes. Perham no offense seems high and Scott west. Zumbrota should be top 4 especially if Sommer is going there (not certain on that). Becker will be tougher this year than last. New Ulm should be higher they are very balanced. If skelly jumps
from Grand Rapids to km is a big swing each way. Water town lost a lot of horsepower the past two seasons.
I was just trying to go off of what a lot of teams were losing – I have very little idea what each team has backfilling. I do know new ulm was very senior heavy, I think they had like 7-8 seniors starting.
- On July 4, 2026 at 3:32 pm dj63 said
who’s K Martin?
Kadin Martin from Grand Rapids I assume
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ Class AA News – Boys
AA Transfers – If anyone has confirmation on these “not confirmed” ones or any that I left out let me know.
Destan Skelly – Grand Rapids > Kasson-Mantorville (confirmed)
Danan Nelson – Rochester John Marshall > Kasson-Mantorville (confirmed)
Garrett Williams – Cannon Falls > St Thomas Academy (confirmed)
Kadin Martin – Grand Rapids > Staples-Motley (not confirmed)
Ashton Reller – Frazee > Perham (not confirmed)
Class AA Fargo Results – Boys
16U
Brody Sundby – Watertown-Mayer – FS 94 0-2 – GR 94 0-2
Ivan Larsen – Byron – FS 100 2-2 – GR 106 1-2
Grayson Schroeder – Zumbrota-Mazeppa – FS 100 3-2 – GR 100 7th Place 7-2
Ryan Fuenffinger – Rock Ridge – FS 106 3-2 – GR 106 4-2
Harper Hamacher – Becker – FS 106 5-2 – GR 106 1-2
Odin Duncombe – Becker – FS 113 1-2 – GR 113 0-2
Brycen Kothenbeutel – Pine Island – GR 113 0-2
Trey Kraemer – ROCORI – FS 113 2-2 – GR 113 3-2
Kaden Lindquist – Kasson-Mantorville – FS 120 4-2
Owen Zabel – Plainview-Elgen-Millville – FS 120 3-2
Clayton Birkholz – Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead – FS 126 2-2 – GR 126 1-2
Graham Lofton – New Prague – FS 126 0-2
Tanner Morvari – Simley – FS 132 0-2 – GR 132 1-2
Danan Nelson – Kasson-Mantorville – FS 144 3-2 – GR 144 0-2
Carter Barz – Sauk Rapids-Rice – FS 150 0-2 – GR 150 0-2
Cayton Pahl – Pine Island – GR 150 1-2
Nash Graner – Plainview-Elgin-Millville – FS 157 2-2
Brody Wieland – Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial – FS 157 0-2 – GR 2-2
Rex Ayshford – Kasson-Mantorville – FS 165 4-2 – GR 165 7th Place 7-2
Elias Motta – Thief River Falls – FS 165 2-2 – GR 165 4th Place 6-2
Gavin Edwards – Byron – FS 175 2-2 – GR 175 3-2
Destan Skelly – Kasson-Mantorville – FS 175 2nd place 6-1 – GR 175 8th Place 5-3
Elliot Karol – Minneapolis Roosevelt – FS 190 1-2 – GR 190 0-2
Thomas Olson – Scott West – FS 285 3-2 – GR 285 0-2
Sawyer Schendel – Milaca Faith Christian – FS 285 1st Place 6-0 – GR 285 1st Place 6-0
Junior
Blake Brose – Watertown-Mayer – FS 113 2-2 – GR 113 2-2
Javean Centeno – Hutchinson – FS 113 2-2 GR 113 1-2
Gabe Swenson – Zimmerman – FS 113 1-2
Joel Friederichs – Watertown-Mayer – FS 120 5-2 – GR 120 7th Place 5-2
Regan Johnson – New Ulm – FS 120 1-2 – GR 0-2
Mason Zabel – Plainview-Elgen-Millville – FS 120 0-2
Titan Friederichs – Watertown-Mayer – FS 126 5-2 GR 126 4th Place 5-2
Aidan Carlson – Mahtomedi – GR 132 3-2
Sam Dagel – Worthington – FS 132 0-2 – GR 132 0-2
Darryl Jackson – Simley – FS 132 2-2
Elijah Lofton – New Prague – FS 132 0-2
Adrian Mincey – Simley – FS 132 2-2
Kane Johnson – New Ulm – FS 138 1-2 GR 138 2-2
Jake Kos – Simley – FS 138 4-2
Grant Volk – Big Lake – FS 128 0-2
Judah Perrault – Hutchinson – FS 144 2-2 – GR 144 3-2
Aiden Graner – Plainview-Elgin-Millville – FS 150 4-2
Beck Johnson – St James-Madelia – FS 150 1-2
Bennett Kujawa – Becker – FS 150 7th Place 7-2 – GR 150 4th Place 9-2
Brayden Linsmeier – Glencoe-Lester Prairie – FS 150 0-2
Alex Ogle – Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead – FS 150 1-2
Park Zutter – Pequot Lakes-Pine River-Backus – FS 150 2-2 – GR 150 2-2
Nolan Ford – Plainview-Elgin-Millville – FS 157 1-2
Jerrith Garrett – Perham – GR 157 1-2
Kaleb Mead – Watertown-Mayer – FS 157 3-2 – GR 157 4-2
Aiden Mincey – Simley – FS 157 3-2
Kadin Martin – Grand Rapids? – FS 157 4-2
Landen Larson – Thief River Falls – FS 165 2-2 – GR 165 1-2
Carter Pesta – Sauk Rapids-Rice – FS 165 1-2
Preston Harms – Simley – FS 175 0-2 – GR 175 2-2
Damien Davison – Windom-Mountain Lake – FS 175 1-2 – GR 175 1-2
Owen Lexvold – Zumbrota-Mazeppa – FS 190 2-2 – GR 190 3-2
Jayden Zajac – Pierz – FS 190 2-2 – GR 190 1-2
Mason Adams – Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial – FS 285 2-2
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/Larson
thanks for putting all that together. Seems as a state we’re doing a bit better Greco wise than freestyle. Cool to see all of it put together format wise. Thanks for doing that. Some have commented that we’ve been down nationally I think the reality is the sport has grown nationally in some areas it didn’t exist in the 80s-2000s.
AA Wrestling fan
On June 14, 2026 at 9:52 pm Push the pace saidOn June 14, 2026 at 11:31 am Section1AAFan saidWill Kasson be back on top this year over Simley with their few move ins?
Section 1aa finals with these 2 is always fun to attend.
I’ll take a guess at Rankings heading into pre-season
- Kasson
- Simley
- Perham
- Becker
- Scott West
- Zumbrota
- Foley
- Watertown-Mayer
- Grand Rapids
- New ulm
I’d hope Kasson would win it when 80% of their lineup has moved in. Definitely valley 2000’s vibes. Perham no offense seems high and Scott west. Zumbrota should be top 4 especially if Sommer is going there (not certain on that). Becker will be tougher this year than last. New Ulm should be higher they are very balanced. If skelly jumps
from Grand Rapids to km is a big swing each way. Water town lost a lot of horsepower the past two seasons.
Kasson has a lineup with 80% that are move ins? So you are thinking they have 10-11 move ins?
- On August 7, 2026 at 1:06 pm AA Wrestling fan saidOn June 14, 2026 at 9:52 pm Push the pace saidOn June 14, 2026 at 11:31 am Section1AAFan said
Will Kasson be back on top this year over Simley with their few move ins?
Section 1aa finals with these 2 is always fun to attend.
I’ll take a guess at Rankings heading into pre-season
- Kasson
- Simley
- Perham
- Becker
- Scott West
- Zumbrota
- Foley
- Watertown-Mayer
- Grand Rapids
- New ulm
I’d hope Kasson would win it when 80% of their lineup has moved in. Definitely valley 2000’s vibes. Perham no offense seems high and Scott west. Zumbrota should be top 4 especially if Sommer is going there (not certain on that). Becker will be tougher this year than last. New Ulm should be higher they are very balanced. If skelly jumps
from Grand Rapids to km is a big swing each way. Water town lost a lot of horsepower the past two seasons.
Kasson has a lineup with 80% that are move ins? So you are thinking they have 10-11 move ins?
Somewhat exaggerated. Feel free to throw out their probable lineup though if you’d like. More move ins than any other team I can think of.
- On August 26, 2026 at 12:35 pm AA Wrestling fan said
I have only heard about two or three move ins they will have this year, are there more than that? You are comparing them to the 2000’s Apple Valley teams? At the time those Apple Valley Teams were top 5 teams in the country!
You can always tell when someone is either younger or newer to the wrestling scene whenever they start comparing any of these recent MN teams to the 2008-2014 AV teams.
INSERTNAMEHERE
I agree. Recruiting has a negative connotation. But it ain’t really recruiting when kids and families want to join a strong program and have good training partners. Build a program kids want to be a part of and they’re going to come. And I can’t really fault parents for wanting to put their kid in what they believe is a better situation.
- On July 3, 2026 at 8:16 pm INSERTNAMEHERE said
K Martin to Staples
Looks like he’s back in Walker
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/ Any other notable enrollment changes? Feel free to submit to the rankings input link if you would rather not post on the forum.
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/
Not understanding the reasoning for secrecy on a message board either as long as nobody is saying anything negative about the kids.
what I’ve heard but not sure how solid any are.
zm- ive heard Liam sommer
km- skelly, Nelson, maybe Alexander and several South Dakota kids
foley- is that including ramsdells from last year? Hadn’t heard anything.
becker- hadn’t heard anything.
- On October 2, 2026 at 8:31 am Push the pace said
Not understanding the reasoning for secrecy on a message board either as long as nobody is saying anything negative about the kids.
what I’ve heard but not sure how solid any are.
zm- ive heard Liam sommer
km- skelly, Nelson, maybe Alexander and several South Dakota kids
foley- is that including ramsdells from last year? Hadn’t heard anything.
becker- hadn’t heard anything.
ZM I heard got Sommer, and it sounds like maybe a couple more Kenyon-Wanamingo kids were either heading there or to PI. And honestly, for Foley or Becker, does it even really matter if they had any kids move in? Lol.
I know Nelson and Skelly moved over to KM, along with one SD kid, but I think that’s all they got. I’d guess Simley has 1–2 coming in from what I’ve heard, on top of an already loaded team coming back from last year.
The Team State Finals will be held at the Civic Center in Rochester again this year as Section 1AA is going to decide who the big boys of the state are. Simley should have a really solid lineup through the middle if everyone falls into place the way they need to, but I’m starting to think KM might have enough firepower to take them down this year.
I know a lot of the Section 1 guys are wrestling down at PNL this weekend too, so that should give us a pretty good idea of where everyone is at.
I hear ya. As I said nothing solid for intel on my end. I do think if there was less secrecy there would be less rumors. Also not sure how if someone is moving of it being a secret would help. I can’t picture the competition training differently because of it unless we’re to a point that it’s become straight free agency where if ex: Becker brings someone in at x weight foleys going to hit the market to counter. I think the main thing is people don’t say negative things about the kids or judge them and their families.
Would sure be nice to know for the rankings guy…
Shawn Larson
The Guillotine HS Rankings Input
https://theguillotine.com/high-school-rankings-input/- On October 5, 2026 at 12:35 pm Push the pace said
What are peoples predictions team wise? My guesses below
1. km
2 new Prague
3. new Ulm
4. ssp
5. Totino
6. Becker maybe foley
7. Pierz
8. Perham?
- Kasson
- Simley
Foley, Becker, Pierz, Perham, Scott West, New Prague, Zumbrota can all beat each other. Tons of parity against outside of top 2.
New Ulm lost a lot, and New Prague lost 7 guys from their varsity team section lineup it looked like.
Simley is the Champs until they get knocked off. From my account, they return McKenzie, Salas, Kranz, Mincey, Safranov, Jackson, Short, Kos, Mincey, Harms and I’m probably forgetting a few. That is a lot of firepower. Can anyone knock them off? Zumbrota and Kasson seem to be strong but that’s a tough road just to get out of Section 1.
Can’t say I enjoy scrolling a long singular page with the new forums…
I am going to attempt sorting them by tiers, order is too hard.
Tier 1
Simley
KM
Tier 2
ZM
Perham (getting slept on)
Becker
Foley
Tier 3
Pierz (they lost a bunch IIRC)
SW
GR (they had some transfer out?)
TG
Some interesting teams to watch north of the cities…
TRF
DGF
LF
DL
- On October 6, 2026 at 2:29 pm Welp said
Can’t say I enjoy scrolling a long singular page with the new forums…
I am going to attempt sorting them by tiers, order is too hard.
Tier 1
Simley
KM
Tier 2
ZM
Perham (getting slept on)
Becker
Foley
Tier 3
Pierz (they lost a bunch IIRC)
SW
GR (they had some transfer out?)
TG
Some interesting teams to watch north of the cities…
TRF
DGF
LF
DL
I think this is a pretty fair list. Perham had a very young squad.
Zumbrota could be Tier 3, but I also feel like last year their will be a lot of parity.
Minny
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