High School News

Mat Chat With Ryan Epps Two-Time NCAA DIII Champion

Minnesota Storm Team Member / Augsburg University Graduate / Cannon Falls HS

By Chad Otterness

Ryan Epps is a Cannon Falls High School and Augsburg University graduate. Ryan has been busy competing and training as he pursues his Olympic goals.

Ryan was a three-time All-American at Augsburg University and two-time National Champion.

Ryan Epps just competed against the Wisconsin RTC wrestling club and picked up a 6-2 victory over three-time NCAA Division I qualifier Rickey Robertson of the Wisconsin RTC.

Ryan previously wrestled in his first USA Senior level Greco-Roman and Freestyle Nationals tournament in Coralville, Iowa. Ryan came away with a fifth place finish in the Greco portion of the tournament going 4-2 at 77 KG (169.4 LBS). Ryan also wrestled up a weight class and went 1-2 in freestyle at 86 KG (189.2 LBS).

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High School Milestones – Friday, January 22, 2021

  • 100th Pin and 1000th Career Takedown – Jaxson Rohman, Fairmont/Martin County West, 12th, 126 pounds
  • 200th Win – Mason Gode, LPGE-Browerville, 12th, 160 pounds
  • 175th Win – Jack Fudge, Perham, 12th, 152 pounds
  • 60th Win – Caden Johnson, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove, 11th, 182 pounds
  • 50th Win – Terrae Dunn, Eden Prairie, 9th, 138 pounds

National Girls High School Rankings

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling, and FloWrestling on Friday released the fourth national rankings for high school girls wrestlers for the 2020-21 season.

This ranking evaluates all girls enrolled in grades 8-12, and athletes from all 50 states are eligible for selection.

With many changes in the high school season across the nation, this ranking includes results from open competitions held across the nation, as well as the high school season in a number of states which have been able to hold a traditional high school schedule. Some states have not even started the high school season.

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High School Milestones – Thursday, January 21, 2021

  • 300th Coaching Win – Harold Holt, Pelican Rapids
  • 150th Win – Jordan Lohse, West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville, 12th, 160 pounds
  • 100th Win – Chase Magaard, Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg, 10th, 126 pounds
  • 50th Pin – Andrew Wollak, Sauk Rapids-Rice, 12th, 138 pounds
  • 75th Win – Landon Nebel, Edina, 126 pounds
  • 75th Win – Gavin Gould, Spectrum, 11th, 120 pounds
  • 60th Win – Max Balow, Lake City, 11th, 220 pounds
  • 60th Win – Lane Fink, Canby, 10th, 132 pounds
  • 60th Win – Simon Snyder, Wadena-Deer Creek, 10th, 132 pounds
  • 25th Pin – Nate Bobendrier, Pipestone Area, 11th, 132 pounds

Culture Starts In The Room

Wes Hanson and Crookston Wrestling

By Brian Jerzak

In any sport, success doesn't start during a competition. Success begins in the offseason and during practice. To have practices that lead to success, the athletes need to buy into what the coaching staff is selling. That process starts by establishing a culture that begins not on the mat but in the practice room. Crookston head wrestling coach Wes Hanson has taken the Pirates from a sub-.500 program to a team that has had back-to-back-to-back winning seasons and might be on the verge of their best season in years. Hanson and his staff have done it by establishing a culture of hard work, not only in competition but in the practice room.

Hanson's father was a successful wrestler and started his son down the wrestling path.

"My dad wrestled and ended up wrestling at Bemidji State. He introduced me and did some coaching. I started at a young age. Right away, it was enjoyable for me, and once I started competing, I liked the individual nature of the sport. It was a lot of fun."

His dad started him in wrestling, but Hanson's friends were instrumental in stoking a passion for wrestling.

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