Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners Announced

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced the state winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA).

The DSHSEA was established in 1996 to honor Olympic and World champion Dave Schultz, whose career was cut short when he was murdered in January 1996. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997 and as a member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.

The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.

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Cardinal named MWCA Mr. Minnesota of Wrestling

Joseph and Vaith named MWCA Coaches of the Year

Derrick Cardinal of Forest Lake is this year’s Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Mr. Minnesota of Wrestling.

The MWCA annually presents the Mr. Minnesota High School Wrestler award to the senior that best exemplifies the highest ideals of high school wrestling in Minnesota. Judging is based on past performances, citizenship, academics, leadership, and adherence to MSHSL rules.

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The Guillotine – February 11, 2021

The February 11, 2021 issue of The Guillotine has arrived! Content in this issue includes: Wrestling For Family - Derrick Cardinal | Driven to Win by a Hatred of Losing - Chase DeBlaere | The Natural - Dominik Vacura | Lace ‘Em Up - Heartbreak and Uncertainty | Camps-Clinics-Training | MWCA Report | High School Rankings | Officially Speaking - Officiating Challenges | Performance Nutrition - Supplements | Culture Starts In The Room - Wes Hanson and Crookston Wrestling | Ask The Doc - Following Guidelines | Where Have They Gone? - Rick Ties.

View this issue below.

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Wrestling For Family – Derrick Cardinal

By Brian Jerzak

Family has always played a big role in Forest Lake senior Derrick Cardinal's wrestling career. He wanted to join his older brother on the mat before he was old enough for the youth program. His father has been coaching him since the beginning. His mom is not only his biggest supporter from the stands but is active in trying to find better and better opportunities to wrestle. Throughout his varsity career, Forest Lake head coach Joe Kunshier has been in the three-time state champion's corner – like a father figure. When his extended Forest Lake wrestling family was in need, Cardinal did what he always does – wrestle for his family.

"My dad wrestled in high school," Cardinal said. "When I was three and a half, my dad brought my older brother to practice, and I would go with my parents. They couldn't keep me off the mat. I couldn't start until I was four. Once I turned four, I went to every practice I could and have loved it ever since then."

"He is one of those kids that is self-directed," Kunshier said. "From the time he was a mini-mite in our program, his dad Tim would talk about how his older brother Stephen was old enough to join, and Derrick would tag along – they couldn't keep him off the mat."

Cardinal didn't participate in many tournaments his first couple of years, but that soon changed.

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Derrick Cardinal is the Star Tribune Metro Wrestler of the Year

The last thing Derrick Cardinal needed was added motivation.

The Forest Lake junior had grown up idolizing the big names in the program’s history, wrestlers such as Troy Marr and Ben Morgan, whose names headed an Honor Roll of Forest Lake wrestling.

“Since I was 3 or 4 years old, I would look up and see those pictures on the wall and I always wanted to be up there,” Cardinal said.

He is now, particularly after being the first wrestler in school history to win three individual state championships. He picked up his third at the 2020 state meet, defeating Joey Novak of New Prague for the Class 3A 126-pound title. The victory improved his season record to 50-0. In the quarterfinals, Cardinal picked up the 200th victory of his career. Continue reading at www.mnwrestlinghub.com