The Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association is kicking off its 2026-2027 Membership Drive.
MWCA
MWCA/The Guillotine 2026 Girls Academic All-State Wrestlers
Congratulations to the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association and The Guillotine High School Girls Academic All-State honorees for 2026. Thanks to the coaches, administrators, and parents for helping to recognize these exceptional student-athletes.
The 2026 edition of the Girls Academic All-State honorees features 17 first-team members, 14 second-team members, and 7 honorable mention wrestlers.
17 inducted into the 2026 Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame
2026 MWCA Award Recipients Honored
Benson, Minn. – Seventeen new members were inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 11th, in Benson, Minn.
The new inductees honored were Joe Block, Dustin Darveaux, Luverne “Tuffy” Hoard, Kevin Jensen, Tom Lamphere, Josh McLay, Robb Moser, Rich Pohlmeier, Werner Family (Wayne, Dan, Jack, Steve, Albert, and Bruce), Tom Youngblom, Paul Conrad, and Alan Rasmussen.
2026 Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Sold Out
The 2026 Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 11th, in Benson, Minnesota, is now sold out. Inductees will be Joe Block, Dustin Darveaux, Luverne “Tuffy” Hoard, Kevin Jensen, Tom Lamphere, Josh McLay, Robb Moser, Rich Pohlmeier, Werner Family, Tom Youngblom, Paul Conrad, and Alan Rasmussen.
Meet the 2026 Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees
Learn about the latest Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association David Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees. The 2026 Induction Dinner will take place on Saturday, April 11th, in Benson, Minn. Inductees will be Joe Block, Dustin Darveaux, Luverne “Tuffy” Hoard, Kevin Jensen, Tom Lamphere, Josh McLay, Robb Moser, Rich Pohlmeier, Werner Family, Tom Youngblom, Paul Conrad, and Alan Rasmussen.
MWCA Scholarship Recipients 2026
The Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association (MWCA) has awarded eight $1,000 scholarships this year. High school seniors who have wrestled at a Minnesota high school and are college-bound were eligible to apply.
Congratulations to this year’s MWCA scholarship winners:
Northfield’s Graber and Watertown-Mayer’s Friederichs Recognized as MWCA Ms. and Mr. MN Wrestlers of the Year
The Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association annually presents the Mr. Minnesota High School Wrestler award to the senior who best exemplifies the highest ideals of high school wrestling in Minnesota. Starting in 2022, the MWCA partnered with MN Women’s Wrestling to also recognize the Ms. Minnesota High School Wrestler award. Judging is based on wrestling performance, citizenship, academics, leadership, and adherence to MSHSL rules.
This year, the committees are proud to recognize Northfield’s girls’ state champion Caley Graber and Watertown-Mayer’s boys’ state champion Titan Friederichs.
MWCA Recognizes 2026 State Individual Team Champions
Since 2013, the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association has recognized the Team Champions from the MSHSL Individual State Tournament. The winning team and runner-up from each class (A, AA, AAA, and Girls) earn a trophy/plaque to display at their respective schools.
This year, the MWCA is proud to recognize Apple Valley as the Girls Champion, Staples-Motley as the Class A Champion, Simley as the Class AA Champion, and Saint Michael-Albertville as the Class AAA Champion. The top 10 teams per class are shared below.
Myrvik and Buysse, Briggs, and Staab and Haneberg are MWCA Coaches of the Year
Every spring, at tournament time, coaches from each high school section vote for their respective Section Head and Assistant Coach of the Year. The head coach selections are then put on a ballot to be voted on by all coaches at the State Tournament for Class AAA, AA, and A Coach of the Year.
High School Section Coaches of the Year 2026
Congratulations to the 2026 MWCA Section Coaches of the Year, as voted on by the coaches in each section.