St. Michael-Albertville Wrestling Primed for Stretch Run

A few things became clear to the St. Michael-Albertville Knights wrestling team through the holiday break.

First, Scott West is going to be a terror in the Class 2A tournament.

Second, being resilient–as the Knights were at The Clash back on New Years Eve can have its rewards.

finished out of the Top 10 at The Clash Duals, held down in Rochester, but made some headway as a team after dropping two close losses in the opening rounds.

A loss in the opening round of the Forest Lake Tournament was also a roadblock, but STMA rebounded to win three in a row, despite a loss in a head-to-head matchup with the tournament host, and walked out an overall champion.

Now, the Knights focus on head-to-head action with Class AAA Elk River coming to St. Michael Thursday night for a matchup, and a huge dual with Cambridge-Isanti at home on Friday, Jan. 20.

“They’re someone we’re kind of keeping an eye on,” said Nick Edling, a senior who is leading the Knights from his 220-pound weight class. “They were a good competitor last season, and we get them at home. Should be fun.”

For coach Dan Lefebvre, it’s business as usual for the Knights, as evidenced by their poster in the school gym, which features the guys in their workday best.

The mission is the same under Lefebvre’s system–wrestle some of the best athletes the region has to offer early, so no surprises pop up when tournament time rolls around next month.

The coach’s main concern was about the middle of his lineup, but some stability has come in the form of good wrestlers getting their first chance to shine, along with the experience of guys like Edling, state champion Tommy Thorn, and top-ranked guys like Lincoln Mallinger.

Mike Kessler has stepped into the heavyweight role and taken over admirably for the graduated Parker Betts. Kessler was ranked in the top five in the Star Tribune’s most recent wrestling polls.

At 120 pounds, Colton Schoen is young (a sophomore), but making progress. Jake Briggs, at 170 pounds, has picked up some big wins. And Mitch Eull, at 195 pounds, has been solid.

Add in guys like Thorn (one loss all season), the Voss brothers (Wayne and Mark) and Cole Sladek, and the guys are poised for another shot at Apple Valley.

The spotlight Thursday night flips on at 7 p.m. The Knights will be on the road Friday, facing Rogers. Then, over the weekend, they’ll take on St. Cloud Apollo, St. Cloud Tech, Foley, Hastings and others (including Cambridge) at the Kiffmeyer Duals on Jan. 14 in St. Cloud.

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (courtesy of The Guillotine)

Class AAA Individuals
106 pounds
1. Maolu Woiwor, Apple Valley (3) 9
2. Blaine Tschida, Coon Rapids (7) 9
3. Sam Bennyhoff, Mound-Westonka (6) 9
4. Trent Piepenburg, Alexandria (8) 10
5. Aaron Dick, Saint Michael-Albertville (7) 10
113 pounds
1. Tommy Thorn, Saint Michael-Albertville (7) 10
2. Brock Morgan, Apple Valley (3) 8
3. Tanner Johnshoy, Prior Lake (2) 11
4. Erik Olson, Sauk Rapids-Rice (8) 12
5. Ryan Weinmann, Irondale (5) 11
120 pounds
1. Seth Gross, Apple Valley (3) 10
2. Dustin Weinmann, Irondale (5) 11
3. Luke Rowh, Hastings (1) 10
4. Nick O’Brien, Wayzata (6) 10
5. Evan Green, Owatonna (1) 12
126 pounds
1. Mitch Bengtson, Saint Cloud Apollo (8) 11
2. Cole Sladek, Saint Michael-Albertville (7) 11
3. Michael Pleski, Forest Lake (7) 12
4. Ben Brancale, Eden Prairie (2) 9
5. Andy Underhill, Burnsville (3) 12
132 pounds
1. Dakota Trom, Apple Valley (3) 12
2. Ben Morgan, Forest Lake (7) 12
3. Sam Brancale, Eden Prairie (2) 12
4. Eric Bauer, Hastings (1) 12
5. Alex Johannes, Willmar (6) 12
7. Mark Voss, Saint Michael-Albertville (7) 10
138 pounds
1. Austin Leibel, Saint Francis (7) 12
2. Tyler Isaacson, Forest Lake (7) 12
3. Ben Donnelly, Woodbury (4) 9
4. Dayton Racer, Apple Valley (3) 9
5. Tyler Tischer, Cambridge-Isanti (7) 12
145 pounds
1. Grant Nehring, Saint Cloud Apollo (8) 11
2. Mason Manville, Apple Valley (3) 8
3. Weston Droegemueller, Wayzata (6) 11
4. Adam Hammer, Osseo (5) 12
5. Matt Kahnke, Prior Lake (2) 12
152 pounds
1. Mark Hall, Apple Valley (3) 8
2. Adam Jackson, Rosemount (3) 12
3. Travis Holt, Cambridge-Isanti (7) 11
4. TJ Ohara, Tartan (4) 10
5. Derek Weinmann, Irondale (5) 12
160 pounds
1. Brandon Kingsley, Apple Valley (3) 12
2. Cody Skog, Cambridge-Isanti (7) 10
3. Corey Parsons, Andover (7) 10
4. Anton Kalista, Lakeville North (2) 12
5. Trey Hable, Albert Lea Area (1) 12
170 pounds
1. Kyle Begin, Anoka (7) 12
2. Ben Sullivan, Apple Valley (3) 12
3. Dalton Westerlund, Albert Lea Area (1) 12
4. Tom Longendyke, White Bear Lake Area (4) 11
5. Nam Nguyen, Saint Cloud Apollo (8) 12
182 pounds
1. Clayton Jennissen, Cambridge-Isanti (7) 12
2. Daniel Woiwor, Apple Valley (3) 11
3. Chase Morlock, Moorhead (8) 11
4. Beau Bibeau, White Bear Lake Area (4) 12
5. Richard Carlson, Mounds View (5) 12
195 pounds
1. Michael Burckhardt, Coon Rapids (7) 11
2. Tom Peterson, Lakeville South (2) 11
3. Caleb Butler, Blaine (7) 9
4. Corbin Farrell, Apple Valley (3) 12
5. Trae Story, Roseville Area (4) 11
220 pounds
1. Nick Edling, Saint Michael-Albertville (7) 12
2. Isaac Eichmann, Hastings (1) 12
3. Justin Wheaton, Robbinsdale Armstrong (6) 12
4. Mitch Johnson, Eagan (3) 12
5. Coyte Kuefner, Owatonna (1) 12
285 pounds
1. Tanner Lowe, Coon Rapids (7) 12
2. Corey Anderson, Shakopee (2) 12
3. Michael Kessler, Saint Michael-Albertville (7) 11
4. Jerrad Nieland, Saint Cloud Tech (8) 11
5. Kyle Weimann, Elk River (7) 12