Experience key to success for Vikings

Four of the five wrestlers who qualified for last season's state wrestling tournament are back for the Vikings this season, giving the team experience and leadership.
Matt Myrvik is now in his second year as head coach after guiding a youthful team to a 17-12 record a season ago. His assistants are Matt Buysse (20th year), Kris Fier (5th year), Wade Gillund (22nd year), Drew Bouwman (2nd year), Brendan Reiss (2nd year) and Brock Buysse (1st year).
This year's team has just two seniors on the team. Eric Carrasco, a senior, was 37-5 a season ago at 113 pounds when he was a section champ and a state qualifier.
Six other returning regulars won 18-or-more matches last season. Jonah Gruenes (38-10), a junior, was second on the team in wins last year. He was also a state qualifier at 138 pounds.
Other 2019-2020 state qualifiers back for the Vikings are Zack Fier (29-14), sophomore at 126 pounds; and Kade Lozinski (29-14), a junior at 132 pounds.
The team lost only two seniors to graduation; Blake Reiss (39-10), who was fourth in Class A at 145 pounds, and Cole Sanow (15-8).
"Our team strength would be the experience that our young and new wrestlers got last season against a very tough schedule and the way they came together and finished as a team," said Myrvik. "Our biggest concern would be our depth and our ability to stay healthy to give us our best lineup."
The team has had to practice at the American Legion building due to COVID restrictions and the school using the wrestling room for classes in order to maintain social distancing.
"We are trying to get everything done down there as far as practice and conditioning, which is not ideal," said Myrvik. "But the wrestlers have been doing a great job of adjusting to the situation."
Others expected to see varsity action this season are: senior Trey Gronke (injured last season), juniors Troy VanKeulen (12-17), Jackson Esping (25-16), Jayden Gamrak (18-10), Tyler Gronke (2-15), and Conner Sik (7-17); sophomores Peyton Gillund (23-21), Branden Johnson (7-15), Hudson Scholten (11-22), Nick Callens, and Zeke Monzon; freshman Alex DePestel (4-8); eighth-graders Destin Fier (1-1), Chase Johnson, Noah Gorecki, Eli Gruenes, Kyler Lozinski (0-1), and Matt Gamrak; and seventh-graders Hunter Danielson, Adam DeVlaeminck, Brock Fier, and Browdy Lozinski.
The Vikings lost to Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 30-29 in the Section 3A semifinals last season. TMB then went on to defeat Canby to advance to the state tournament. The Vikings have another tough schedule this season in which they will face several ranked opponents.
Minneota is currently ranked No. 6 in Class A by The Guillotine.

Coach Matt Myrvik

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