Vikings appear solid all through lineup
Matt Myrvik and Matt Buysse are co-head coaching the Minneota wrestling team this winter and have three wrestlers back who qualified for the individual state tournament a season ago.
The Vikings posted a 15-7 record last season under Myrvik and had five state qualifiers.
Myrvik and Buysse will be assisted this year by Kris Fier, Drew Bouwman, Brock Buysse, Wade Gillund and Chris Janiszeski.
Seniors Zack Fier and Peyton Gillund have been selected as this year's captains. Fier was 21-7 last season and returned from a knee injury in time to win the Section 5A title and then went on to place fourth in the state tournament at 145 pounds.
Gillund was 34-9 last year and won the 5A title to advance to the state meet at 126 pounds.
The Vikings have several others back from last year's team.
"We return 15 wrestlers with varsity experience," said Buysse. "Overall, we will have a strong lineup from top to bottom."
Seniors include Hudson Scholten (29-14) and fourth in Section 5A at heavyweight, and Zeke Monzon (injured last season) at 126-132; and Joe Verschelde who will be at 220.
Alex DePestel (18-18), a junior who was fourth in 5A, will wrestlers 170-182.
Sophomores will be Eli Gruenes (14-12), fifth in section, will be at 182-195; Destin Fier (injured last season), will be at 138-152; Kyler Lozinski (1-10) will be at 195-220; and Chase Johnson (2-9) will be at 126-138.
Freshmen are Adam DeVlaeminck (26-12), who placed second in the sectionals and qualified for the state last season and will wrestler at 106-113 this season; Brock Fier (5-10) at 138-152; and Kaden Lasnetski who will be at 106-113. Eighth-grader Quinton Anderson (4-14) will also be at 106-113.
"We have a good group of young kids coming in that allows us some flexibility with our lineup," Buysse said. "Getting Destin Fier and Zeke Monzon back from last year’s injuries will help solidify a couple roster spots. Three of our state entrants from last year will look to build off their success and help guide the team in a very competitive Section 5A."