The Minnewaska Area wrestling team had two meets scheduled last week, but both were called off due to weather.  The Lac qui Parle quadrangular, set for last Tuesday, was postponed to a later date yet to be determined, while the Minneota triangular, set for Friday, was canceled.

The Lakers have competed in only two meets so far this year, competing at the Big Lake Invitational, Dec. 2, and wrestling splitting a pair of matches at the WCA quadrangular, Dec. 9.

Minnewaska Area, which is 1-1 overall, is set to compete at the YME quadrangular, Tuesday (tomorrow) before hosting the Minnewaska Area quadrangular, Thursday.  The quadrangular also includes Osakis, Fergus Falls and West Central Area.

The Lakers then will take some time off for the holidays before resuming the schedule Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Redwood Valley triangular.

Members of the team

Members of this year’s varsity wrestling team at Minnewaska Area are seniors Nick Ankeny, Chase Boelke and Xander Johnson; juniors Nathaniel Dell, Garrett Jungclaus, Cole Kittelson, Jayce Kovarik, Myles Reichmann and Mason Schiffler; sophomores Noah Jensen and Chase Smith; freshmen Eric Bowen and Braylen Scharmer; eighth-graders Landon Schiffler, Austyn Schuler, Riley Spindler and Miles Wildman; and seventh-graders Alex Adams, Jude Bailey, Grady Braaten, Sawyer Erickson, Zayden Johnson and Isaiah Rosario.

•  The Lakers lost four wrestlers from last year’s team due to graduation, but do return 10 wrestlers with double-digit wins from a year ago.  Senior Jacob Blair and ninth-grader Chase Smith earned state berths last year with Blair going 1-2 at state and Smith 2-2.

The top returning wrestlers for the Lakers are Smith (30-6 last season), Nick Ankeny (30-8), Mason Schiffler (23-14), Miles Wildman (21-10), Chase Boelke (20-11), Jayce Kovarik (13-10), Xander Johnson (12-12) and Nathan Dell (11-13).