The Minnewaska Area wrestling team did not have any matches during the final week of 2023.  The Lakers won their last match of the year, beating Benson in a WCC contest at home, Thursday, Dec. 21, 51-22.

The Lakers then had two weeks off before resuming the schedule Friday, Jan. 12 when they are set to host the Minnewaska Area Invitational.

The pace of the schedule picks up bigtime in 2024 as the Lakers have 10 scheduled competitions over a 28-day span beginning Jan. 12.

Miles Wildman, who is 10-1 so far this season, is ranked third at 121 pounds in the state Class AA rankings.

He leads the Lakers with 10 victories, while Landon Schiffler is 8-4, Chase Smith is 7-5 and Myles Reichmann is 6-5.

Smith is also ranked sixth at 127 pounds this year in Class AA.

•  The Lakers have competed in only four competitions so far this winter.  Minnewaska has wrestled at the Big Lake Invitational, Minnewaska Area quadrangular and Pine River Invitational before wrestling against Benson to close out 2023.

•  The Lakers moved to Section 8AA this year in wrestling and among the top teams in Section 8AA are DGF (14-0 record already this season), Pequot Lakes Area (11-1) and Perham (7-3).

Pequot Lakes is ranked 10th in state Class AA while DGF is ranked 12th.

•  This year’s Laker wrestling roster includes seniors Bode DeZelar, Cole Kittelson, Garrett Jungclaus, Jayce Kovarik, Mason Schiffler, Myles Reichmann and Nathan Dell; juniors Noah Jensen, Levi Koppen-Just, Jacob Koppen-Just, Evan Friese and Chase Smith; sophomores Tate Anderson, Riley Dell, Kolton Rogers, Eric Bowen, Colten Legare and Braylen Scharmer; ninth-graders Tyler Kohn, Riley Spindler, Miles Wildman, Landon Schiffler, Jack Payne and Austyn Schuler; eighth-graders Zayden Johnson, Soren Jergenson, Sawyer Taufen, Sawyer  Erickson, Jude Bailey, Isaiah Rosario, Grady Braaten, Caleb Ashler and Alex Adams; and seventh-graders Rowan Wilson, Karsen Fenger, Jaxson Vig, Jaden Vig, Charlie Taintor and Blair Kindel.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!