Miles Wildman is MVP . . .

The Minnewaska Area wrestling team had a great season in 2023-24, sending five wrestlers to the State Class AA Wrestling Tourney.

The Lakers were moved from Section 5A to Section 8AA, but the change didn’t bother Minnewaska Area one bit as the Lakers sent the second-most wrestlers to the state tourney from the section.

DGF, which won the section title with a 28-21 win over Perham, sent the most individuals to the state tourney from the section with seven.

Minnewaska Area went 9-9 overall, including a 4-2 mark in the WCC to finish third behind Team United (6-0) and West Central Area (5-1).

Minnewaska Area started the season off at 0-2 and 2-4 before going 7-5 the rest of the way, including  five-straight wins during the SC-Melrose and Barnesville triangulars as well as a win over SC-Melrose in the postseason tourney.

The Lakers beat Sauk Centre-Melrose in the opening round of the Section 8AA Team Tourney, 42-17, but had the team portion of their season end with a 50-18 loss to Pequot Lakes Area in the quarterfinals.

Earning state berths this year for the Lakers were seniors Myles Reichmann (172 pounds) and Jayce Kovarik (160), junior Chase Smith (133), and freshmen Miles Wildman (114) and Landon Schiffler (107).

Kovarik and Reichmann both went 0-2 at state this winter, while Schiffler and Smith were both 1-2 and Wildman was 3-2 to earn fourth place during the Class AA competition.

It was the third-straight state berth for Smith, who went 2-2 at state as a ninth-grader, 2-3 as a sophomore on the way to placing sixth and 1-2 this year.  

It was also the second-straight state trip for Wildman, who went 3-2 at state as an eighth-grader to place fifth.

Reichmann and Wildman earned their state berths by placing first at the Section 8AA Tourney, while the other three state qualifiers placed second at the section meet.

Smith earned his 100th career victory midway through this season, becoming at least the 31st Minnewaska Area wrestler to reach that milestone, while Wildman will have a chance for his 100th win early next year.

Seniors lost to graduation from this year’s team will be Cole Kittelson, Garrett Jungclaus, Jayce Kovarik, Myles Reichmann and Nathan Dell.

Coaching the Lakers this year were Chip Rankin, Jared Lyle, Tate Card, Dane Ankeny, Andy Goracke, Rich Bond and Tyler Carlson.  Student managers were Connor Quelle, Rachel Rankin, Kaylen Blair, Adysen Hess and Brielle Hess.

Laker wrestling awards

The Lakers had eight wrestlers with at least 19 victories this season — Miles Wildman (38-5), Chase Smith (31-14), Landon Schiffler (29-16), Myles Reichmann (26-17), Jayce Kovarik (21-12), Cole Kittelson (20-10), Riley Dell (19-12) and Isaiah Rosario (19-21).

The good news for Laker wrestling fans is that only three of those wrestlers are seniors, while the others are one junior, one sophomore, two freshmen and one eighth-grader

•  Earning the MVP award for the varsity team this winter was Miles Wildman, while Alex Adams won the MVP honor for the JV team and 9th grade.

Wildman won individual titles at the Big Lake Invitational, Thief River Falls Invitational and WCC Meet and was also second at the Pine River Invitational.  Chase Smith was also first at one invitational this year at Thief River Falls.

Recognized as captains for the 2023-24 season were Nathan Dell, Jayce Kovarik, Myles Reichmann and Cole Kittelson.

Earning the Most Improved Award were Austin Schuler (varsity) and Caleb Asher (JV), while selected for the Most Dedicated Award were Myles Reichmann (varsity) and Grady Braaten (JV).

Winning the Hearts and Guts Award were Sawyer Erickson for varsity, along with Grady Braaten, Jeythan Quirindongo, Tyler Kohn and Tyler Gregory, while named the Rookies of the Year were Jack Payne (varsity) and Evan Armstrong (JV).

Winning the Character Award were Chase Smith (varsity) and Soren Jergenson (JV), while selected for the “Mr. Clutch” Award were Riley Dell (varsity), Blair Kindel (JV) and Cole Kittelson (varsity), and earning the Adversity Award were Jayce Kovarik (varsity), Jaden Vig (JV) and Jaxson Vig (JV).

Earning All-Conference for the Lakers this year were Miles Wildman, Myles Reichmann, Chase Smith, Cole Kittelson and Landon Schiffler, while Austin Schuler, Isaiah Rosario and Riley Dell were honorable mention.

•  The Lakers also earned a top-10 All-Academic Team award (g.p.a. of 3.4 or better).  

In addition, Wildman led the Lakers this year with 27 wins by fall, while Smith was next with 18 and Kittelson, Schiffler and Reichmann all were third with 16 falls.