Wrestling program keeps getting stronger

Posted 3/16/22

By Bruce Karnick [email protected] What can be said about the Hastings Wrestling team that has not been said in the previous two editions of this newspaper? The season for the Raiders could have …

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Wrestling program keeps getting stronger

Posted

By Bruce Karnick

[email protected]

What can be said about the Hastings Wrestling team that has not been said in the previous two editions of this newspaper? The season for the Raiders could have only improved with additional state champions! Having two state champions in the same season is rare for many schools. This year, Hastings placed sixth as a team and had four in the top six of their weight class, two who won it all.

The obvious piece for the entire state of Minnesota this year was the historic, first-ever sanctioned girls wrestling season and state tournament. Hastings had seven girls on their team this year. Veteran Skylar Little Soldier, a sophomore, has been wrestling with the boys for a few of the previous seasons. She had six other girls join her who had never wrestled before: Allison Weinzettel, Kayla Williams, Annabel Norquist, Alisha Brown, Amelia Miller and Lauren Whitfield. Brown had never wrestled before and had the best season at 17-3, the other newcomers did very well, learned a lot and had a good time doing it.

The amazing aspect was just how quickly the boys brought the girls into the fold. The moment the girls stepped onto the mat, the boys were right there to help, to teach, to protect and to support. These girls were their teammates and their equals. The boys spent the entire day of sections cheering them on and it was wonderful to see.

On the boy’s side, the team finished 31-4 in duals, losing only to Simley, and St. Michael-Albertville in the regular season and then Anoka and Northfield in the Class AAA State Tournament. Simley went on to be Class AA state champs with a record of 27-0 and STMA won Class AAA with a record of 23-0.

Individually, 11 boys made it to the state meet: Trey Beissel, Blake Beissel, Mark Svoboda, Jack Bainbridge, Ian Peppel, Creed Peterson, Josh Route, Aiden Erickson, Zander Hallis, Rico Cooper, and Austin Leflay.

Of those 11 boys and two girls, the four that made it to the podium were Rico Cooper sixth place at 182, Alisha Brown third place at 126, Skylar Little Soldier champion at 132 and Blake Beissel champion at 106.

The fans made the season and state that much more exciting. The group of parents, students, and alumni that support these kids is incredible. They cheer each one on like they are their own and make it to so many of the meets. Raider Wrestling is truly a family from the coaches, the wrestlers, the managers, the support staff and the fans, one big family.

Photo courtesy of Beck Photography/dennyb.zenfolio.com.