The Hastings Raiders wrestling program delivered one of its most complete seasons in recent memory during the 2025–26 winter, combining team championships, individual state success, academic recognition, and historic milestones across both the boys and girls programs.
By the end of the season, Hastings had captured the Section 3AAA team title, placed fourth at the Class AAA state team tournament, crowned an individual state champion, produced a state runner-up performance that became one of the defining moments of the tournament, qualified seven boys and seven girls for individual state competition, and added a Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Girls Dual State Championship to the program’s growing list of accomplishments.
The year also included recognition that reflected the strength of the program beyond the mat. Former Hastings head coach Josh McLay was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, while Raider wrestlers earned multiple National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American honors and statewide academic recognition as teams.
From the opening weeks of the schedule, Hastings showed the depth that would define the season.
Senior Trey Beissel highlighted the early part of the winter with a first-place finish at the MatBoss Minnesota Christmas Tournament, earning his third career Santa Hat, a distinction reached by only a small number of wrestlers in tournament history. His performance helped set the tone for a season that featured strong tournament finishes and consistent bonus-point production throughout the lineup.
The Raiders followed with dominant dual meet victories over North and Mahtomedi, winning by wide margins behind falls and technical falls from Parker Taylor, Beckett Edstrom, William Bainbridge, Donavin Ward, Mark Svoboda, Adrian Fuchs, and Elijah Christopher as Hastings built momentum heading into the heart of the schedule.
Tournament success continued at the Board-Hyland Cardinal Invitational, where Hastings placed second as a team behind championships from Beissel and Christopher and several additional podium finishes across the roster.
As the postseason approached, the Raiders continued stacking wins and refining their lineup in preparation for another deep run through the Section 3AAA bracket.
That preparation paid off in Woodbury, where Hastings defeated Park in the semifinals before overpowering St. Thomas Academy in the championship dual to secure the Section 3AAA team title. The victory sent the Raiders back to the state team tournament for the seventh straight season and marked the program’s 11th appearance in the past 13 years.
At the Class AAA state team tournament, Hastings opened with an impressive quarterfinal victory over Elk River behind a string of falls and technical falls that established early control of the dual. The Raiders later faced eventual champion St. Michael-Albertville in the semifinals before closing the tournament with a fourth-place finish after competing against Stillwater in the third-place match, adding another team trophy to a run of consistent state appearances.
The Raiders’ momentum carried into the individual section tournament, where Hastings qualified seven wrestlers for the state meet and produced five section champions. Beckett Edstrom captured the title at 121 pounds, William Bainbridge won at 127, Trey Beissel claimed the championship at 133, David Bauer finished first at 139, and Mark Svoboda earned the title at 160. Sullivan McNamara and Presley McCrae added runner-up finishes to complete the group of qualifiers.
At the individual state tournament at Grand Casino Arena, Edstrom delivered one of the signature performances of the season by winning the Class AAA state championship at 121 pounds. The freshman controlled each round of his bracket and closed the tournament with a 12-6 decision in the championship match, adding his name to the program’s list of state champions and signaling a strong future for the Raiders.
Senior Trey Beissel followed with one of the most memorable runs of the weekend. After suffering a knee injury during the team portion of the state tournament, Beissel returned to the mat with his leg heavily wrapped and battled his way to the state finals at 133 pounds. His semifinal victory drew one of the loudest reactions inside Grand Casino Arena and became one of the defining moments of the tournament before he ultimately finished as state runner-up.
William Bainbridge added another podium finish with a fifth-place result at 127 pounds, winning three straight matches on the consolation side to close his tournament.
Additional state qualifiers Sullivan McNamara, David Bauer, Presley McCrae, and Mark Svoboda each contributed match wins against deep Class AAA brackets as Hastings continued to show strength across the lineup.
While the boys program extended its run of section titles and state appearances, the Hastings girls wrestling team delivered a season that matched that success with milestones of its own and continued to establish the Raiders as one of the state’s emerging leaders in the rapidly growing sport.
The highlight of the girls season came at the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Girls Dual State Tournament, where Hastings defeated Coon Rapids, Pine Island, St. Michael-Albertville, and Chatfield to claim the 16-team championship. The title reflected both depth and consistency across the lineup and marked one of the most significant team achievements in the history of the program.
The Raiders also produced a strong showing at the Metro East Conference tournament, where multiple wrestlers earned All-Conference honors with first-place finishes in their respective weight classes while others added runner-up and podium finishes that helped demonstrate the strength of the roster throughout the lineup.
At the individual section tournament, seven Hastings girls qualified for the state meet, the largest group of qualifiers in program history. Audrianna Dahlberg led the way with a section championship, while Trinity Yates, Elli Levine, Emma Taylor, Avery Levine, Lily Watts, and Khloe Richardson each finished as runners-up to advance.
Success for the girls program extended beyond competition as well. Hastings finished with the top team GPA in Minnesota through the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association academic honors, continuing a tradition of excellence both in the classroom and on the mat.
The boys team also received Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Class AAA Silver Academic honors, while wrestlers across both programs earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American recognition during the season.
The year also included a milestone moment for the program’s legacy when former Hastings head coach Josh McLay was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, recognizing decades of impact on Raider wrestling as both an athlete and coach and highlighting the long tradition that continues to shape the program today.
Hastings closed the season graduating a senior class that included Trey Beissel, Mark Svoboda, Kasen Esterby, and Donavin Ward on the boys side, along with Ellie Levine, Amelia Chandler, and Fiona Myers from the girls program, a group that helped guide the Raiders to another section championship, statewide competition across both programs, and one of the most complete seasons in recent Hastings wrestling history.
With a returning state champion in Edstrom and a lineup that gained valuable postseason experience across both the boys and girls programs, Hastings wrestling enters the offseason positioned to remain one of Minnesota’s most consistent contenders in Class AAA.