Wrestling: Area teams ready to rumble

Cannon Falls/Randolph Bombers

2011-12 Season: 12-15 overall, 4-7 in the Hiawatha Valley League; lost to Kasson-Mantorville 61-3 in Section 1AA tournament.

Key Returners: Clay Broze, Jr., 34-8; Paul Fitterer, So., 36-5; Derek Johnson, Jr., 30-14

From Head Coach Dudley Flodeen: “This should be a good year. The wrestlers on the team have some experience under their belt, they have worked together during the off season to attend team camp and other camps. They have picked up a lot of confidence along the way.”

Ellsworth Panthers

2011-12 Season: 19-4 overall, Middle Border Conference champions at 7-0; ranked third in Division II poll; finished as state runner-up, losing 41-13 to Luxemburg-Casco in Division II championship.

Key Returners: Jens Lantz, Wis. state champion at 113 pounds; Logan Kemmerer, state qualifier; Gable Frandsen, state qualifier; Hank Holdorf, conference champion.

Key Losses: Parker Hines, Roarke Langer, Brent Stockwell, Derek Donnelly, Ryan Dickhausen.

From Head Coach Chad Steldt: “We have kids that just have a nasty feeling in their mouths because they were state runner-ups last year. We lost in the biggest margin in school history in the state finals. This compels the coaching staff and the wrestlers to win a title.

Goodhue Wildcats

2011-12 Season: 14-16 overall, 4-7 in the Hiawatha Valley League; lost to Wabasha-Kellogg 43-21 in Section 1A tournament.

Key Returners: Mitchell Breuer, Jr., 29-14, state entrant at 152 pounds; Kyle Drehmel, Sr., 36-5; Matthew Lexvold, Jr., 29-10.

Key Losses: Weston Gadient, Wyatt Gadient, Justin Simmons.

From Head Coach Josh Grant: “We are going to expect a lot from our senior class. They are the leaders both on and off the mat and in the classroom. We also expect good things out of a small but vital junior and sophomore class, as well as a key 8th grader in Bailee O’Reilly and 9th grader Joel Gadient to do some damage.”

Lake City Tigers

2011-12 Season: 9-11 overall, 7-4 in the Hiawatha Valley League; lost 43-21 in Section 1A tournament to Zumbrota-Mazeppa.

Key Returners: Will Balow, Sr., ranked sixth at 195 pounds, took fifth in state at 160 pounds; Andrew Schmidt, state entrant at 113 pounds; Carston Dammann; Troy Nibbe; Andrew Denzer.

Key Losses: Rusty Grisim, Pedro Guevara.

From Head Coach Lonnie West: “We need to be aggressive and wrestle with a purpose. I think we have some pretty tough kids and if the kids can believe in themselves and their teammates, I think it should be a fun year. ... Our team strength this season will probably be our middle weights. We have the majority of our experience in these weight classes.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars

2011-12 Season: 20-12 overall, 8-3 in the Hiawatha Valley League; qualified for state for the third straight year, lost to Minneota and Barnesville in Class 1A tournament.

Key Returners: Joey Majerus, 45-5, took third at 106 pounds; Mitchell Watkins, 38-8, state qualifier; Dillon Downes, 23-12, state qualifier; Cody Heitman, 23-13, state qualifier.

Key Losses: Taylor Parker, Nathan Bennett (injury), Matt Hodgeman (injury)

From Head Coach Link Steffen: So far our attitudes and work ethics are outstanding. The boys are rallying around our injured wrestlers and filling in the best they can. These are truly great young men who take care of their responsibilities. They are young team but mature for their age. ... We really need each kid in our wrestling room to improve themselves daily, then the big things will happen.

Tags: cannon falls, lake city, sports, prep, wrestling, ellsworth, goodhue, zumbrota, mazeppa