Area wrestlers ready for state

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- It's been a different season for the New Ulm High Eagles.

Two years ago, the Eagles qualified for the Class 3A team wrestling tournament. Last year, seven individuals earned state trips.

This year, after the departure of some 650 career victories with last year's seniors, New Ulm High sends two to compete for state titles. Juniors Andy Bernard and Nate Gieseke are two of the final links to a storied past.

"It's a different feeling this year," Bernard said. "There's always been a bunch of us going and they're not going to be there this year. But it's not going to affect our wrestling at all. We'll cope with it."

Bernard (29-5) earned his state trip at 189 pounds by edging Mankato East's Joey Barr 5-4 in the Section 2-3A title match. Bernard currently has 83 career victories for the Eagles and the co-captain was the South Central Conference Most Offensive Wrestler of the year along with Blue Earth's Ty Eustice.

Bernard will be joined at the state tournament by Gieseke (27-6). Gieseke is an SCC titlist and qualified for the trip to St. Paul with a runner-up finish at 119 pounds.

Gieseke also acknowledges this trip is different.

"It feels a little different just getting ready," Gieseke said. "I wouldn't say it's negative, it's just different with the whole team not being there. Everything is a little more focused on you as an individual."

Gieseke currently has 70 career wins for the Eagles.

"These two are very coachable kids," New Ulm High coach Dar Arndt said. "They've done just about everything that we've asked of them. ... They've gone through tough competition and they've knocked off some guys that are state-ranked or have been to state already.

"What I feel really good about is that we're going to have those two in the room next year. They'll be a great influence on the younger kids."

Bernard and Gieseke are among 25 area individuals who advanced to St. Paul. Two area teams -- Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove and Sibley East -- will compete for team titles in Class 2A and Class 1A, respectively.

The River Valley Wildcats, along with RRC/WWG and Redwood Valley, qualified four individuals. Mike Amsden at 140 and Marty Hoffmann at 160 qualified as Section 2-2A champions; Kevin Widmer at 112 and Phil McMullen at 119 pounds were runners-up.

Amsden (24-6), who is making his third state trip, is currently ranked seventh in the state and is the River Valley career wins leader with 120. Fellow senior Hoffman (31-2) has 116 wins and was a state tournament participant last year.

Widmer (20-4) is just an eighth-grader with 31 career wins. McMullen (29-3), who was fifth at the state tournament last year at 112 pounds, has 83 career wins.

McMullen is currently ranked fifth in Class 2A.

For Wildcats coach Todd Bertram, now is the time a strong regular season schedule can pay dividends.

"I think we'll really see that at 140 (Amsden) and 160 (Hoffman)," Bertram said. "Their matches got them ready for tough matches in the section tournament.

"We want (Amsden) to place, he's got a pretty good draw. We're hoping for good things from (Hoffman). We think he's got a pretty good draw to place although nothing's a guarantee."

The Falcons' four qualifiers are Section 3-2A champions Mikias Redman (24-10) at 103 pounds, Jeff Cooley (29-3) at 125 and Austin Scarset (30-2) at 130. Heavyweight Mike Redman (24-3) was a runner-up.

Redwood Valley sends Section 3-2A titlists in Dusty Myers at 135 and Matt Johnson at 145 pounds. Qualifying as runners-up were Tom Anderson at 125 and Dustin Hennen at 152 pounds.

The Sibley East Wolverines send three individuals to St. Paul in addition to the team qualifying as the Section 5-1A champion. Sophomore Erik Wallace (27-3) won the section title at 140 pounds, and seniors Ryan McCarthy (18-11) at 125 pounds and Brian Walters (28-3) at 152 pounds advanced as runners-up.

Nicollet qualified three individuals for the Class 1A tournament. Seniors Ryan Rosin (32-1) and Jake Gappa (30-5), and junior Kyle Asleson (30-4) all were Section 3-1A runners-up.

Heavyweight Rosin currently has a 98-40 career mark and won five tournament titles this season. Gappa, at 189 pounds, is 73-50 for his career and won two tournament titles this season. Asleson -- a 171-pounder -- has a career record of 79-31 and won three tournament titles in 2000-01.

Wabasso will also send three individuals to the Class 1A tournament. Sophomore Cole Altermatt (32-3) won the Section 4-1A title at 125 pounds, and Nathan Rohlik (29-6) and Corey Schunk (25-13) were runners-up.

Altermatt, who has 116 career wins, is making his third state trip. The sophomore placed third as an eighth-grader.

Rohlik -- a 119-pounder -- is making his second straight state appearance. Schunk is a freshman 130-pounder making his first state appearance.

Madelia/Truman qualified a pair of individuals for the Class 1A tournament. Josh Pfeffer at 140 pounds is the Section 3-1A champion and Eric Cooling at 135 was runner-up.

Both are making their first state trips.