Nicollet's Rosin named 2001 Wrestler of the Year

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- It was a few years ago when Nicollet High wrestling coach Steve Johnson realized he had someone special.

"It was his sophomore year," Johnson said. "It was then that he started to put together some impressive wins against juniors and seniors and began to make the big swing around. That was about the time I remember us coaches talking, saying that he's going to be a good one."

He is senior heavyweight Ryan Rosin, state Class 1A champion and The Journal's 2001 Wrestler of the Year.

Rosin's season statistics speak for themselves. A 36-1 record with 28 pins, tying his own single-season school pinfall record. First-place finishes in the Mankato Loyola, Hector, Pardeeville (Wis.), and Valley Conference tournaments in addition to his state title.

"Ryan knew he had to work hard this year," Johnson said. "He finished fourth (in state) last year ... three kids ahead of him graduated and the state champ he beat in the section finals. He just had to maintain his spot, and he did that by working hard."

Rosin's lone loss this season came in a 2-1 decision to St. James' Kory Andersen in the section finals.

"One of my goals was an undefeated season, but (the loss) didn't disappoint me too much," he said. "As long as I made the finals and got to go to state, I was happy with that."

Once at state he showed his dominance, pinning three straight opponents before outlasting Adrian's Justin Wieneke 5-1 in the state finals.

"I just felt that I accomplished something for myself and my school," Rosin said when asked about his gold medal. "I was doing it more for my coaches, because I know they have wanted a state champ for a long time now. I was just happy to be able to do something that no one here (at Nicollet High) has done before ... it meant a lot to me."

Rosin ended his career with an 102-40 record, including 73 falls. He shies away from the praise, though.

"I have a lot of younger kids that look up to me, but I felt that I had a lot of help," he said. "We had a lot of good seniors on this team, so I wasn't the only one leading us. We work as a team, not just individuals."

But he was by himself on that mat March 3, with all of Xcel Energy Center focusing on him.

"The last match of the whole night was mine; it was real nerve-wracking," he said. "When it was all over and I jumped in the coaches' arms ... hearing the people (gasp) was incredible. It was so quiet and weird."

He finished his career as any wrestler would want, standing at the top of that podium.

"I just knew all long I could do it if I put my heart into it. If I was going to do it, it had to be this year. This was my year."

Here is the balance of the 2001 All-Journal Wrestling team, in alphabetical order:

COLE ALTERMATT, WABASSO: This sophomore 125-pounder finished with a 32-4 season record and made his third trip to the state tournament. As a captain he recorded 14 pins this season, and stands at 115 career wins.

MIKE AMSDEN, RIVER VALLEY: Amsden was 27-8 this season at 140 pounds, with 75 takedowns and seven pins, and finished his Wildcat career by totaling 123 wins. During the season he won two tournaments, placed first in his section for the third straight season, and finished fourth at state.

KYLE ASLESON, NICOLLET: Asleson garnered a 30-6 mark with 14 pins in his junior season, which included first-place finishes at the Mankato Loyola, Buffalo Lake-Hector, and Pardeeville (Wis.) tournaments. He currently stands at 79 career wins, with 36 falls, and will be next season's captain for the Raiders.

ANDY BERNARD, NEW ULM: Bernard anchored the Eagle squad from his 189-pound spot, finishing with a 30-7 record (19 pins) in his junior season. He repeated as both the South Central Conference and Section 2-3A champion, and won the SCC's Most Offensive Wrestler Award. Bernard stands at 84 career wins.

JAKE GAPPA, NICOLLET: This senior 189-pounder finished with a 30-7 season mark, including 16 wins by fall. He was a two-time state tournament entrant, won both the Pardeeville and Valley Conference tournaments, and is described by coach Steve Johnson as a, "great leader on and off the mat."

NATE GIESEKE, NEW ULM: Gieseke made a trip to state this year after compiling a 28-8 season record with 73 takedowns. He was the SCC champion, the Section 2-3A runner-up, and now stands at 71 wins after his junior season. Gieseke will co-captain the Eagles next season, along with Bernard.

MARTY HOFFMANN, RIVER VALLEY: Hoffmann finished his Wildcat career in style as he posted a 34-4 record with 95 takedowns and 10 pins. The 160-pounder won three tournaments, including the section title, and placed fifth at state. He ended with 119 career victories.

MATT JOHNSON, REDWOOD VALLEY: Johnson, a junior, finished the season with an impressive 31-2 mark and a fifth-place finish at state at 145 pounds. This three-time all-conference wrestler stands at 130 career wins -- just four away from the school record.

CHRIS KOOB, NEW ULM: Just a seventh-grader, Koob finished with a 22-13 record at 103 pounds, and led the Eagles in takedowns with 74. He was fourth in the SCC and fifth in Section 2-3A.

PHIL McMULLEN, RIVER VALLEY: McMullen was 29-5 with 15 pins at 119 pounds in his sophomore season for the Wildcats. A fifth-place finisher in the 2000 state tournament, he won four tournaments this season and placed second in the section.

MIKE REDMAN, RED ROCK CENTRAL/WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE: The senior heavyweight, described by coach Bruce Olson as, "the anchor," ended with a 30-4 record (18 pins) and helped the Falcons to the state team tournament.

"If the match was on the line, I wouldn't want anyone else but Mike to go on the mat," Olson commented.

MIKIAS REDMAN, RRC-WWG: This 103-pounder set the table for the Falcons this year, finishing with a 30-12 mark (14 pins, three technical falls). Olson describes him as, "a great team wrestler with an outstanding work ethic."

NATHAN ROHLIK, WABASSO: Rohlik, a junior, made his second trip to state this season, finishing with a 30-8 record from his 119-pound slot. He was the Rabbits' team leader in takedowns (72).

AUSTIN SCARSET, RRC-WWG: A junior, Scarset followed up his 2000 state championship with another awesome season, finishing second in the state at 130 pounds with a 36-3 record. He led the Falcons with 112 takedowns, plus added 17 pinfalls, five major decisions and four technical falls to his credit. He is a three-time All-RRC wrestler.

TODD SIEVERT, GIBBON-FAIRFAX-WINTHROP: Sievert, a 112-pound senior, was the Thunderbirds' main weapon this season. He finished with a 26-6 record and a third-place finish at the second tournament. Sievert pinned 18 opponents.

HONORABLE MENTION -- Nicollet: Jake Yost; River Valley: Kevin Widmer, Matt Fredin; GFW: Tom Messerli; New Ulm: Matt Wenninger, Paul Ruch, Tony Ruch; Redwood Valley: Dustin Hennen, Dusty Myers, Tom Anderson.