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April 13, 2000
Frank, Scarset namedCo-Wrestlers of YearBy PAUL DUNLAP Journal Sports Editor NEW ULM -- Two state champions, one state runner-up, 18 total state entrants, 643 combined wins. The 1999-2000 version of the All-Journal Wrestling Team is as good as ever, with 20 grapplers dotting the best squad this area can offer. As far as Wrestler of the Year honors are concerned, one must look no further than the ultimate prize -- a state championship. Wabasso's Johnny Frank and Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove's Austin Scarset fit that bill, and are Co-Wrestlers of the Year. Frank finished off his senior season for the Rabbits with a 37-1 record at 189 pounds, winning the state Class 1A title with a 5-1 decision over Wabasha-Kellogg's Ryan Weinandt. A three-time state entrant, Frank finished fifth as a sophomore and third as a junior. He leaves Wabasso with 124 career wins. "It was my goal from day one this year," Frank said following the March 4 win. "No other way out -- there's only one place, and that's first place. It's a great feeling, and what a way to end my wrestling career." Scarset finished off his perfect 36-0 season by outlasting Kelly Pederson for an overtime fall (7:11) for the Class 2A, 135-pound championship. During the 1999-2000 campaign he ended with 19 total pins, six technical falls, and six major decisions. "Austin has an aggressive style of wrestling, likes to take people down and pin them," Falcon coach Bruce Olson noted. "That style allowed him to win the state title, beating two returning state champs in his weight class along the way. He is a very coachable athlete who has combined ability with technique to improve." Scarset, who already has 108 career wins, is only a sophomore. "From the beginning of my wrestling career, I've always wanted to be a state champ," he said after his March 4 win. "This (win) has changed that, because now I want to win two more times." There was an awful lot of winning this year for these 20 wrestlers. So here's the rest of the squad in alphabetical order: MIKE AMSDEN, RIVER VALLEY -- Amsden, a junior, finished the season with a 29-7 record and was a state Class 2A entrant at 135 pounds. He led the Wildcats with 89 takedowns this year and won two tournaments, including the Section 2AA title. BILL BASTIAN, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL -- Bastian finished his senior season with a 30-2 record and was a state Class 3A entrant at 152 pounds. A five-year letterwinner for the Eagles, Bastian leaves the program at No. 3 all time in single-season takedowns (136), No. 5 in career wins (112), and No. 3 in career takedowns (380). He was a three-time All-South Central Conference wrestler. ANDY BERNARD, NUHS -- Bernard, a sophomore, was another Eagle state entrant this season, ending with a 28-8 record. He amassed 14 pins this year on his way to the SCC and Section 2-3A championships at 171 pounds. JACOB GAPPA, NICOLLET -- Gappa, a 189-pound junior, was undefeated at 28-0 before falling in the opening round of the state Class 1A tournament. Those wins included a Valley Conference and Section 3-1A championship, and Gappa finished the season with 10 pins. SHANE GULDEN, NUHS -- This senior co-captain and three-time state qualifier finished his senior season with a sparkling 37-2 record and a third-place finish at 130 pounds in Class 3A. He ends his career all-time as No. 2 in single-season takedowns (229), No. 2 in career takedowns (604), No. 2 in match points scored (603), No. 2 in career pins (46), No. 2 in single-season wins (37), and No. 3 in career wins (126). Gulden placed fifth at state as a 125-pound junior. TOM HOHENSTEIN, NICOLLET -- Hohenstein, a senior captain, ended his season at the state tournament with a 33-6 mark at 140 pounds. He amassed 15 pinfalls this season and finished his career with 98 wins, including 49 pins. MARTY HOFFMANN, RIVER VALLEY -- Hoffmann, a junior, was a state Class 2A entrant at 152 pounds this year. He bounced back and forth between 152 and 160 for most of the season, ending with a 30-7 record, and led his team in near-falls and technical falls. TRAVIS LINSMEIER, GIBBON-FAIRFAX-WINTHROP -- Linsmeier, a state Class 2A participant, finished the season with a 28-8 mark, including 12 pins. This section champion also led the Thunderbirds in takedowns (81) this season. JOSH LUNEBURG, NUHS -- A serious contender for Wrestler of the Year honors, Luneburg finished his senior season as the state Class 3A runner-up at 112 pounds after falling to Apple Valley's Mark Buck in the championship match. He finished with a 33-3 record this year, ending his career with an amazing 90-10 mark. This two-time SCC champion is No. 10 on New Ulm's career wins list, and holds the No. 6 spot for single-season wins (33). GUS MARTENS, NUHS -- Another senior weapon in the Eagles' arsenal, this 189-pounder finished this season with a 32-5 mark, including a school-record 23 pins. Martens holds the New Ulm record for career pins with 70, and ended his career with 103 wins. He was named the SCC Offensive Wrestler of the Year with a perfect score of 60 and this season set an all-time Eagles mark for the fastest pin (:08). PHIL MCMULLEN, RIVER VALLEY -- McMullen, just a freshman, took fifth place in Class 2A state this year at 112 pounds, sporting a 32-8 record. He won two tournaments this season and was second on the team with 157 team points. ERIC MILLER, NUHS -- This 140-pounder finished his stellar career with a 36-4 record and a trip to state, his fifth total appearance (finishing fifth in 1998 and third in 1999). He is second all-time in career wins with 130, holds the all-time mark for single-season wins (38), and is fourth in single-season takedowns (111). The six-time letterwinner and five-time conference champ was second on the team in pins this year with 16. RYAN ROSIN, NICOLLET -- Rosin, a junior heavyweight, set Raider all-time records this season for wins (38-3 record) and pinfalls (28). The Section 3-1A champion and fourth-place finisher at state also was the champion at the Hector and Valley Conference tournaments. ANDY SCHILLING, WA-BASSO -- Schilling, a 135-pound senior, was one of six state entrants for the Rabbits. He finished with a 35-4 mark this year, ending his career with 88 total wins. Schilling took sixth place at state as a junior. TODD SIEVERT, GFW -- Sievert, a 103-pound sophomore, led the T-Birds with a 30-4 mark this season and finished third in the section tournament. He finished the season with 15 pins and 36 two-point and three-point near-falls without yielding a single one. BRIAN WALTERS, SIBLEY EAST -- This 145-pound junior, a five-time letterwinner, ended his season with a 24-9 mark for the Wolverines where he had had six pins, three technical falls, three major decisions, and 53 takedowns. Walters, who holds a 90-56 career record, was third in the section tournament. AARON WELLS, RIVER VALLEY -- Wells, a senior, bounced between 160 and 171 pounds and was a state entrant with a 30-6 season mark. The Section 2-2A champion at 171 pounds led the Wildcats with 169 team points and set a school record for pins (24). PETER ZANGL, NUHS -- Perhaps the most prolific wrestler ever to come out of New Ulm, Zangl ended his amazing career with a 37-4 mark and a fourth-place finish in Class 3A at 119 pounds. This senior co-captain, who won the state title as a sophomore at 103 pounds and took second as a junior at 112, set many school career records, including wins (131), points (627), takedowns (645), and single-season takedowns (237). During his career with the Eagles, he never missed a practice. "Pete is looking at wrestling for Purdue University next fall," coach Dar Arndt noted. "He will be greatly missed by his school and coaching staff, but has left behind a legacy for future wrestlers to look up to and try to attain his lofty level of excellence." HONORABLE MENTION -- NUHS: Dan Mielke, Rob Gieseke, Nate Gieseke, Kory Andersen; RRC-WWG: Jeff Cooley; River Valley: Brandon Fox; Sibley East: Sam Britt, Nick Melsha; GFW: Brian Messerli; Nicollet: Jake Yost; Wabasso: Waylon Rudenick, Cole Altermatt, Brandon Irlbeck, Nathan Rohlik.
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