It maybe summer vacation but many members of the Shakopee Wrestling team continue competing in the off season participating in the Olympic styles of Freestyle and Greco-Roman.

Over the past three weeks eight Shakopee wrestlers have represented the state of Minnesota in various age division teams against much of the top talent in the United States.

Schoolboys

Starting of the first week of June, AJ Smith and Leonard Tukhlynovych traveled with the Minnesota Schoolboy National Team to Indianapolis, Indiana  for the National Schoolboy Duals.

Both young wrestlers helped Minnesota to a 3rd and 5th place finish in Greco Roman and followed up that effort with a 3rd and 9th place finish in Freestyle.

Cadets

The following week Shakopee sent four varsity wrestlers with the Minnesota Cadet National team to Spokane, Washington, State runner up Sophomore Ben Lunn, Freshman State qualifier Joey Johnson as well as freshmen Tommy Johnson and DJ Smith.

In the Greco-Roman two day event, the Sabers helped Minnesota to a 3rd and 12th place finish. Ben Lunn scored a notable 9-8 decision over Missouri’s Eli Rocha.

The final two days concluded with the Freestyle tournament where Minnesota finished runner up and 25th.

Juniors

In the third and final week of the dual series concluded with the Junior division where state runner up sophomore Paxton Creese and Junior Tyler Jones traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma representing Minnesota at the Junior National Duals.

Starting with the two Greco-Roman portion, Minnesota finished 5th with a win over Iowa and 19th with a win over South Dakota.

Paxton Creese finished undefeated at 7-0 capturing individual Junior National Greco-Roman Duals All-Tournament Team honors.

In the Freestyle portion, Minnesota was edged out in the gold medal match 33-32 by Ohio. Coincidentally Minnesota who in day one faced Ohio in the pool rounds also lost to Ohio by the same score.

We congratulate our Shakopee wrestlers and their performance efforts as well as their representation of Shakopee Wrestling and the state of Minnesota.