Shakopee’s 9th grade wrestling team earned another team victory Saturday claiming the MNGWL Individual State Tournament Team point total dominating the field of eighty-two teams with a team score of 147.

Shakopee had a total of nine individual wrestlers qualify for the state tournament this year with eight of the nine placing.

“I think overall as a team we wrestled really well. All year we’ve preached about getting bonus-points, so it was nice to see our young guys buying into that philosophy. These guys wrestle daily with some of the best wrestlers in the state and I believe that is what separated us in the team race this weekend. Both the varsity & freshman wrestlers are mutually benefitting from pushing each other in the room and as a coach I couldn’t be more excited about the future.”, stated Shakopee Assistant Coach Maolu Woiwor.

(100) Leo Tuchlynovich 2nd

(106) Terae Dunn 2nd

(126) Christian Seals 4th

(132) Riley Quern 1st

(138) Mason Potz 7th

(152) Cole Sutrick DNP

(160) Jadon Hellerud 5th

(189) Ben Reiland 2nd

(285) Jade Trelstad 2nd

MNGWL Individual State Tournament (Top 5 Teams out of 82)

1 Shakopee 147.0

2 New Prague 90.0

3 Big Lake 83.0

4 Kasson-Mantorville 73.5

5 Kimball 66.5

Fifth seeded Riley Quern wins Championship

Quern a freshman, came up big this year in the 132-pound weight class earning Shakopee their only state champion. Quern came into the tournament winning his section two weeks ago and has seen limited varsity action this season

The Saber started the day with a first round bye but got to work quickly in the quarterfinals winning by a fall in the 2nd period against Eastview’s Ezra Formaneck.

The Semifinal match would not work out as the quarters for Quern who found himself tied 1-1 after the third period against Donavon Felten of Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland.

The score remained 1-1 first overtime period with neither wrestler scoring a takedown.

Quern chose down in the 2nd overtime and was able to earn a 1-point escape in the 30 second period to put the pressure on Felten, who would choose down in the third overtime period, but now trailing Quern 2-1.

The Saber freshman was able to ride out Felton for the 30 seconds not giving up a point to move on the finals.

In the finals Quern found himself facing Adam Jurek from Becker got out to a fast start with a takedown in the first to open up a lead of 2-0 going into the second period.

With both wrestlers battling from their feet neither were able to score keeping the match still at 2-0 in favor of Quern.

Quern chose down for the third period and reversed Jurek and held Jurek for a near-fall 3 as well as an additional 1 point for a technical foul by Jurek.

Jurek tried to come on late with some last second attempts of salvaging the match scoring a reversal for two on Quern but was unable to turn Quern who went on for a 9-2 decision win and 9th grade state championship title.

Woiwor added, “Nobody earned that state title on Saturday more than Riley Quern. The amount of time and effort he puts in just reiterates my belief that hard work pays off. He comes in every day, finds the best guy he can and just grinds. I don’t ever hear Quern complain, make excuses or sit out of practice and now he’s beginning to reap the benefits of his disciplined work ethic.”

It’s that type of work ethic Woiwor, a former 3-time state champion himself is helping to bring to Shakopee the past two seasons under Head Coach Jim Jackson, who coincidentally was Woiwor’s former high school coach.

“Riley wrestled extremely well with a close overtime match in the semi-finals and then really spread the gap in the finals while almost picking up a major decision for the team. I couldn’t be more-proud of his success and our team effort. He has taken his fair share of beat-downs in our room by the top guys in the state, but he still comes back to get better day in and day out. I think we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg with Riley and if he’s not already on the radar, Minnesota wrestling has a big surprise coming.”