Coach Troy's High School Update: Weeks 11 & 12
Crimson Wrestlers, Managers, and Families-
Week Nine/Ten Recap:
It seems like every two weeks is the most eventful two weeks of the season. Since the last update, we’ve had two girls-only tournaments, two additional individual varsity tournaments (one that included the girls, a home meet/Alumni night, and 9th grade sections. And of course that doesn’t even include our home tri. that was postponed this past Thursday.
With all that wrestling, there is bound to be some ups and down, for most of our wrestlers as well as for the team as a whole. While I typically highlight the highs, it’s worth mentioning that the lows are worthy of appreciation as well. Our sport is as much about personal growth as it is about winning wrestling matches. Adversity on or off the mat is a growth opportunity. Often times, most of us try to do all we can to avoid adversity. These athletes have chosen to go straight at that adversity and use it. These last couple weeks especially, I feel the downs have served a purpose and are making us stronger (on and off the mat). For those who feel they’ve experienced this adversity in one way or another this season - be thankful. The growth is worth the struggle.
All that said – the highs are more fun to write about. Here’s a breakdown of how we finished:
• St. Croix Lutheran Girls Tournament: Champ – Brooklyn; 2nd – CC; 3rd – Russo and Kathrine; 4th – Charlotte; 5th – Madena,
• Park Center Varsity: Champ – Ethan; 3rd – Alex; 4th – Lincoln; 5th – Lamond, Jonah, Joseph; 6th – Egan, Reese, Amir, Jonathan; 8th – Ollie, London, Khoa, and Grady.
• Park Center JV: Champ – Nathan, Nico; 2nd – Jayden, Max Sw., Max Sc.; Jaylen, 3rd – Adrian, Owen, Gavin T., Jack, Logan H., and Avery.
• Park Center Girls: Champ – CC; 2nd – Russo; 5th – Kathrine; 6th – Alyssa.
• Orono Varsity: Champ – Connor P.; 5th – Joseph N.; 6th – Lincoln.
• Orono JV: Champ – Nathan, Max M., Jayden, Khoa, Liam, and Jayshawn; 2nd – Avery, Owen, and Logan B.
• Osseo Girls: Champ – Elizabeth; 2nd – Russo, Brooklyn, CC; 3rd – Alyssa; 4th – Rachel; 5th – Kathrine.
• 9th grade boys: 5th – Ollie and Beckett; 8th – Nico.
• 9th grade girls: 2nd – Camden Rodriguez-Hild (State Qualifier!!); 5th – Charlotte.
That’s 32 different wrestlers who have had strong finishes the last two weeks! It’s exciting to see many wrestlers having success, and it’s even more fun when that success corelates well with the work they’ve put in.
The bulk of our season is in the rear-view mirror, yet the most exciting matches are still in front of us. In less than two weeks, we’ll have wrestled at JV Conference, we’ll know which of our girls will be representing the Crimson at the Excel center this season, and we’ll be counting down the days to our boys varsity section tournaments. I fully expect the next two weeks will be some of our best practices of the season ,and we’ll be ready to finish strong!
Here’s the information you’ll want to know for the upcoming TWO weeks’ worth of the wrestling season:
Week 11 Practice/Meet Schedule:
Monday, 1.26 – Strength Training at 2:10p; Wrestling at 3:10p
Tuesday, 1.27 – A.M.: Morning practice at 5:45a for varsity wrestlers and others who bring a partner.
Tuesday, 1.27 – Strength Training at 2:10p; Wrestling at 3:10p.
Wednesday, 1.28 – Wrestling room at 3:10p.
Thursday, 1.29 – Tri. at Buffalo with Minnetonka. The bus is scheduled to leave at 3:15p for a 4p weigh-in with a 5p start. The dual schedule for the night is yet to be communicated.
Friday, 1.30 – Quad at Champlin Park with Osseo, Park Center, and Champlin Park. The bus is scheduled to leave at 3:15p for a 4p weigh-in with what I assume will be a 5p start. We will wrestle for the Droggy Cup vs. Osseo (which we currently control) as well as for the Park Center traveling trophy (which they currently control). The dual schedule for the night is yet to be communicated.
Saturday, 1.31 – 9th grade Individual State (Cami Rodriguez-Hild) at Champlin Park. Details to be relayed as they are received. Plan for everyone else is to practice at 9a.
Week 12 Practice/Meet Schedule:
Monday, 2.2 – No School. Practice at 8a.
Tuesday, 2.3 – A.M.: Morning practice at 5:45a for Varsity wrestlers and others who bring a partner.
Tuesday, 2.3 - P.M.: Lifting at 2:10p (for those not wrestling at JV conference); Wrestling at 3:10p for all.
Wednesday, 2.4 – Boys J.V. Conference at STMA. This is the first time we’ve attended this event in our conference so currently, I don’t have a lot of insight on how this event will work. Wrestling room at 3:10p for everyone not competing this night.
Thursday, 2.5 – Home vs. STMA and Edina (Make-up Night). Schedule as follows:
4p – Weigh-ins
5p – STMA vs. Edina
6p – STMA vs. Maple Grove
7p – Senior and Parent Night Presentation.
7:15p – Edina vs. Maple Grove
There will also be a Team potluck following the meet to celebrate our Seniors and our Senior Parents. Girls wrestling at individual sections may or may not wrestle this night but will be able to celebrate Senior Night at home.
Friday, 2.6 – Wrestling at 3:10p.
Saturday, 2.7 – Girls Sections with weigh-ins at 8a and wrestling set to begin at 10a. For the Boys there will be practice at 8a for those who would like to be considered for the Team (and Individual) Section Roster.
2025 – 2026 Wrestler of the Week Honors:
• Week 2: Alex Fox, Max Schroeder, Alyssa Pearson
• Week 3: Egan Hong, Charlotte Nadolski
• Week 4: Reese Redlinger, Brooklyn True, Gabe Mullen
• Week 5: Connor Peterson, Elizabeth Ofuasia, and Khoa Nguyen
• Week 6: No Competitions.
• Week 7: Ollie Bielat, Jonah Prum, Grant Berg
• Week 8: Benyam Reda, London Graham
• Week 9: Ethan Hong, Carol Stevenson, Nathan Palmer
• Week 10: To be Determined.
Mat Boss Video Access:
You have noticed our amazing managers are recording (as well as scoring) our matches. If you are not currently able to watch your videos please talk to coach Troy at practice this week. Wrestlers only have access to their own matches.
We are also doing what we can to ensure the matches are uploaded and as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, with events sometimes having 6 or more mats we will not be able to record every match. Wrestlers/Parents are encouraged to have someone record their own matches for review purposes as well.
Watching matches opens up all kinds of cool possibilities for the team. The most basic of which is that each wrestler can watch their matches once they are uploaded. Watching back matches can be a great learning tool and is highly encouraged. Have your wrestler make sure I receive their email address and look for their invite to begin utilizing this valuable tool.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.
Crossbar, Hello Teams, and Future Communication:
Lastly if you haven’t, please download the Crossbar and HelloTeam Apps, and register to receive future communications. A QR code should have been sent out for Hello Team and you can register for Crossbar at www.crimson-wrestling.com. Parents and wrestlers should each sign up to receive future communications and schedule changes through the Crossbar and HelloTeam apps. Please let me know if you have any questions with this as we will use these apps for communications throughout the season.
We are somehow already entering the final stretch of the season. 9th grade state, girl’s individual sections, and JV Conference are all coming at us in the next two weeks (Not to mention the Osseo and Park Center are among our 7 duals the next two weeks). With Boys team and individual sections as well as the high school state tournament also just around the corner, some of the most fun matches of the season will be wrestled in the next few weeks. Our athletes have worked very hard this season specifically with this next stretch in mind. So many of our wrestlers have shown impressive glimpses of what they can do. The goal is to put it all together and finish strong. As always – looking forward to it! Let’s Go Crimson!
Let me know if anybody has any questions.
Coach Troy
Mgwrestling99@gmail.com
763-913-0601