Coach Troy's High School Update: Weeks 3 & 4
Crimson Wrestlers, Managers, and Families-
Week Two Recap:
The first two weeks is always nuts – and this year was even more so than most. Ten practices, 40+ new wrestlers, two new apps needed for all wrestlers/families, weight certifications, a major Holiday, a high school tournament, a youth tournament, and all the little details that go with starting a new season leads to crazy beginning.
That said, it’s exciting to have seen our athletes in action this past Saturday. Minnetonka hosted a number of traditionally tough wrestling programs – and we held our own. More than the wins and losses, these early season matches are primarily a learning opportunity. Wrestling actual matches help the newest wrestlers, the experienced wrestlers looking to make a jump, and the coaches see what we need to work on going forward. Collectively we learn where we are at - and the first timers learn what this whole wrestling thing is all about. Having the opportunity to figure out where we are at and where our focus needs to be is what I look forward to for the first two weeks of the season. Now we have a starting point with which to work.
Saturday’s Minnetonka Tournament was a solid day for Crimson wrestling. On the Varsity side, we entered 20 wrestlers into the Varsity tournament. Placers included Connor Peterson who was dominant throughout the day earning four consecutive technical falls (winning by more than 15 points) to take home our lone Boys Varsity Championship. Connor’s first-place finish was equaled by Russo Capel (2-0, 1 tech fall and 1 fall), Carol (CC) Stevenson (3-0, 3 Falls), and Elizabeth Ofuasia (earned a first period fall to secure the Championship). Rachel Kusie, Kathrine Melton, and Brooklyn True each finished second as well. Our girls finished 1st among the girls’ teams at the tournament!
Our other boys top 5 finishers included Joseph Natysin (3rd), Reese Redlinger (4th), Jaeden Hubbard (4th), and Alex Fox (5th).
On the JV side, our champs included Nico Pruett (3-0, 3 falls), Max Schroeder (2-0, 2 first period falls), and Jayshawn Wilkins (3-0, 3 falls) along with multiple runner-up finishers and a number of wrestlers who earned their first wrestling wins.
I also enjoyed seeing the way our wrestlers bonded with one another throughout the day. Our wrestlers all seemed to have numerous teammates in their corner supporting them throughout the day. Character is the primary focus of Maple Grove wrestling and I anticipate we have the right people involved with the program to be a high character team again this season.
On Sunday at our youth tournament, our wrestlers (and parents) did an amazing job of running a ridiculously big tournament. We had 704 wrestlers in attendance (14 more than last years all time high that we thought was nuts). Our mats were full throughout the day thanks to our hard-working refs and table workers. Their efforts made it possible to successfully pull off a tournament of this size. Many of our high school wrestlers impressed me with their work ethic throughout the day. Contributing in an effort that is bigger than themself is a characteristic of a Crimson Wrestler, and it’s great to see so many who are already strong in this area. Each athlete will also benefit directly from their efforts through their experience this season so hopefully it’s a win all around
The plan is to utilize the weekends efforts to move forward in a more informed and focused manner. We have a starting point and we expect to see obvious growth throughout the team on a weekly basis. Excited to see where these individuals and this team can go!
Looking forward to settling in to the season in the coming weeks. Below are the details you'll need for the two weeks ahead.
Volunteer Request - Please Help!
Our biggest event of the high school season that we put on is fast approaching. As many know, we host a 12-Team Varsity and JV tournament next Saturday (12.13). This season, we have also committed to hosting a girl’s individual tournament and boys JV Duals tournament on Friday evening (12.12). We have many needs to pull these tournaments off and make it a first-class tournament that offers our athletes a great experience as well as keeps other teams coming back. Because our current wrestlers will be wrestling throughout the weekend, we rely on our parents to step up and take this on. Currently we are very short in numerous areas. Your help would be greatly appreciated with the following:
Table Workers. We plan to set-up 7 mats and will need 2-3 table workers at each mat throughout Friday evening and Saturday throughout the day. This means we’ll need at least 14 table workers at all times (14 Friday evening from 4:30p – 9p, 14 Saturday from 8:30a – 1p, and 14 more Saturday from 1p – 5p).
We will also need people to help with admissions throughout the morning (probably two tables at Door A).
We will need help in concessions.
We will need help with runners for the Coaches room.
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help. Please consider signing up for one or more shifts for the weekend.
Here is the link: Maple Grove Wrestling Club | Volunteer Opportunities
Practice and Meet Schedule – Week 3:
Looking forward to utilizing the four practices this week to expand our base, improve on what we did well this past weekend, and work to fix the areas we struggled. The plan is as follows:
Monday, 12.1 – Strength Training at 2:10p; Wrestling room at 3:10p.
Tuesday, 12.2 (Morning Practice – Varsity Wrestlers encouraged – other wrestlers need to bring a partner to attend) – Wrestling room from 5:45a – 6:45a so that wrestlers have time to shower afterwards. Wrestlers encouraged to attend include everyone who has wrestled varsity matches so far this season.
Tuesday, 12.2 (afternoon Practice) – Strength Training at 2:10p; Wrestling Room at 3:10p. Wrestlers who attend the morning practice will be done practicing around 4p.
Wednesday, 12.3 – Wrestling room at 3:10p.
Thursday, 12.4 – Home Tri vs. Waconia and Rogers. The schedule is as follows:
3:30p: All wrestlers meet at the school for singlet/warm-up check out and to set-up mats.
4p: Weigh-ins
5p – 5:30p: Youth Night poster signing (While Waconia wrestles Rogers)
6:15p: Waconia vs. Maple Grove (Varsity, JV/9th grade, and girls)
7:30p: Rogers vs. Maple Grove (Varsity, JV/9th grade, and girls)
Friday, 12.5 – Wrestling room at 3:10p
Saturday, 12.6 – Individual Varsity and JV Tournament at Coon Rapids. The bus is scheduled to leave Maple Grove Senior High at 7:15a. Weigh-ins are at 8a with a 2-pound allowance and any wrestlers who is not there for weigh-ins at 8a will not be able to compete. Wrestling is set to begin at 9:15a. This is also a Varsity, JV/9th grade, and girls event – all wrestlers will compete.
Also Saturday, 12.6 – JV Team Duals at Armstrong. This bus will be scheduled to leave Maple Grove Senior High at 7:15a. Weigh-ins are at 8a with a 1-pound allowance and any wrestlers who is not there for weigh-ins at 8a will not be able to compete. Wrestling is set to begin at 9a with 3 or 4 rounds of JV duals wrestled with only short breaks in-between. We will communicate which wrestlers will attend this event later this week.
Practice and Meet Schedule – Week 4:
Monday, 12.8 – Strength Training at 2:10p; Wrestling room at 3:10p. 7th/8th/9th graders to weigh in for Tuesday after practice.
Tuesday, 12.9 (Morning Practice – Varsity Wrestlers encouraged – other wrestlers need to bring a partner to attend) – Wrestling room from 5:45a – 6:45a so that wrestlers have time to shower afterwards. Wrestlers encouraged to attend include everyone who has wrestled varsity matches to this point in the season.
Tuesday, 12.9 (afternoon Practice) - Wrestling Room at 3:10p. Wrestlers who attend the morning practice will be done practicing around 4p. AND…
9th grade team event: Tuesday, 12.9 – Is our first meet specifically for our 7th/8th/9th graders with a Quad at Anoka with Elk River and St. Francis. The bus will leave at 3:10p with wrestling starting around 4p. Wrestlers will weigh in at practice on Monday, 12.8 and any who don’t then will weigh in prior to the meet on Tuesday. This is another opportunity for these wrestlers to get valuable match experience while also competing as part of a Team format. All 7th/8th/9th grade wrestlers should plan to attend the 9th grade duals. We will communicate individually if we would like certain wrestlers to stay and practice due to being unlikely to get matches.
Wednesday, 12.10 – Strength Training at 2:10p; Wrestling room at 3:10p.
Thursday, 12.11 – Wrestling room at 3:10p.
Friday, 12.12 – On this night we plan to have an abbreviated practice for our high school athletes not competing this night, and to set-up the main gym and the back gym all by 4:30p. I’m hoping we can pull that off because we have the following competition scheduled for the night:
3:30p: Weigh-in for our girl’s individual tournament in the main gym and for our JV Duals team in the back gym.
4:30p: Wrestling is scheduled to begin in both gyms. Wrestling will continue until the girl’s tournament is complete and through three rounds of JV Duals.
Those not competing on Friday will be asked to help work tables in both gyms.
Saturday, 12.13 – Maple Grove Tournament. Wrestlers need to be at Maple Grove Senior High at 7:15a for weigh-ins at 7:30a. Wrestling begins hopefully at 9a. JV (all non-varsity) wrestlers will likely get 3 matches while Varsity will be a double elimination tournament.
Upcoming 9th grade team Event:
Tuesday, 12.16 – Is our second 9th grade event with our 7th/8th/9th graders at Spectrum for a Jamboree. Wrestlers will weigh-in on Monday, 12.15 for this event. Wrestling will be an individual format with many other teams in our 9th grade section. All of our 7th/8th/9th grade wrestlers should plan to attend this event. We will communicate with individual wrestlers if we would rather have them practice on this night.
Out of Town Trip:
This week we will also begin finalizing our list of wrestlers who plan to attend the team’s overnight trip. The Redwood River Riot is 12.19 (Varsity individual and 9th grade team duals) and 12.20 (Varsity, J.V., 9th grade, and girls’ individual tournaments).
We do ask wrestlers to contribute to a portion of the expenses for these trips as we take a coach bus, stay overnight at a hotel, provide a significant portion of each wrestler’s food while there and stop to eat at a Pizza Ranch on the way home. It is $50 per wrestler that plans to attend. I will hand out permission slips at practice early this week. The deadline for wrestlers to register for Redwood falls will be this Friday, 12.5 so we can make plans for our busing, hotel and food needs. Please have permission slips and payment turned in to Coach Troy prior to Friday.
If you/your wrestler would like to attend but finances will not allow please let me know and we’ll try to figure something out.
Although not necessary, parents/families are also encouraged to attend and support the team. The wrestlers love these tournaments – and it’s been my understanding the parents enjoy them just as much.
The hotels we stay at are as follows:
Redwood – We are staying at the AmericInn Sleepy Eye again this year. They may be sold out for 12.19 but it’s possible something changes. Their website is: https://www.bookonline.com/hotel/americinn-by-wyndham-sleepy-eye?msclkid=6bfd7f583cda19e8de871cd50788bc4f#room-types
There is also a Casino/Hotel near where we are wrestling that may be an option. Their website is: https://www.jackpotjunction.com/
Youth Practices:
We are asking all wrestlers to help coach at two youth practice per season (one night) and for Varsity wrestlers to commit to four practices in a season (two nights). Thank you to those wrestlers who have already completed their practices for the season. This week’s practice date is Monday, 12.1 from 6p – 6:50p and 7p - 8:15p. We’d like to have two wrestlers signed up for each practice. Monday’s practice currently has openings for coaching help. Please let me know if you/your wrestlers are available to help this week.
2025 – 2026 Wrestler of the Week Honors:
We will start identifying 2/3 wrestlers per week to earn “Wrestler of the Week” Honors. That will begin this week.
Mat Boss Video Access:
You have noticed our amazing managers are recording (as well as scoring) our matches. For our new wrestlers I will be collecting wrestler emails this week in order to send out personal invites to wrestlers so they can watch their videos. Wrestlers will only have access to their 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 and Future Communication:
Lastly if you haven’t, please download the Crossbar App and register to receive future communications at www.crimson-wrestling.com. Parents and wrestlers can each sign up to receive future communications and schedule changes through the Crossbar app by going to Crimson-Wrestling.com. Please let me know if you have any questions with this as we will use this app for communications throughout the season.
It should be another fun week – looking forward to seeing things continue to click for our newer wrestlers and continued development from our more experienced competitors. As always let me know if anybody has any questions.
Coach Troy
mgwrestling99@gmail.com
763-913-0601