Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Regan Johnson, left, wrestles with his twin brother Kane Johnson, right, during a New Ulm Area wrestling practice.

By Travis Rosenau

trosenau@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — New Ulm Area wrestler Kane Johnson might be the big brother in terms of height, weight and varsity experience, but his twin brother, Regan Johnson, has worked hard to be neck and neck with him this season on the mat.

That brotherly bond and competition between the two sophomores has been a good thing for the New Ulm Area wrestling team as it continues its strong 13-1 season.

Kane Johnson, who stands 5-foot-9 and wrestles at 127 pounds, beat his brother out for the 106-pound spot on varsity two seasons ago as an eighth-grader. Kane Johnson is currently the No. 8-ranked Class AA wrestler at that weight with a 24-3 record.

Regan Johnson, who has taken the now 107-pound varsity spot in the lineup and stands 5-foot-7, saw his first varsity action last season and is currently ranked seventh at 107 with a 22-4 mark.

Regardless of their height and weight differential and their ranking in their respective classes, this season the twins saw themselves both ranked in the top 10 for the first time in their varsity careers.

“It doesn’t really matter until the end of the season, but it’s cool to be ranked together,” Regan Johnson said.

The twins have been interested in wrestling from a young age, crediting their father for getting them into it.

“[We got interested] from our dad,” Kane Johnson said. “He was wrestling since he was a kid, just like us, and he just got us into it. Started when we were young, been wrestling our whole lives.”

Regan Johnson may not have been a varsity starter as an eighth-grader like his brother, but he did have success in his first varsity season last year as he finished with 29 wins. He carried that momentum into this season and recently finished the Big South Conference Tournament on Jan. 11 as the 107-pound champion after pinning Pipestone Area’s Lane Fruechte in 5:39 in the title match.

“That was the first step to making state,” Regan Johnson said. “Sections is where I’m really looking forward to wrestling and making state. This was the first step to helping me get there.”

Kane Johnson made it to state last season as an individual. He also made it to his weight class championship match in the Big South tourney this year but came up short after being pinned by Marshall’s Landon Marthaler.

“I kind of always want to get that last win of the day, so it kind of sucks losing that match,” Kane Johnson said. “But I’ll wrestle him again, so hopefully I’ll get him next time.”

That next time will likely come during New Ulm’s home quadrangular on Jan. 28 when the Eagles host Marshall, Sibley East and St. James Area.

The two brothers may not train one-on-one much during the high school season as they are separated by three weight classes, but they’ve more than gotten their training in together growing up and during the offseason.

“I’d say it’s definitely beneficial having a partner to stay wrestling on your own time,” Kane Johnson said of his brother. “That’s basically what we were doing. We don’t really practice together much now because we’re different weights, but growing up we’d always be wrestling around, like at home, just messing around.”

Growing up and going through youth wrestling together has naturally resulted in similar mindsets, styles and approaches to their matches.

“I feel like my wrestling style overall is smart,” Kane Johnson said. “Staying in position and just trying not to give up stupid moves. Staying smart.”

Regan Johnson said he and his brother both look to get that first takedown.

“I’d say we’re probably pretty similar because we’re both going for the same thing,” Regan Johnson said. “Just trying to get the first takedown and trying to stay in the lead.”

Being twins, however, doesn’t mean the two always wrestle or think the same.

When the talk of who is most likely to be the initial aggressor in a wrestling match, Kane Johnson isn’t afraid to adopt a big brother attitude with his thoughts.

“If we wrestled, [Regan would] probably shoot right away and I’d probably score off of it [laughs],” Kane Johnson said. “But it depends on your opponent. Everyone’s style is different.”

As the season winds down and it gets closer to section tournament time, the Johnsons are looking to both get to the state individual wrestling tournament together.

“Making state tournament with Kane, that would be fun to go up there together,” Regan Johnson said.

However, even sweeter for the Johnsons would be bringing all of their teammates with to compete in the Class AA team portion of the state tournament.

“My overall goal, I’d really like to make it as a team,” Kane Johnson said. “I believe we can, but it’ll be tough and we’ll have to win a lot of matches. Individually, obviously making it back to state, but I’m really looking forward on placing this year.”