File photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Area’s Wyatt Pollard, left, wrestles during the Section 2AA quarterfinals at New Ulm High School on Feb. 14.

By Ari Selvey

aselvey@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Four New Ulm Area and 16 total area wrestlers will be competing in the State Individual Wrestling Tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center, with all wrestlers aiming to bring a first-place finish back to the school.

Of the four Class AA Eagles wrestlers, three — Alex Portner, Jamisen Frederickson and Wyatt Pollard — are going for the first time, and one, Kane Johnson, is taking his second trip to state.

Johnson said that the biggest difference in the state tourney is the environment.

“The environment is definitely way bigger,” he said. “It’s way louder up there, and just a lot more people.”

Johnson, a sophomore who wrestles at 127, said last year he was a little overwhelmed by the atmosphere and hopes to take his experience and place in this year’s tournament.

“The first time was definitely overwhelming,” he said. “So I learned from that, and the goal is to place. I hope to win a few matches and maybe place.”

Johnson is ranked eighth in the state for Class A at 127 and finished with a 40-9 record this year. He will be matched up with Minneapolis Roosevelt’s Carlos Olvera with a 24-11 record this year.

Frederickson, a senior wrestling at 215, said he is excited to go to the tournament for the first time.

“I’m feeling crazy,” he said. “I didn’t think I could do it at first, and to be here now, it’s definitely an experience I was not prepared for.”

Frederickson thinks that the multiple matches in a single day will be a challenge for him.

“I think my conditioning is what’s really kicking me over here,” he said. “All season it’s been a problem and it’s going to show even more there.”

Frederickson had a 35-16 record this year and is currently tied for the most pins in a season in school history and hopes to get one more during the tournament to break it. His first match will be against Bloomington/Kennedy’s Anthony Kugmeh with a 24-9 record this year.

Pollard was the only Eagle to claim a first-place finish at the section meet, winning the tournament at 172. Pollard is ranked fifth in the state after a 47-4 season and will match up against Foley’s William Gutormson, who went 20-6 this year.

“I’m super excited,” he said. “This has definitely been the most fun year of wrestling I’ve ever had. I’m really just having fun my senior year and soaking it all in. I’m super excited for this experience and I’m ready to go.”

Pollard has made the trip up to the Xcel Energy Center before as a sparring partner and is prepared for the elevated environment.

“The last two years I’ve gone up as a practice partner,” he said. “I was able to get up there and see the swing of things. A lot of kids will think about the big stage and the lights, but I’ve seen it, and it’s just another guy. I’ve wrestled a lot of the guys at the state tournament so it’s just another match.”

Pollard also broke the school record for wins in a season with 47 and will look to add to that record in the tournament.

Portner qualified for the state tournament at 121 as a junior.

“It’s a great experience,” he said. “I worked hard because I came up short last year. Just a lot of hard work.”

Portner said he’s looking forward to wrestling at Xcel Energy Center.

“Just all the people being there,” he said. “And most of my family is coming down, so that’s going to be fun.

Portner, who went 20-4 this season, is wrestling the third-ranked player at 121 in Roman McKinney of Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson, who went 41-1 this season.

“Just getting out there for my first match and getting used to it,” Portner said. “He’s ranked third, but it doesn’t matter. Anything can happen.”

ALSO FROM THE AREA

The area will also be feature several Class A wrestlers at state this season.

Sibley East is sending two wrestlers to state this year in Julio Alejandro and Benito Diaz. Alejandro, who made it to state last season, is a sophomore wrestling at 127 and is ranked ninth in the state after a 36-9 season. He will be wrestling Chatfield’s Kaisen Johnson (33-8). Diaz, a junior wrestling at 145, is ranked second in the state with a 35-9 record and finished third in last year’s state tournament. He is matched up against Ogilvie’s Deegan Birkaker (42-3) in the first round.

Wabasso’s Kaysen Harms will be making his third consecutive trip to state this season and enters with a 41-7 record as a senior. He will be wrestling at 139 pounds, though he is ranked ninth in the state at 145. He will be matched up against Staples-Motley’s Turner Beachy (34-11), ranked fifth in the state.

St. James/Madeila’s Tavyn Tande also qualified at 145 after a 37-12 season and faces Chatfield’s Alden Pearson (34-12), who is ranked seventh in the state.

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial/Nicollet made the tournament as a team and is seeded fourth in the Class A tourney. They take on fifth-seeded Canby on Thursday to start the day. LCWM/N also sent seven individual wrestlers. Brody Herbst (33-14) is ranked fifth at 107 and wrestles West Central Area’s Brody Brunkow (25-17) in the first round. Ryder Antony (34-14) wrestles ninth-ranked Jamison Meagher of Pipestone Area at 114. Connor Othoudt (22-24) matches up against Chatfield’s Javier Berg, ranked third at 121. Carson Othoudt (36-10) is ranked 10th at 133 and faces Frazee’s Liam Hamm (30-16). Talan Osborne (21-16) matches up against Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City’s Joseph Sherwood (34-11). Ryan Palmer makes a repeat appearance at 152 after a 39-5 season and is ranked fifth in the state. He will wrestle Pipestone Area’s Haden Milvihill (31-11). Finally, last year’s state runner up in Nick Slater will wrestle at 189 after a 40-4 season, ranked first in the state. He will take on Le Sueur-Henderson’s Peyton Tellijohn (23-11).