By the dozen: 12 Minnesota high school wrestling figures with big deeds
Eight have already won national championships, and four recently set school records.
January 12, 2023 at 10:52PM
![Hastings' Skylar Little Soldier, right, wrestles Bemidji's Kylie Donat in the 132lb final during the Minnesota State High School girls Wrestling Championships Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Little Soldier won with a pin. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/OTUG3BB4O422TCIN3IHTBPPROQ.jpg?&w=712)
Alex Braun, Woodbury: A junior ranked No. 1 at 138 pounds in Class 3A, Braun won at USA Nationals in 16U at 132 pounds in the folkstyle category.
Bryce Burkett, Watertown-Mayer: A sophomore ranked No. 2 at 170 in Class 2A, he won the 16U Greco-Roman championship at 170 pounds at USA Nationals last spring.
Zach Hanson, Lakeville North: The defending Class 3A 145-pound champ and current No. 1 at 152, Hanson won 16U titles at USA Nationals in 2021 at 132 pounds in Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Brad Little, Woodbury: A sophomore, he won the 16U folkstyle category at USA Nationals. He is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A at 152.
Skylar Little Soldier, Hastings: A Hastings junior who won the 132-pound bracket at the first girls competition at the MSHSL state meet last year, Little Soldier won 16U 127-pound titles at nationals in 2021 and 2022
Max McEnelly, Waconia: A senior and a three-time MSHSL state champion, McEnelly won at USA Nationals in 16U 195-pound freestyle in 2021.
Gavin Nelson, Simley: A future Gophers wrestler, Simley won at USA Nationals in 2019, taking the 16U 170-pound title in Greco-Roman.
Ella Pagel, Northfield: The defending girls 164-pound champion, Pagel won 16U championships at 164 pounds in 2021 and 2022.
Four with fresh school records
Thomas Dineen, Benson: The record — 171 victories. A senior, he is ranked No. 1 at 195 in Class 1A.
Zak McPhee, Proctor/Hermantown: The record — 166 victories. McPhee, a junior who is 21-0 this season, has 96 pins in his career. He is ranked third at 182 pounds in Class 2A by The Guillotine.
Davin Rose, Morris Area/Hancock/Chokio-Alberta: The record — 187 victories. A senior, he is ranked fourth at 138 pounds in Class 2A.
Adam Williamson, Fairmont/Martin County West: The record — 185 coaching victories.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
