Wrestling: Optimism reigns in Tiger camp

2103 state champion Taylor Venz

Coach Chad Olson couldn't wait for the start of the 2013-14 mat season and considering the make-up of his veteran team, why not?

The Tigers return no less than 13 contributors from last year's team that overcame injury and illness to send four individuals to the state meet. One, then freshman Taylor Venz, came home with a state title and another, freshman Jamin LeDuc, returned with a sixth place medal.

A strong senior class provides seven of the 13 returnees, including Brian Caravantes (126/132), Jake Gabbard (113/120), Joe Hoeve (170/182), Joe Liden (152/160), Chris McCue (182/195), Godfrey Mpetey (220/285)  and Jake Rudeen (160/170).

Other veterans include juniors Kyle Benjamin (138/145), Brayden Chapman (138), Matt Rustad (132) and John Walz (152) and sophomores Venz and LeDuc.

Benjamin and Hoeve joined Venz and LaDuc at the Class AA meet last season.

Jamin LeDuc sixth place finisher at state last year (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Sophomore Victor Gliva (106) and and ninth-grader Skyler Raymond (113) also figure to compete for varsity mat time this winter.

Olson was not not shy in assessing his team's outlook for the 2013-14 season.

"We are going to be good this season," he said. "It has been a slow build, but this should be our year.

"We have 13 starters back from last year's team, great leadership and all four state entrants from last year. We will be able to fill out a full line-up, something we haven't been able to do. We have 50 wrestlers in the program."

Olson said the only obstacle is one over which he has little control.

The question is, he said. "Can we stay healthy?...Confidence will also be a factor."

Joe Hoeve state meet qualifier last season (photo by Jim Lindquist)

December will provide no shortage of confidence building opportunities. In the days leading up to the holidays, the Tigers go toe-to-toe with Section 1AAA contender Hastings, compete in an invitational meet at Prior Lake full of state-rated teams, and then head to a talent-rich 32-team meet in Rochester. Between Christmas and New Year's they travel to Fargo for the 66-team multi-state Rumble on the Red.

The Missota Conference has only four schools offering wrestling, but two of them, New Prague and Shakopee are state-ranked.

"We will compete for the conference title," Olson predicted.

As for the post-season, the Tigers move back to Section 1AA, a move that Olson said will benefit his team.

"We should be one of the top three teams," he said. "We will see how close we are when we go up against Hastings on Dec. 6." Perennial power Owatonna should also be a contender in the section race.

Jon Lund, Doug Quick and Aaron Kukowski will assist Olson this season with Lance Offermann, Steve Gliva and Pat Wojociechowski working with the middle school grapplers.

The Tigers open their 2013-14 campaign Thursday, Dec. 5, with a home meet against Richfield. The following night they host the early season showdown with Hastings.

Kyle Benjamin state meet qualifier in 2013 (photo by Jim Lindquist)