Minnesota Wrestlers Shine at Heartland Duals, Securing Championship Titles, and Top Finishes

(April 1, 2024) - The Heartland Duals, renowned as the premier folkstyle national duals for elementary and middle school wrestlers, witnessed an impressive display of talent from Minnesota's young athletes this past weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa. MN/USA Wrestling proudly sent 3 boy’s teams and 2 girls teams to compete, with remarkable success across divisions.

The highlight of the tournament came from the MN Maroon elementary team, who dominated their way to the championship title with a flawless 7-0 record. Their journey to victory included commanding victories over formidable opponents, such as their impressive 64-16 win against Kansas and a decisive 47-29 triumph over Oklahoma Elite in the championship finals.

Not to be outdone, the MN Gold elementary team showcased resilience and skill, finishing in 5th place with a commendable 6-1 record. Despite a setback against Oklahoma Elite in the quarterfinals, they bounced back with impressive victories over Missouri and Nebraska Black, showcasing their determination and competitive spirit.

In the girl’s division, both MN Storm Blue and MN Storm Red demonstrated their strength and competitiveness on the mats. MN Storm Blue secured a 5th place finish with four dual meet wins, while MN Storm Red showcased their talent with a victory over North Dakota in pool action, finishing 15th overall.

The middle school team also had a strong showing, starting with a stellar 4-0 record on day one. Although they faced a tough loss to Indiana in the quarterfinals, their performance throughout the tournament showcased their potential and determination.

Minnesota had 10 individuals who were recognized as All-Americans for going undefeated in 6 or more matches with 6 on the elementary teams and 4 on the middle school team.  They were Jaxon Cardinal, Wiley Derby, Jacob Graber, Hunter Peterson, Grayson Schroeder, Owen Parish, Tyson Newman, Henrik Sperlazza, Kinsley Kothenbeutel, and Freyda Nelson.  In addition, the boys team also had 14 others with just one loss in the 6+ matches.   The girls had 6 others with just one loss in the tournament.

 The overall individual records by boy’s teams were:

• MN Marron (Elem) 90-18
• MN Gold (Elem) 77-42
• MN Gold (MS) 82-30
• Combined 249-92 for a winning percentage of .730

The overall individual records by girl’s teams were:

• MN Storm Blue (Girls) 75-44
• MN Storm Red (Girls) 38-64

"We are incredibly proud of all our competitors, coaches, and parent volunteers who made this trip a memorable experience," said a spokesperson for MN/USA Wrestling. "The opportunity to compete against some of the best in the country in a team dual meet format is invaluable for our young wrestlers."

Looking ahead, MN/USA Wrestling invites aspiring wrestlers to participate in upcoming national dual meet opportunities, including the FREECO Elementary National Duals in Omaha, the 14U Schoolboy Duals in Pennsylvania, and the 14U Girls Duals in Indiana. More information on these events and other wrestling opportunities can be found at mnusawrestling.org.

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