The All-Area wrestling team
Published 12:00 am Sunday, March 28, 1999
For a glimpse of the future and current stars of high school wrestling, look no further than the The Austin Daily Herald All-Area wrestling team.
Sunday, March 08, 1999
For a glimpse of the future and current stars of high school wrestling, look no further than the The Austin Daily Herald All-Area wrestling team.
The team is features all nine state tournament participants and a representative from every wrestling team. Eight of the nine wrestlers selected will back next year to provide leadership and a foundation for their teams.
Name: Brian Parlin
School: Pacelli
Team: Packers
Grade: Senior
Weight class: 135
Record: 30-6
Accomplishments: Set new school records for career takedowns (497), nearfalls (117), and a new standard for takedowns in a season (164). Named All-Big Nine for fourth time in five years. State qualifier for the third time
Coach’s comment: "Brian has been our go-to guy for five years," Austin coach Bill Kinney said. "He’s been someone we’ve always counted on for a win. It’s really hard to graduate a wrestler who could win night in night out."
Name: Mike Cunningham
School: Austin
Team: Packers
Grade: Junior
Weight class: 135
Record: 33-7
Accomplishments: Finished third in his first trip to state tournament to earn All-State honors to go with second-straight All-Big Nine season. Set new school record for pins (23) and first takedowns (34) in a season. 28 wins were by 8 points our more.
Coach’s comment: "Mike is a very physical and aggressive wrestler," Kinney said. "He really solidified the middle part of our lineup."
Name: T. J. Parlin
School: Pacelli
Team: Packers
Grade: 7th grade
Weight class: 103
Record: 10-3
Accomplishments: Battled fourth seed at section tournament to earn first trip to the state tournament.
Coach’s comment: "I wasn’t really surprised by T. J.’s success, but it was still a pleasant surprise," Kinney said.
Name: Brent Mees
School: Southland
Team: Rebels
Grade: Junior
Weight class: 119
Record: 32-7
Accomplishments: Finished fourth in his first trip to the state tournament.
Coach’s comment: "He always practiced and ran hard," Southland coach Bill Feuchtenberger said.
Name: Derrick Klocke
School: Hayfield
Team: Vikings
Grade: Junior
Weight class: 119
Accomplishments: Finished second in the state a year after failing to place in his first trip to the state tournament. Earned second straight all-conference honor
Coach’s comment: "He’s very aggressive and a good leader" Hayfield coach Brian Klocke said.
Name: Thad Pike
School: Hayfield
Team: Vikings
Grade: Junior
Weight class: 135
Record: 32-3
Accomplishments: Finished third in his third trip to the state tournament
Coach’s comment: "He really likes to go for the take downs," Klocke said.
Name: Clint Hogdon
School: LeRoy-Ostrander
Team: Bulldogs
Grade: Junior
Weight class: 160
Accomplishments: Finished sixth in his second appearance at the state tournament.
Name: Mitch Bunne
School: Grand Meadow
Team: Bulldogs
Grade: Sophomore
Weight class: 125
Accomplishments: Made first trip to the state tournament
Name: Ryan Klemmensen
School: Blooming Prairie
Team: Gophers
Grade: freshman
Weight class: 103
Record: 26-8
Accomplishments: Blooming Prairie’s lone representative at the state tournament. Won the title at the Montgomery Tournament. Finished runner-up at the USC, Hayfield and the Class A Section Tournaments.
Coach’s comment: "It was nice to have an underclassman at State," Blooming Prairie coach Chad Gimble said. "There will be a lot of excitement for Ryan next year."
Honorable Mention: Austin’s Scott Miller (22-8), Brian Hiemer (23-10), Joe Cunningham (24-9), who all earned Big Nine honors. Heimer and teammate Chad Mentel (26-9) were both one match away from a trip to the state tournament. All-Gopher Conference member Tim Schulnd (23-8) of Blooming Prairie had a strong year as well.