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.