Northern Minnesota will be well-represented at the State High School League's 2025 state wrestling tournament Feb. 27-Mar. 1 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Four teams qualified for the the tournament: Bemidji (Class AAA), Grand Rapids (AA) and Staples-Motley and United North Central, the co-op of Sebeka and Menahga (A).
One team from each section competes in a single elimination dual meet team tournament.
UNC and No. 2 Staples-Motley will kick off the tournament, facing each other at 9 a.m. Thursday. Both teams are on dual-meet winning streaks: Staples-Motley has won 12-straight, UNC eight.
No. 5 Bemidji will wrestle No. 4 Albert Lea Area at the same time. Grand Rapids will take on No. 3 Simley at 11 a.m. This is Rapids' first tournament appearance since 2018.
The team championships are set for 7 p.m.
The individual tournament will follow on Friday and Saturday. Boys will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, with consolation matches, semifinals and championships on Saturday. The girls matches will all be Saturday.
Seventy-three wrestlers from 24 schools across the region qualified for the tournament. The top two from each of the 13 weight classes from each section advanced.
Staples-Motley freshman Gage Bjerga was the 107-pound champion last year; this year he's competing at 121.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased at mshsl.org/tickets. The tournament will be streamed at nspn.tv; a subscription is required.
Individual and team brackets and the full schedule are also available at mshsl.org.
