Dozens of Northland athletes made the podium at the state individual wrestling tournament Saturday, March 1.
Five student-athletes from rural Northern Minnesota took home the gold.
Badger-Greenbush-Middle River/Tri-County sophomore Sarah Pulk defeated a previously unbeaten Apple Valley wrestler to earn her third state gold.
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley freshman Ella Henning won her second title by pinning her opponent in the final.
After winning with their team Thursday, Staples-Motley sophomore Caden Kramer and junior Colbe Tappe won their weight classes.
Grand Rapids junior Christian Jelle capped off an undefeated season with a win over Pequot Lakes-Pine River-Backus junior Parker Zutter to earn his second state title.
Four other Northlanders were runner-ups: Freshman Gage Bjerga and eighth grader Garrett Bjerga of Staples-Motley, sophomore Eli Roiko of United North Central and senior Maya Schmidt of Bemidji.
Student-athletes from the region made up just over 10% of medal winners. In total, 36 Northland wrestlers from 16 schools placed in the top six.
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— 02 Elora Wagner of Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie wrestles Audrey Rogotzke of Stillwater for the 148Girls championship.jpg
Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie’s Elora Wagner wrestles Stillwater Audrey Rogotzke for the Girls 148-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Caden Kramer of Staples-Motley wins the Class A 121 Pound State Championship.jpg
Staples-Motley's Caden Kramer wins the Class 1A state title at 114 pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Ariana Pickar of Brainerd wrestles Andrea Quinones of Apple Valley in Girls 124 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Brainerd's Ariana Pickar of wrestles Apple Valley's Andrea Quinones in Girls 124-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 04 Christian Jelle of Grand Rapids wrestles Parker Zutter of Pequot Lks-Pine River-B in Class AA 139 State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids' Christian Jelle wrestles Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus' Parker Zutter in Class AA 139-pounds for the state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 03 Caden Kramer of Staples-Motley wins the Class A 121 Pound State Championship.jpg
Staples-Motley's Caden Kramer wrestles Paynesville Area's Jamison Meagher for the Class 1A 121-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Gage Bjerga of Staples-Motley wrestles Miklo Hernandez of Pipestone Area in the Class A 121 pound State Championships.jpg
Staples-Motley's Gage Bjerga wrestles Pipestone Area's Miklo Hernandez for the Class 1A 121-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Garrett Bjerga of Staples-Motley wrestles Liam Sommer of Kenyon-Wanamingo for the Class A 107 Pound State Championship.jpg
Staples-Motley's Garrett Bjerga wrestles Kenyon-Wanamingo's Liam Sommer for the Class 1A 107-pounds state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Bailey Peichel of Frazee wrestles Masyn Patrick of Holdingford for the 145A championship.jpg
Frazee's Bailey Peichel wrestles Holdingford's Masyn Patrick for the 145-pound Class A championship match at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Belle Suchta of Shakopee wrestles Maya Schmidt of Bemidji in the 170Girls match.jpg
Shakopee's Belle Suchta wrestles Bemidji's Maya Schmidt in the girls 170-pound match at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Elora Wagner of Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie wrestles Audrey Rogotzke of Stillwater for the 148Girls championship.jpg
Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie's Elora Wagner wrestles Stillwater's Audrey Rogotzke for the girls 148-pound championship match at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Destan Skelly of Grand Rapids in a match against Carter Gmahl of Mora in Class AA 172 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids's Destan Skelly in a match against Mora's Carter Gmahl in Class AA 172-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Christian Jelle of Grand Rapids celebrates after winning Class AA 139 State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids' Christian Jelle of celebrates after winning the Class AA 139-pound state championships at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Gage Weber of Detroit Lakes wrestles Aiden Burns of Caledonia-Houston in Class AA 114 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Detroit Lakes' Gage Weber wrestles Caledonia-Houston Aiden Burns in Class AA 114-pounds on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Gage Bjerga of Staples-Motley wrestles Miklo Hernandez of Pipestone Area for the Class A 121 pound State Championship.jpg
Staples-Motley's Gage Bjerga wrestles Pipestone Area's Miklo Hernandez for the Class 1A 121-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Kevin Dailey of United North Central Warriors wins his match against Nick Becker of Eden Valley-Watkins in Class A 285 Pounds..jpg
United North Central Warriors' Kevin Dailey wins his match against Eden Valley-Watkins' Nick Becker in Class 1A 285-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Ian Larrabee of Hibbing wrestles Sawyer Schendel of Milaca-Faith Christian in Class AA 285 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Hibbing's Ian Larrabee wrestles Milaca-Faith Christian's Sawyer Schendel in Class AA 285-pound at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Christian Jelle of Grand Rapids Parker Zutter of Pequot Lks-Pine River-B in Class AA 139 State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids' Christian Jelle wrestles Pequot Lakes-Pine River's Parker Zutter for the championship title in Class AA 139-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Garrett Bjerga of Staples-Motley wrestles Liam Sommer of Kenyon-Wanamingo for the Class A 107 Pound State Championship.jpg
Staples-Motley's Garrett Bjerga wrestles Kenyon-Wanamingo's Liam Sommer for the Class 1A 107-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Taylor Merschman of Bemidji wrestles Emery Soukup of Orono in Girls 100 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Bemidji's Taylor Merschman wrestles Orono's Emery Soukup in Girls 100-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Lane Fruechte of Pipestone wrestles Adam Grabow of Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale-Parkers Prairie in Class A 107 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Pipestone's Lane Fruechte wrestles Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie’s Adam Grabow in Class 1A 107-pound at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Bailey Peichel of Frazee wrestles Masyn Patrick of Holdingford for the 145A championship.jpg
Frazee's Bailey Peichel wrestles Holdingford's Masyn Patrick for the Class 1A 145-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Zytavius Williams of Eden Prairie in a match against Nick Strand of Bemidji in Class AA 139 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Eden Prairie's Zytavius Williams wrestles Bemidji 's Nick Strand for third place in Class AA 139-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Warren Ritter of Grand Rapids wins his match against Henry Dohnalik of La Crescent-Hokah and places 5th in Class AA 152 pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids' Warren Ritter wins his match against La Crescent-Hokah's Henry Dohnalik placing fifth in Class AA 152-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Caden Kramer of Staples-Motley wins the Class A 121 Pound State Championship.jpg
Staples-Motley Caden Kramer wrestles Paynesville Area's Jamison Meagher the Class 1A 121-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Belle Suchta of Shakopee wrestles Maya Schmidt of Bemidji in the 170Girls match.jpg
Shakopee's Belle Suchta wrestles Bemidji's Maya Schmidt for the Girls 170-pounds state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Christian Jelle of Grand Rapids celebrates after winning Class AA 139 State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids' Christian Jelle celebrates after winning Class AA 139-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 02 Taylor Merschman of Bemidji with her coaches during a break during her match in Girls 100 Pounds at the State Championships.jpg
Bemidji's Taylor Merschman checks in with her coaches in a break during the Girls 100-pounds match at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
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— 01 Bemidji's Easton Dircks wrestles St. Thomas Academy’s Connor Flanagan in Class AAA 145-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Bemidji's Easton Dircks wrestles St. Thomas Academy’s Connor Flanagan in Class AAA 145-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Bemidji's Gabriel Morin wrestles St. Michael-Albertville’s Brody Bergeron in Class AAA 127-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Bemidji's Gabriel Morin wrestles St. Michael-Albertville’s Brody Bergeron in Class AAA 127-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Bemidji's Gavin Osborn wrestles Maple Grove's Conner Peterson in Class AAA 133-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Bemidji's Gavin Osborn wrestles Maple Grove's Conner Peterson in Class AAA 133-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Park Rapids' Dandre Johnson during a break in Class AA 215-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Park Rapids' Dandre Johnson during a break in Class AA 215-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 02 Park Rapids' Dandre Johnson wrestles Marshalls' Gavin Schaefer in Class AA 215-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Park Rapids' Dandre Johnson wrestles Marshalls' Gavin Schaefer in Class AA 215-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Bemidji's Shane Carlson wrestles Mounds View's Joseph Muhlstein in Class AAA 189-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Bemidji's Shane Carlson wrestles Mounds View's Joseph Muhlstein in Class AAA 189-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Brainerd's Ariana Pickar wrestles Sauk Center-Melrose's Afton Vogt in Girls 124-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.jpg
Brainerd's Ariana Pickar wrestles Sauk Center-Melrose's Afton Vogt in Girls 124-pounds match at MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Contributed
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Bemidji High School | Facebook
Bemidji High School's mock trial team placed seventh of 16 schools at the state tournament in St. Paul. Beltrami judges will honor them with a reception on March 20, 2025.
