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Wrestling: Staples-Motley, UNC return to state, joined by Brainerd

KAXE
Published February 23, 2026 at 2:27 PM CST
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
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.

Over 100 student-athletes from rural Northern Minnesota will wrestle at the 2026 state tournament in St. Paul, with a strong representation from the north-central region.

ST. PAUL — Three north-central Minnesota wrestling teams will compete at the state tournament Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 25-28, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.

The defending Class A champions Staples-Motley earned the top seed this year. The Cardinals are making their third-straight appearance at the state tourney and were runners-up in 2024.

No. 4 United North Central, the cooperative between Sebeka and Menahga, is making its fifth straight tourney appearance. The Warriors were the Class A consolation runners-up last year.

Unranked Brainerd (Class 3A) is advancing to the tourney for the first time since 1989, when the Warriors were the state runners-up.

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The three teams also advanced 30 wrestlers individually, including boys and girls. They’ll be joined by another 75 individual qualifiers from the rural Northland, representing another 21 teams.

Among them are four defending state champions: Badger-Greenbush-Middle River/Tri-County junior Sarah Pulk, Grand Rapids senior Christian Jelle, Staples-Motley junior Caden Kramer and senior Colbe Tappe.

The top team from each section advances to the state tournament, as do the top two in each section from each of the 13 weight classes.

The tourney begins with the team quarterfinals and semifinals on Wednesday. Teams compete in a single elimination dual meet, with the winner advancing to the next round.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, unranked Brainerd will face No. 1 St. Michael-Albertville. At 6 p.m., No. 1 Staples-Motley will take on unranked Kenyon-Wanamingo, and No. 4 UNC will take on No. 5 Jackson County Central.

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Team championships, consolation final and third place matches will be Thursday afternoon. The individual competition starts Thursday morning.

A full schedule is available from the Minnesota State High School League, and the spectator guide includes details for in-person attendance. All matches will be streamed on NSPN; a subscription is required.

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