When reading the following team stats, then award winners and finally individual statistics keep one thing in mind. This team is indeed good, in fact, it is unfair to talk Knight wrestling as individual seasonal teams. This group has evolved into a program. The spectrum of Knight wrestling goes far beyond the actual in season wrestling and practice room. This is a family unit that works incredibly hard. The off-season training, wrestling, camps and clinics are no longer completed by a few, it is an expectation of the program. It has made a difference, but with saying that will only last as long as it stays active.

The 2022 season was indeed spectacular. The team went 25-5, they were runners up at the Grant County Tournament, won the Devils Lake Tournament, placed 14th at the Rumble on the Red, won the Park Region Conference Dual Title and conference meet. The Knights won the Dr. Busian Invite in Morris and then blasted their way through Section 6A claiming the championship and then made a deep run at state which culminated in securing a 3rd place finish to end the season.

These are a few numbers that tell the story of how it happened. There were a total of 731 matches wrestled. The Knights won 66% of those by securing victories in 480 of them. They did not just win the matches, they did so by earning bonus points in 77% of the matches won. This gave the Knights a total point score difference of 2,502 to 1,141. That is a large margin. The team scores early in their matches. They posted 50% of their total points earned in the first period alone. To get to all these points the Knights have become take down machines. The margin of takes downs for and against was 823 to 566. Once they have someone down, as mentioned they capitalize as they pinned their opponents 267 times and gave up just 109 falls. This is dominant wrestling.

Coaching awards earned this season included: Head Coach Brandon Gruchow received both conference and section Coach of the Year. Troy Lohse was awarded Section 6A Assistant Coach of the Year.

The Knights are not just solid on the mat, they also excel in the classroom. The state tournament team captured the MWCA Gold Standard Award by putting together a collective GPA of 3.675. These are great students! Colton Lindquist was recognized as an MWCA All-State Recipient.

Spotlight on Scholarship wrestlers and managers who maintained a GPA of 3.0 of more included: Caleb Birdsall, Jeremy Blascyk, Justin Blascyk, Terina Blascyk, Gavin Flint, Hunter Gruchow, Ashton Danner, Colton Lindquist, Anthony Sykora, Tyler Stone, Blake Flint, Beau Robinson, Adam Lohse, Carter Lohse, Kjersten Nibbe, Will Rustan, Annika Brunkow, Reubens Swanson, Shad Swanson, Jaime Johnson, Owen Gruchow, Brody Brunkow, Logon Long, Sam Olson, Dylan Johnson, Dierk Goeden & Lucea Wales.

Managers for the Knight Wrestling Team included: Lucy Bertrand, Terina Blascyk, Lucea Wales, Jaime Johnson, Annika Brunkow and Kjersten Nibbe. Kjersten earned Manager of the Year.

JV Most Valuable Wrestler: Kolby Peters

JV Hardest Worker: Kolby Peters

JV Most Improved: Logon Long

Varsity Letter Winners: Tyler Stone, Logon Long, Owen Gruchow, Jeremy Blascyk, Will Rustan, Carter Lohse, Mason Richter, Sam Olson, Ezekiel Sieckert, Shad Swanson, Adam Lohse, Beau Robinson, Hunter Gruchow, Justin Blascyk, Ashton Danner, Colton Lindquist, Dierk Goeden, Solomon Wales, Reubens Swanson and Anthony Sykora.

MWCA 25 Pin Awards (career): Beau Robinson 32, Owen Gruchow 28.

MWCA 50 Pin Awards (career): Adam Lohse 66, Hunter Gruchow 52, Colton Lindquist 65.

MWCA 75 Win Awards (career): Reubens Swanson 95, Hunter Gruchow 75, Adam Lohse 84, Solomon Wales 80, Ashton Danner 78.

MWCA 100 Win Award (career): Colton Lindquist 125.

MWCA 150 Win (career): Anthony Sykora 175.

The team had 8 qualifiers to the state tournament: Hunter Gruchow, Solomon Wales, Reubens Swanson, Ashton Danner, Anthony Sykora, Beau Robinson, Will Rustan and Colton Lindquist. Owen and Anthony were named for their efforts to the Wells Fargo All Tournament Team during the dual portion of state wrestling. The Knights had two placing medalists (both of which whom earn all state honors), Hunter Gruchow earned 6th and Anthony Sykora wrestled his way to a state championship.

Perfect Attendance in the practice room: Owen Gruchow, Hunter Gruchow, Adam Lohse, Kolby Peters, Will Rustan, Justin Blascyk, Anthony Sykora, Ashton Danner, Ezekiel Sieckert.

Varsity Most Improved: Will Rustan

Rookie of the Year: Owen Gruchow

Knights Wrestling Team Spirit Award: Jeremy Blascyk

Varsity Hardest Worker: Hunter Gruchow

Varsity Most Exciting Wrestler: Anthony Sykora

Varsity Most Valuable Wrestler: Anthony Sykora

Seniors, thank you for your years of service and dedication to the program: Shad Swanson, Reubens Swanson, Ashton Danner, Colton Lindquist, Lucy Bertrand, and Kjersten Nibbe.

Individual Stat Leaders (top 5 for each category):

Wins: 1.Anthony Sykora 47, 2. Hunter Gruchow 45, 3. Reubens Swanson 44, 4. Colton Lindquist 40, 5. Solomon Wales 37.

Win Percentage: 1. Anthony Sykora .903, 2. Reubens Swanson .814, 3. Colton Lindquist .784, 4. Hunter Gruchow .762, 5. Solomon Wales .755.

Falls: 1. Hunter Gruchow 30, 2. Adam Lohse 28, 3. Owen Gruchow 28, 4. Anthony Sykora 22, 5. Solomon Wales 22.

Team Points: 1. Anthony Sykora 243, 2. Hunter Gruchow 240, 3. Reubens Swanson 214, 4. Colton Lindquist 202, 5. Adam Lohse 200.

Take Downs: 1. Reubens Swanson 141, 2. Anthony Sykora 102, 3. Hunter Gruchow 94, 4. Owen Gruchow 73, 5. Colton Lindquist 56.

Total Near Falls: 1. Anthony Sykora 128, 2. Solomon Wales 78, 3. Hunter Gruchow 75, 4. Reubens Swanson 67, 5. Adam Lohse 60.

Escapes: 1. Hunter Gruchow 41, 2. Ashton Danner 39, 3. Colton Lindquist 32, 4. Reubens Swanson 26, 5. Jeremy Blascyk and Solomon Wales each with 25.

Reversals: 1. Owen Gruchow 21, 2. Adam Lohse 20, 3. Reubens Swanson 15, 4. Beau Robinson 12, 5. Hunter Gruchow 8.