

The boys and girls wrestling teams closed out their 2024-25 season by hosting an awards ceremony on Monday, March 17.
The Boys Pinner award went to Tate Schlueter for his 22 pins. The closest Bulldog to Tate had 16 pins. Kyra Tostenson and Mackenzie Mueller each accrued 17 pins and shared the Girls Pinner honors.
The Most Valuable Wrestler, as voted on by the team, went to Tate Schlueter. Josh Schmeichel, head coach for the Bulldogs said, “Tate, a senior, struggled with injuries throughout the years. That, along with the concussion he suffered this year, prevented him from getting his 100 wins. He finished two shy at 98. “Even though a lot of his matches didn’t make it out of the first period this season, he still led the team in pins, takedowns, and four- point near falls.” Tate was the lone Milbank wrestler to place at State.
The Justin Maas Spirit Award went to Owen Fischer for his commitment, dedication, and hard work,” He also received the Senior award. Schemeichel said, “Owen was probably the most get- down- to-business wrestler on the team… Without injuries, or if he had been a little bigger sooner, he would have joined the 100 Win Club.” He finished nine wins short at 91. ”Owen battled through injuries and other things out on the mat and in the room, but he gave it his all 100 percent of the time just like wrestlers we had back in my time,” Schmeichel added.
Academic All-State honors were earned by Fischer and Joe French.
The Rookie of the Year award for the boys went to Tayson Tillma. “Tayson was strictly a JV wrestler, except for a couple of varsity matches last year. He finished this season with 19 wins, and of those wins 15 were falls and two were tech falls. Only two were decisions.” Schmeichel noted. As a varsity Bulldog, Tayson finished third in falls, second in takedowns with 40, and led in escapes with 27. He recorded 14 reversals, five two-point near falls, and six three-point near falls. “He is only a freshman, so there’s a lot to look forward to with him,” Schmeichel said.

The Rookie of the Year award for the girls went to Andrea Luna Sanchez. “This was Andrea’s first real year of wrestling. Throughout the season she, along with the rest of the girls, made big improvements,” said Schmeichel. “She is only a seventh grader, so we have five more years of growth ahead.”
The Most Improved award for the boys went to Andrew Karels. “Andrew was a JV middle school wrestler last year. This year, he became one of our better defensive wrestlers on his feet, and he became pretty tough to turn and/or pin. If he improves even half as much in the next three years as he did this year, he will become quite a force to be reckoned with,” Schmeichel added.
The Most Improved award for the girls went to Mackenzie Mueller. “Mackenzie just started wrestling last year, and she made huge improvements this year,” Schmeichel noted. “She had high hopes of making it to State this year, but came up a little short. With her determination I have no doubt that she will do what she needs to do to make it and place at State during the next three years.”

Jesse Schneck was the only senior on the team this year to reach the 100 mark. He finished with 111 wins. “He was one of the leaders on the team for multiple years,” Schmeichel said. “I could rely on him to help rile the troops up and help keep Winter and the other seniors in line. Schmeichel pointed out that Jesse remained fairly injury-free until this season, when he hurt his ribs. And said, “Jesse had a great wrestling career.”
Schmeichel also recapped Jayce Jonason’s tough senior season: Jayce dealt with mono halfway through the season and then came back, but sustained a concussion to end his season. “That was a tough way to end,” Schmeichel noted. “The one thing I personally think Jayce had on the rest of the seniors, was he was the best technician on his feet. When he shot and countered, he did things so smoothly and he looked really good. I just wish we could have had him all season to see where that would have gotten him.”
Schmeichel said Injuries and sickness were also a major part of Joe French’s wrestling career. In his sophomore year, Joe was forced to sit out the whole season. Last year, he dealt with a dislocated finger, and this year he ended up having mono. “For what he battled through, he was one heck of a wrestler,” Schmeichel said. “He finished his career with 85 wins, but if he wouldn’t have had to deal with what he did, there is no doubt he would have reached the 100 Club, too.”
Schmeichel commented to the crowd that Reese Rabe made one heck of a turn around at the end of the season, after he had struggled mid-season with mono. “He showed up when it mattered, and he finished off the season strong!”

Schmeichel also gave kudos to Oliver Korth for stepping in for Lawson Novy after Novy got hurt. “After taking most of his high school career off, Oliver was still one of the top heavyweights in the state. Oliver also brought in a fresh attitude during a time when we really needed it – during the January and February grind.”
Schmeichel thanked the parents and stat girls. He also thanked the coaches – Winter, Stemsrud, King, Schneck, and Fischer.
Submitted Photos: Top: Front- Owen, Tayson, Kyra, Mackenzie, Andrea. Back-Oliver, Jesse, Tate, Reese, Joe, Jayce.
Girls: Andrea Luna Sanchez, Kyra Tostenson, Mackenzie Mueller
Senior Picture: Oliver Korth, Jesse Schneck, Tate Schlueter, Reese Rabe, Joe French, Jayce Jonason, Owen Fischer.
Bottom: Boys Award Winners- Oliver Korth, Jesse Schneck, Tate Schlueter, Reese Rabe, Tayson Tillma, Joe French, Jayce Jonason, Owen Fischer. Not pictured: Andrew Karels.
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