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Fairmont/Martin County West Red Bulls wrestlers ready to hit the mat

The Fairmont/Martin County West Red Bulls may have lost four wrestlers, but they’re getting back quite a bit of talent and experience. With four returning state qualifiers and the looming memory of getting to the Section 3AA semifinals, the Red Bulls have their sights set on going all the way to the state meet.

“That would be the ultimate goal is to get our team to state, and I think we have a nice group. We have a very competitive group,” Red Bulls head coach Adam Williamson said. “With the experience we bring back from last year, we have a really good shot at that.”

Eighth grader Jaxson Rohman, sophomores Zac Ringnell and Jordan Wolter and junior Collin Steuber reached the state tournament individually and are back to compete for Fairmont/Martin County West. Having those four back ups the ante on the expectations Williamson and his coaching staff have for the team.

“Based on how we finished last year and how many guys we have coming back, we set very high goals and expectations for our team,” Williamson said. “We definitely want to get back to the team section tournament.”

The Red Bulls lost to eventual section champions Wabasso/Red Rock Central, 34-29, in the section semifinals last season. This year, however,

Williamson believes Wabasso/Red Rock Central, along with Quad County and Worthington, will be his team’s biggest competition.

“Last year, we were the final four and it could be very similar to that this year. I see us on the doorstep of reaching the finals and maybe getting that next step to the state tournament as well,” Williamson said.

The Red Bulls will have to get there without heavyweights Mark Washa, Luis Figueroa and Adrian Moscoffian, who all graduated last spring.

“You can’t really replace them. You just hope you have kids in the upper weight class that can go out there and compete for us,” Williamson said.  “Our upper weights will be a little inexperienced, but (we have) some very athletic, strong kids that are kind of new to the sport, but yet, are picking it up very quickly and looking good so far.”

Chris Ettesvold also graduated, leaving a vacancy at the 126-pound weight class. On the bright side, though, the Red Bulls have wrestlers ready to take the spot.

“That’ll be very competitive there to fill his open spot at 126,” Williamson said. “We definitely have some young up-and-coming wrestlers that are trying to stake their claim as a top-knotch elite wrestler in the area.”

Two of those wrestlers are sophomore Mario Maldonado, who Williamson said has a shot at being a state qualifier this year, and Payton Anderson. Though Anderson is only a freshman, he has varsity experience and is expected to be competitive for the Red Bulls.

“All throughout our lineup, I see our experience will lead us to victories, and these young, up-and-coming wrestlers will fill in nicely in our other weight classes,” Williamson added.

Fairmont/Martin County West will get its first test right away at the Blue Earth Area Invite at 10 a.m. today in Blue Earth.

Madelia/Truman/Martin Luther also will compete in the nine-team tournament. How the Red Bulls fare in their season-opening invite will be a good early indicator of the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s the start of the year, so we’re just looking for a good solid start with competing very highly and hopefully, for a team title there, too,” Williamson said. “It definitely will show us some things that we need to work on, whether it’s conditioning or different situational things with wrestling.”

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