The Winter sports season is over, and here at KRWC we will once again name the best of the best from the Wright County Area in Winter sports. The focus today will be on Girls and Boys Wrestling . Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches on a great winter sports season.
Girls Wrestling
Wrestler of the year: Abby Gindele, Annandale/Maple Lake. In 2023 Abby became the first female to make state in Maple Lake history and finished 4th. In 2025 Gindele wrestled at 118 pounds and came in 3rd. This season Gindele moved up to 124 pounds and went 22-2 and once again reached the state tournament. In her first two matches she won by fall, and advanced to the championship with a 5-2 decision. In the finals Gindele defeated Ellie Westerman from Eagan, 6-3 to take home the first state championship in girls Wrestling for Annandale/Maple Lake.
Abby Gindele, above in black, won the state championship at 124 pounds this March at the Girls State Wrestling tournament.
Coach of the year: Emily Shilson, STMA. Shilson was a six-time state champion in high school, three-time world champion, and youth Olympic champion, and now she is our 2026 KRWC Girls Wrestling Coach of the year. Shilson who started her coaching career as an assistant at STMA, and then became the head coach, had three wrestlers finish in the top four at their weight classes at the 2026 State Wrestling Tournament. It looks like Shilson has the Knights going in the same direction as the boys team, which means bad news for the rest of the state.
Emily Shilson, above, coaching at the 2026 Girls State Wrestling Tournament.
Team of the Year: STMA, and Monticello. We have a tie! For STMA, Ava Schultz finished 3rd at 112, Emma Antoni was second at 142, and Hailey Goth was fourth at 170. For Monticello, Phoebe Morris was 4th and 106 and Rose Verrett was second at 112. Both these programs have been very strong since the beginning of sanctioned wrestling and with both teams finishing strong at state, bot these programs are in good hands.
Rose Verrett, above, finished second at state at 112 pounds.
Boys Wrestling.
Wrestler of the Year: Garrett Bauer, Monticello. At this time last year Garrett Bauer had never wrestled at the high school level. This winter, he can call himself a state champion, and our KRWC Wrestler of the year. Bauer dominated on the gridiron this season for Monticello, rushing for 618 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns on offense, while leading the Magic football team with 113 tackles. This winter he decided to pick up wrestling, and went 35-3 during the season and reached the state tournament, he wasn’t done! Bauer reached the state final and then defeated Sawyer Joseweski from Rogers, 6-1 in the final to complete an improbable season for Bauer and the Magic.
Garrett Bauer, above, traded in his football pads after the season, and picked up wrestling. That went well, as he won the 285 Class AAA state championship.
Coach of the Year: Josh Joriman, STMA. So, let’s recap. The Knights won their section for the 33rd time in 34 years, advanced eleven wrestlers to the individual state tournament, received the #1 seed going into state, won their third straight Class AAA state championship, and twelfth overall, and oh ya, enter next year on a 72-match winning streak, and looking for a fourth straight state championship. This STMA Wrestling program isn’t just a dominating program in the state, it’s a dynasty and it doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon, and this run away train is conducted by Joriman.
Josh Joriman, above, hugs one of his wrestlers as STMA won the team title over Shakopee, their third straight Class AAA title.
Team of the Year: STMA Knights. The Knights won their third straight AAA state championship in wrestling, by defeating #3 seed Shakopee. Individually the Knights sent eleven wrestlers to state, and produced four state champions in Jackson Thorn 107, Landon Thoennes, 114, Brody Bergeron, 133 and Lincoln Robideau at 145. Meanwhile Grant Bergeron finished second at 121, John Murphy was second at 189, and Chase Mills finished 4th at 139.
Lincoln Robideau, above, was one of four individual state champions in AAA for STMA this winter.
