It was another successful season on and off the mat for the Blue Earth Area wrestling team.

The Bucs for the second straight year won the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association state academic Class A team title.

BEA also had the highest team grade-point-average among the three classes with a 3.92.

In Class AA, New London-Spicer posted a 3.88 GPA and Eastview was the Class AAA champions with 3.74.

“I’m really proud of them. Two years in a row and it’s not just Class A. We’ve got some pretty smart boys,” says head coach Randy Wirtjes.

On the mat, the Bucs finished with an overall record of 23-5.

They won the South Central Conference (SCC) title with a 5-0 dual meet record and also took first place in the SCC tournament.

The Bucs had one wrestler topping the 30-win mark and seven others winning more than 20 matches.

Senior Carter Hanson led the way with a 36-7 record.

He placed second in the SCC and Section meets at 160 pounds and took home the sixth-place medal at the State individual tournament.

Hanson finished his career with 157 wins, 47 losses to rank him No. 4 on the all-time records list.

He led the team in two offensive categories with 84 near falls and 176 team points, and was second in takedowns with 78.

Junior 195-pounder Kysten Zierke was 28-2, winning the silver medal at the State Meet. He also won the SCC and Section titles.

Zierke also picked up his 76th career win and has 33 losses.

He had the second most pins on the team with 17.

Junior Gus Phillips, also a State qualifier, posted a 29-8 record.

He took third place at 170 pounds in the SCC Meet and finished second in the Section individual tournament. His career mark stands at 89 wins, 76 losses.

Phillips was third in team points with 150.

David Franta won 29 matches and lost nine times, and upped his career mark to 75-49.

The Buc junior was third at 152 pounds in the SCC Meet and third at Section.

Franta led the team in takedowns with 129.

Senior Jesse Alleven was 28-14 at 138 pounds, while sophomore Martin Granados was 28-7 at heavyweight.

Alleven ended his career with a 75-66 record.

This year he won the SCC title and took third at Section. He was second on the team in near falls with 39.

Granados led the team in pins with 19 and was second in team points with 160. He took second the conference tournament and third at Section.

Sophomore Luke Schavey went 25-13 at 145 pounds and won the SCC title.

Schavey was third in takedowns with 55.

Sophomore Mike Ankeny had 23 wins and 16 losses. He finished second in the conference meet at 132 pounds and was third at the Section Meet.

He had the third-most pins on the squad with 15.

Other statistic leaders:

Record:

113: Camden Bowers, 19-19.

126: Jordan Stelter, 19-19.

182: Chris Ramos, 18-17.

Takedowns:

Alleven, 54; Phillips, 49; Zierke, 42.

Falls:

Alleven, 14; Phillips, 13; Stelter, 11; Bowers, 10; Franta, 10; Hanson, 9.

Near falls:

Stelter, 31; Phillips, 28.

Team points:

Zierke, 144; Alleven, 143; Franta, 141.

Quickest fall:

Hanson, :06 seconds; Wyatt Tungland, :14; Phillips, :20; Micah Twedt, :20; Zierke, :22; Alleven, :23; Matt Goodrich, 23; Granados, :23.

Most Improved JV:

Kolt Gorg.

Most Improved Varsity:

Schavey.

Iron Man Award:

Hanson

Dick Boran Award:

Franta.

Quickest fall:

Hanson, :06.

Most falls:

Granados, 19.

Most takedowns:

Franta, 129.

Most team points:

Hanson, 176,

Most near falls:

Hanson, 84.