Fier named MVP at wrestling banquet

Several individual wrestlers were honored Saturday during the Minneota Wrestling Banquet held at the Heritage Event Center in rural Taunton.
The five individual state entrants -- freshman Adam DeVlaeminck, sophomore Eli Gruenes, and seniors Peyton Gillund, Zack Fier and Hudson Scholten were each recognized.
Zack Fier, who finished fourth in the state at 152 pounds, was given both the Most Valuable Teammate and Hardest Worker awards.
Zeke Monzon, a senior, and Kaden Lasnetski, a freshman, received the Most Improved Wrestler award.
Blake Mead, a seventh-grader, and Mason Javers, an eighth-grader, received the Building Block Award.
In Category Awards, Gillund had the team's most nearfalls (45) and tied for most reversals (15). Fier had the most team points (203), best record (42-3), most takedowns (91), most falls (20), most escapes (31), and tied for most reversals (15). Destin Fier also tied for most reversals (15).
Special awards were given to Destin Fier, Noah Gorecki and Eli Gruenes as Section 5A All-Academic members.
Minneota finished 20-7 as a team this season.
Trent Esping, the 2017 state heavyweight champion, was inducted into the Wally Pesch Hall of Fame (See Page 1).
Rickey Peterson was the guest speaker at the banquet. He is a 2006 graduate of Minneota High School who is fourth all-time in career wrestling wins here while placing third at state as a senior.