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Pipestone Area Schools’ sophomore wrestler Miklo Hernandez earned his first-ever national championship last summer at the U.S. Marine Corps Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
Teammates Lane Fruechte and Mason Fruechte also wrestled in preseason tournaments.
So, the seasoning is there for the Arrows, who return 12 starters and letterwinners overall.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Miklo Hernandez (right) spars with teammate Lane Fruechte during a training session on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the “wrestling room.” Hernandez is coming off an undefeated season, and he won a national championship last summer in North Dakota. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Returning wrestlers also include seniors Carloseriel Perez-Garcia, Carlos Saenlouangraj, Haden Mulvihill and Xavier Banjoko, the last unavailable this season due a recent unspecified surgery.
Still, PAS has plenty of talent with the likes of juniors Mason Fruechte, Griffin Smidt, sophomores Lane Fruechte and Troy Chaulsett, freshman William Perez-Garcia and eighth-graders Oliver Sterud and Ayden Korpek.
The Arrows embark on the 2025-26 campaign Thursday, Dec. 4, at St. James/Madelia. The meet is set for Madelia beginning with junior varsity bouts at 5 p.m., and varsity to follow. At 9 a.m. Saturday, PAS competes at the meaty SPAM Duals in Austin.
The Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestling team travels to Madelia for a meet on Thursday, Dec. 4, the season-opening night for the Arrows. (Contributed photo from Kelsey Kooiman)
By and large, the Arrows are coming off a stellar first season under head coach Paul Young. PAS was 12-11 in dual matches, produced five state qualifiers and had two place-winners: the state 121-pound champ Hernandez (who is currently ranked in the top-20 nationally) and Mason Fruechte (sixth place at 114).
Hernandez scored the first points of a match 41 of 42 times en route to an undefeated season, generating 685 overall points and 205 takedowns.
Lane Fruechte (107), Xavier Banjoko (215) and Mulvihill (152) also were state qualifiers. Lane Fruechte and Mulvihill both reached state in the most dramatic way, claiming true-second matches.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Lane Fruechte prepares to pin his opponent from Minneota during a Thursday, Feb. 6, match. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Lane Fruechte recorded the Arrows’ most near-falls with 92, and he pinned opponents 22 times. Mason Fruechte was crafty, with a team-best 34 escape points.
“We have veteran leadership,” Young said. “We have the willingness to work hard, and the right team mindset. We have about 45 wrestlers out this year, including six girls.”
For Young, the glass is certainly at least half full.
“I am excited for some of our young wrestlers getting varsity time, and see what they can do on the mat,” he said.
The Big South Conference, and Section 3A, have plenty of talented wrestlers in all weight classifications.
During the 2024-25 conference meet, only Marshall (which also features competitors from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton), New Ulm Area and Jackson County Central scored more points than the Arrows’ 113. PAS placed ahead of the Martin County Red Bulls, St. Peter, Waseca and Tri-City United among others.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Santino Teboe works out in the PAS wrestling room during a training session on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Teboe could figure into the mix for the Arrows in the heavier weights. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Young has set attainable goals for the Arrows.
“The outlook is very promising,” Young remarked. “We have a lot of returning starters from last year, and the five state qualifiers. The goal for the team is to make it back to the section final four, and go further in the tournament than last year. This will be a fun year for Arrow wrestling.”
Pipestone Area Schools’ Paul Young enters his second year piloting the Arrow wrestling program. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Lucas Thooft (171) is a key loss to graduation. Thooft posted 15 reversals and scored the team’s most third-period points (82).
PAS girls
PAS senior Joannacrystal Perez-Garcia will be the leader of the girls’ team, which features a record six girls out for the sport.
Makaya Mulvihill and Alicia Hernandez join Joannacrystal Perez-Garcia on the Arrow girls’ squad this year. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Perez-Garcia, competing at 106 pounds, was third at the conference meet in mid-January.
The rise of girls wrestling necessitated the addition of another session during the Minnesota State High School League meet, which will begin this year on a Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 25) at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Former PAS team manager Taya Burnett will serve as a first-year assistant at Morris Area-Hancock-Chokio-Alberta, helping her older brother Hunter (now the Tigers’ solo head coach).
Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestlers train in the workout room on Tuesday, Nov. 18. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Matside notes
With a plethora of wrestlers, more coaches are part of the Arrow staff this year.
Sean Kallevig, Scott Sterud and longtime assistant Gary Haupert will be joined by Justin Fruechte, Brian Fruechte and Jon Gorter.
In a related note, Arrow wrestling statistics only will be available on USA Bracketing this year (no longer trackwrestling.com).
“Fans will need to create an account to follow the team and wrestlers,” Young said. “It’s a free account.”
Pipestone Area Schools logo. (Contributed graphic from the PAS school district)
Pipestone Area Schools
2025-2026 Schedule
December
4, at St. James/Madelia, at Madelia; 6, at SPAM Duals, Austin; 11, FULDA/MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL, RED ROCK CENTRAL, Triangular; 13, at Jackson County Central Invitational (girls only); 19-20, at MatBoss Christmas Tournament, Mayo Civic Center, Rochester; 27, at Braves Classic, Benson
January
2, at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Tournament, Belgrade; 8, REDWOOD VALLEY, WINDOM AREA, Triangular; 10, at Big South Conference Tournament, Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall; 13, at Springfield with Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Alcester-Hudson (S.D.), quadrangular; 15, at Jackson County Central with Blue Earth Area; 17, at Harrisburg Duals Tournament (S.D.); 22, at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove with Adrian-Ellsworth; 23, at Red Rock Central Invitational, Lamberton; 27, at Benson with Wabasso, triangular; 29, LUVERNE, WORTHINGTON, Triangular
February
5, at Minneota with Quad County and Windom Area, quadrangular (PAS won’t wrestle Windom)
Playoff Schedule
February
6-7, Minnesota State High School League, individual section tournament (girls); 12, MSHSL Section 3A Tournament, at higher seed; 14, Section 3A Tournament, semifinals and finals, at Wabasso; 21, at Section 3A individual tournament (boys), at Springfield; 25-28, at MSHSL State Tournament, Grand Casino Area, St. Paul
Editor’s Note: All home meets are listed in ALL CAPS. Consult the schedule along the front rail of The Pipestone County Star for start times.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Marcus Niz works out in the wrestling room during a Tuesday, Nov. 18, practice. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Team Rosters
Boys
Haden Mulvihill, Xavier Banjoko (inj.), Carloseriel Perez-Garcia, Carlos Saenlouangraj, Andres Guardado, Jose Rivas, Carlos Zepeda, Mason Fruechte, Griffin Smidt, Marcus Niz, Santino Teboe, Jabril Razzaq, Cody Martens, Lane Fruechte, Miklo Hernandez, Troy Chaulsett, Finley Whipkey, Roman Macias, Diego Zepeda, Braxton Melcher, William Perez-Garcia, L.J. Saenlouangraj, Xzavier Fenton, Oscar Ramirez, Emir Herrera, Howard Flute Player, Teagen Fitch, Connor Sanoski, Abraham Gallegos Quilantan, Henry Matthews, Ayden Korpek, Dereon Sanchez-Marroquin, Parker Adelman, Oracio Hernandez, Francisco Villa, Oliver Sterud, Zane Hollis, Lazer Thooft, Kevin Ramirez and Austin Punt
Girls
Joannacrystal Perez-Garcia, Alicia Hernandez, Kaya Koch, Makaya Mulvihill, Isabella Sanchez-Marroquin and Brittany Macias
Managers
Alivia Fruechte, Aurora Winsel, Kailyn Burmeister, Kya Corcoran, Lily Fruechte and Autumn Matthews