Some of the toughest and most resilient students of Eagan High School have been putting in work this winter in the weight rooms and on mats around the metro area. The Boys’ Wrestling team has been putting up solid results overall this season, with the help of some stellar wrestlers.

The Wrestling team won their last match against Woodbury on January 8th by a score of 33-31. The team has experienced a good amount of success so far this season. After speaking with Sodan Ka, a senior and one of the captains of the team, about what some of their goals for the season are, he let me know that their goal is to finish second in their section.

“Apple Valley is one of the best teams in the state so we don’t expect to finish ahead of them”, he explained when asked why they’re shooting for second. There are several wrestlers on the team that are doing very well, placing in the top ten of their weight class in the state, who will help the team achieve that goal.

Senior Joe Dubbels, who is ranked ninth in the state in the 152 pound weight class, is one wrestler who stands out in particular. “He’s a really great leader and a very hard worker, and he does a lot to motivate the rest of the team”, said Sodan of Dubbels. “He’s probably had the most positive impact on the team this year.”

Other exceptional performers on the team include Junior Riley White, who is ranked seventh in the state in the 126 pound category, and Ka himself, who is ranked the highest on the team, being fifth in the 106 pound category. Though the team will miss two of their best wrestlers in Sodan and Joe next season, there are some younger wrestlers who show plenty of promise as well. One in particular is a freshman named Kaden Gage, who happens to be coach Gage’s son. He is ranked tenth in the state in the 113 pound category, an impressive feat to accomplish as a freshman.

Look out for Eagan’s Wrestling team as the season progresses. They’ve got a lot of quality wrestlers who are dedicated to winning, and a good amount of young talent, not to mention the fact that these guys are tough as nails. Surely, they’ll be able to keep up their success into the remainder of this season and on.