Elk River Star News Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 27
Sports www. facebook. com / elkriverstarnews
The Star News welcomes your sports news and story ideas. Send to editor. erstarnews @ apgecm. com or 506 Freeport Ave., Suite A, https:// twitter. com / starnewsmn
Elk River, MN 55330.
Royal wrestlers motivated to make encore at state meet
Two Royals qualified for the 2025 Class 3A wrestling tournament last year
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
The Rogers wrestling team is preparing for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Rogers will have two wrestlers who competed at state last year and another who competed at the 2024 state tournament. Forty-seven wrestlers are on the team this season. The Royals also have three girls that are wrestlers and Rogers hired a new girls coach, Blake Weimann, whom the Royals hired a month ago.
Head coach: Chris Donnay
2025 state tournament qualifiers: Senior Sawyer Josewski and senior Grady Weinbrenner both qualified for last year’ s state tournament in Class 3A.
Key returning wrestlers: Senior Zach Kellogg qualified for the 2024 state tournament but not last season. Juniors Ben Haddad and Nolan Lund look to take big steps this season.
Important meets: Rogers Holiday Matness has been moved from the final week of 2025 to Friday, Jan. 2 through Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. It’ s one of
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Rogers Grady Weinbrenner( 152) and Sawyer Josewski( 285) qualified for the Class 3A individual wrestling tournament in 2025. Both look to return to Grand Casino Arena, formerly known as Xcel Energy Center, in St. Paul, this coming February.
the biggest tournaments in the Twin Cities besides the state tournament. The Royals face Maple Grove and Waconia on Thursday, Dec. 4. Rogers hosts a triangular on Friday, Dec. 5, against Osseo and Rockford. The Royals face Elk River and Andover on Friday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Elk River. Rogers hosts Princeton on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. The Royals conclude the 2025-26 regular season on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, with a home meet against Armstrong and Champlin Park. The 2026 Class 3A state wrestling tournament will be Thursday, Feb.
26-Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Coach Donnay’ s expectations for 2025-26:“ Our goal is to always try to get as many guys down to the
X [ now Grand Casino Arena ] as possible and getting better every day.”
Elks’ top scorer Kriech back for senior season push
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
After making state for the first time since 2005 in 2024, the Elks couldn’ t qualify for a second consecutive state tournament in 2025.
Head coach: Ben Gustafson( 10th season)
2024-25 record: 11-14-2( lost to Moorhead in Section 8-2A semifinal)
Key returning players:
Winter Sports Preview 2025-26
Senior forward Tristan Kriech led the Elks in goals with 22 and points with 41. Junior forward Logan Rustad finished tied for second in goals with 14 and finished second in points with 40. Junior forward Luke Patraw finished third in points with 27 and finished tied in second place with Rustad in goals with 14.
Key departures: Goalie Gavin Greniuk, a key piece of Elk River’ s run to the 2024 state tournament, graduated. He finished 2024-25 with a record of 11-11-2.
Important games: Thursday, Dec. 4 @ Spring Lake Park / Coon Rapids;
Tuesday, Dec. 9 vs. Sartell; Saturday, Dec. 13 @ Andover; Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 vs. Rogers; Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 vs. Champlin Park; Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 vs. Centennial; Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 @ Roseau; Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 @ Moorhead; Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 vs. St. Cloud; Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 @ Champlin Park