KoMet wrestlers return to state

Kasson-Mantorville’s wrestling team has punched their ticket once again and will return to the MSHSL state wrestling tournament. The KoMet wrestling team, rich with state history and success, has not walked out of the Xcel tunnel as a team since 2018.

Logan Vaughan, Bennett Berge, and Kail Wynia still remember what it was like to compete at the Xcel. The crowd, the roar, the sea of blue! These three, now seniors, were just eighth graders back in 2018. They have been solid mentors, both in the wrestling room and out of the room, to this young team.

“The experience of competing at the X is like no other! It gives the younger guys on our team an opportunity to shine when the bright light is on. We have a couple weeks to sharpen up. Then, it’s go time!” said senior Bennett Berge. “This team is something special. I think we all knew we would make it,” said Vaughan. “We all know this isn’t the end goal. We know how much work we have to put in so we can achieve our goal. We are very happy to break the curse on not being able to get to state. I’m just glad I can experience this with my brother and give the young guys their first opportunity to get their dream shot at being in the state tournament as a team.”

The KoMets dominated their way through the Section 1AA tournament. As the #1 seed, last Thursday they hosted the first two rounds of the bracket. First a bye, then a shutout against Stewartville, 79-0.

The communities of Kasson and Mantorville, were excited to return to the Mayo Civic Center last Saturday to cheer on the boys for the semifinals and the finals.