Waseca county sends 10 wrestlers to state, Veroeven takes home gold

Stay gold, Matthew Veroeven.

For the Waseca senior heavyweight wrestler there are no more practices, no more team meets, no more opponents to conquer. 

Veroeven has nothing left to prove. He has won it all.

Waseca County schools sent 10 wrestlers representing Class AA and A to compete in the Minnesota State High School League state tournament at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul this past weekend. 

After being eliminated in the second consolation round a year ago, Veroeven won the state championship at 285 pounds in Class AA, winning by fall early in the second period over T.J. Fuller of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton. The win followed two overtime victories on Friday, including a semifinal where Veroeven heroically came from behind, down 7-1 in the third period, to win a 15-12 sudden-victory.

Assistant coach Ben Janike was heard telling Veroeven this was the "hardest minute of your life."

"It was a bit scary at times," head coach Jake Janike said after the match. "Win, lose or draw it doesn't matter, but buddy you've got the knowledge, you've got the skills, you've got the grit, the determination. Don't give up, don't quit on yourself. 

"This is your last hoorah," Jake told Veroeven. "Let's bring it all home."

"It feels pretty dang good," Veroeven described. "I've worked a long time to get here. And being here is pretty freakin' awesome."

Matthew, the son of Audra and Joseph Veroeven, is only the fourth Waseca wrestler in school history to win the elusive crown. He joins Ben Janike (heavyweight), Mike Foliw (138) and Mason Gehloff (120). 

"It is extremely hard to just qualify for state," Waseca Superfan Blain Nelson told the Pioneer. "Both Slade Barnett, for the second time, and Veroeven ending on the podium is especially difficult."

Barnett, the other senior representing Waseca, moved up a place from his 2025 finish, claiming fourth at 172.

NRHEG sent three wrestlers in Class A, all of whom won their first-round matches on Thursday. 

Going the furthest was junior Ryan Schlaak, who took fourth at 189. 

Eighth-grader Grahm Jacobson was eliminated in the consolation semifinals. He won his first and third matches. Last year he lost both of his matches after becoming the youngest in school history to qualify for the state wrestling tournament. 

Eighth-grader Owen Schlaak won his first match, but lost both of his following two matches. He was eliminated in the 107 consolation quarterfinals. 

WEM-JWP sent five wrestlers, Brady Murphy, Aiden Gruber, Trenton Huber, Kavan Sheehy and Kayle Langord. 

Murphy did not participate due to an injured knee.

Trenton Huber made it the furthest for the boys, winning one wrestleback at 189 before losing in the consolation quarterfinals. 

Langford won her consolation round bout at 136 by fall, before losing in the next round. 

Sheehy and Aiden Gruber lost both of their first two rounds at 215 and 152, respectively.