Related Link: The Clash X: Introducing the first 11 teams
Six more teams have been added to the field for The Clash X, which takes place Dec. 30-31 in Rochester, Minn. All six are making their Clash debuts.
Nine more teams will be announced at a later date, which will round out the 32-team field.
18. Rapid City Central, South Dakota
Record at The Clash: 0-0
Appearance at The Clash: 1st
Returning State Champions: 0
Returning State Placewinners: 5
About Rapid City: Rapid City Central is one of three South Dakota teams making its first trip to The Clash. There are two divisions in South Dakota and the Cobblers are the largest school (enrollment 1963) in the big school division (A). Head coach Lance Peterson just completed his ninth season, but this is not his first shot as a head coach. Peterson suffered a career-ending injury in his third year at Northern State (Aberdeen) and took the head coaching job at a local, private high school while he finished his undergrad degree. He was 20 years old. He later joined his high school coach Dan Mahoney as an assistant at RCC. Joining Peterson as assistants are two well-known South Dakota wrestlers, both three-time state champions: Dave Gorsuch and John Buxton. Rapid City Central has won six state titles and boasts 50 individual gold medal winners from a program that was started in 1958.
19. Mitchell, South Dakota
Record at The Clash: 0-0
Appearance at The Clash: 1st
Returning State Champions: 2
Returning State Placewinners: 4
About Mitchell: The Kernels of Mitchell, South Dakota bring a storied and exciting team to The Clash. Head coach Travis Carpenter's squad will be looking for its seventh overall team state title in 2012. The program brings back two state champions and a set of twins, Jason and Justin Greenway, who are first cousins of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. Mitchell is one of two high schools in town and has an enrollment of 600. The Kernels also wrestle in the larger of the two classes (A). Coach Carpenter is entering his seventh season, but has been with the program since he graduated in 1991. He has the proud honor of having an assistant, Tom Star, who was his former coach at Mitchell. The program was started in 1962 and has had 75 state finalists and 40 state champions. Perhaps their most recognizable alumni is Adam Feldman, who went on to win an NCAA Division II title for South Dakota State.
20. Pierre, South Dakota
Record at The Clash: 0-0
Appearance at The Clash: 1st
Returning State Champions: 1
Returning State Placewinners: 6
About Pierre: The third addition to The Clash from South Dakota comes from the middle of the state and is located in the capital city. The Pierre Governors (enrollment 800) are coached by Ryan Noyes, who is also an alumni of the school. He was a three-time state placewinner and has been at the helm for six years. This up-and-coming program started in 1966 and became team champions in 1974. Pierre has produced 30 individual state champions. Noyes wrestled under legendary head coach Rick Jensen, who compiled a lofty 93-1 record at Pierre and was one of a select few grapplers who won four state championships. Jensen went on to South Dakota State and was a two-time Division II champion. Another well known alumni of Pierre is three-time state champion Tyler Bryant, who was also an All-American at South Dakota State.
21. Lewiston, Idaho
Record at The Clash: 0-0
Appearance at The Clash: 1st
Returning State Champions: 1
Returning State Placewinners: 5
About Lewiston: It is the goal of The Clash recruiting team to attract new teams from states that have not been represented in the past. Lewiston, Idaho is one these. Lewiston has been ranked in the top three in Idaho for several years and is hungry for its first state title. Idaho has five separate classes to determine a champion. In addition, each school can enter two wrestlers per weight class. It is possible for two kids from the same school to wrestle for the state title. Coach Dan Maurer, in his 11th season as head coach, brings a young but thirsty team to The Clash. Lewiston is one of the oldest schools in the state, opening in 1908, and beginning its wrestling program in 1968. Lewiston has had 15 individual state champions. They are one of the few schools in the country with a high school that starts in 10th grade.
22. Jefferson, Georgia
Record at The Clash: 0-0
Appearance at The Clash: 1st
Returning State Champions: 2
Returning State Placewinners: 8
About Jefferson: When wrestling fans think of wrestling powerhouse programs in Georgia, Collins Hill is typically the first program that comes to mind. That might soon change. Jefferson, Georgia is about to explode onto the national scene. This powerhouse out of the northeast part of the state just won its 11th straight state title from traditional scoring. Georgia has two state tournaments and Jefferson has won the last 10 dual team tournaments. There are five divisions in Georgia, and Jefferson is in 2A. They usually either travel out of state or take on 5A teams to get comparable competition. Head coach Doug Thurmond has been the head coach during this long run of championships after following longtime coach Jack Keen. They return a very strong team and The Clash X will be the program's first long travel trip to take on the nation's finest.
23. Prior Lake, Minnesota
Record at The Clash: 0-0
Appearance at The Clash: 1st
Returning State Champions: 0
Returning State Placewinners: 2
About Prior Lake: The Lakers of Prior Lake, Minnesota are excited to make their maiden voyage to The Clash. Head coach Joe Block took over this struggling program in 2000 and in his first three seasons compiled a record of 6-67. This must have been brutal to someone like Block, who was a two-time state champion for Le Center in the late 1980s. Block went on to wrestle at Drake and finished his career at Minnesota. Prior Lake (1950 students) is in the large class in Minnesota and won its first section championship in 2006. Last season, Prior Lake finished third at the state tournament, which was the highest finish ever for the program. The Lakers have had a total of nine state champions, with Jake Kahnke being perhaps the most decorated alumni. Kahnke, who wrestles at St. Cloud State, finished as an NCAA Division II runner-up at heavyweight this past season.
Steve Elwood can be reached at steveel@rstransportinc.com.
This story also appears in the June 24 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering amateur wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote amateur wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.
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