One point – that was the difference between a state berth for Bemidji Wrestling, and the loss that they suffered against Willmar in the section final. The Jacks return many key contributors from last year, and they’re ready for some revenge.

The Jacks sent seven wrestlers to the state tournament last year, and return six of them, giving them a seasoned group this winter.

Some injuries to the roster early in the season has given opportunities to some of the younger wrestlers that will hopefully increase the team’s depth.

There are some holes in the team at the lighter weights, that head coach Rance Bahr hopes can be filled by some of the 8th graders and freshmen as the year goes on.

The goal for the team is a return to the state tournament and with their loss to Willmar fresh in their minds, there’s no shortage of motivation for this team. Bemidji is ranked 6th in the state and Willmar 7th, so a chance at revenge in the Section 8AAA championship could be in the cards, and has provided plenty of motivation for the Lumberjacks.

By — AJ Feldman