by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Crookston boys wrestling team qualified two wrestlers for the 2026 Minnesota State High School League Wrestling Championships and both brought home state tournament hardware following the three-day individual tournament. Senior Gavyn Hlucny went 3-2 over the course of the tournament to bring home fifth place at 152 pounds, while freshman Mauricio Arriaga went 3-3 and finished sixth at 107 pounds.
Arriaga got off to good start in his opening round bout against Caledonia-Houston eighth grader Kiptyn Meiners. Following a scoreless first period, Arriaga got an escape 16 seconds into the second period and he scored the first offensive points of the match nine seconds later on a go-behind.
Arriaga rode Meiners for most of the period, but the match turned on a dime. Meiners got to his feet with roughly 45 seconds left in the second period and Arriaga dropped into a double leg in an attempt to return Meiners to the mat. Instead Meiners hipped in and put Arriago on his back for the fall.
Arriaga bounced back from the first round setback with a quick win by fall over Brody Kopp of Luverne in the first round of wrestlebacks Friday morning. Arriaga kept the momentum going with a 12-6 win over Adam Grabow of Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie Friday night to reach Saturday morning’s blood round. In the blood round, Arriaga made it three straight wins with a 10-4 win over Heydan Danielson of Minneota.
Arriaga faced Meiners for the second time in the tournament in Saturday’s consolation semifinal round. The rematch went similar to the first, with a scoreless first period and Arriaga leading for the duration, including a 9-3 lead, until giving up a feet-to-back move to lose by fall with 37 seconds remaining.
Arriaga was the first to put points on the board again in the fifth place match, building a 3-1 lead through one period against Benjamin Schmid of Mille Lacs. Arriaga escaped from the bottom positon 23 seconds into the second period, but Schmid tied the match with a takedown at the one-minute mark. Both wrestlers would score again in the second, with Arriaga picking up an escape and Schmid getting a takedown with 21 seconds remaining to take a 7-5 lead into the the third.
Schmid chose to start the third period on his feet and added two more takedowns to defeat Arriaga 13-6.
”Mauricio put together an awesome tournament,” said Crookston Head Coach Blake Bergeron. “I know there were some nerves for him being on the big stage for the first time but once he got his first win I think he settled in. After losing in the first round we knew we just needed to take it one match at a time and he battled hard all the way through the consolation bracket securing his first state medal in his first trip to state which is an impressive feat itself. He is one of the hardest workers I know and I’m so proud of him for fighting back and working his tail off to earn his medal. Excited to see what the next couple of years brings for Mauricio’s career.”
Hlucny was a man on a mission early in the state tournament. He dominated all aspects of his opening round match, using a pair of takedowns, an escape and two sets of four-point nearfalls to defeat Cayden Maly of Westfield 15-0 in just over two minutes.
Hlucny stayed hot in the quarterfinals, recording four takedowns, an escape and a four-point set of back points to defeat Tayden Soma of Ottertail Central 17-1.
Hlucny suffered his first defeat of the tournament to Dallas Gossen of Jackson County Central by an 11-10 score in Friday night’s semifinal round. Hlucny and Gossen combined for four takedowns, a reversal and six escapes in a match that featured five lead changes.
Hlucny dropped his second straight match in a 7-5 set back against Hayden Holm of Goodhue in the consolation semifinals. Holm led 3-0 after one, 4-0 after two and 7-1 with just over a minute to go in the bout. Hlucny kept battling and recorded an escape with seven seconds remaining and a takedown at the whistle to cut the final deficit to two points.
Hlucny wrapped up the state tournament with a rematch from the Section 8A championship against Conrad Koll of United North Central. Hlucny gave up the first takedown but quickly picked up a reversal to cut the deficit to 3-2 through one period of wrestling.
Hlucny took the lead with a takedown 10 seconds into the second period and added to his lead with two nearfall points with just over a minute remaining in the second.
Hlucny dominated the third period with a takedown, reversal and four nearfall points to push the final margin to 11 points.
”Gavyn made quick work of his first two matches, securing his first and second tech falls of the season,” Bergeron said. “Then in the semis, he had a bit of a heartbreaker. I know it was tough on him because his goal was to come home as a state champ so it might have taken a little wind out of his sails and didn’t quite recover from that the next morning when we lost in the consolation semis. But his desire to end the season and his career on a win, and to beat a very familiar opponent one last time, came to fruition in dominant fashion as he won his fth place match by a major decision. It’s been a joy and an honor to be Gavyn’s coach the past few years and super proud of all of his accomplishments (over 150 wins, 4 section titles, and 3 state medals) and all of the hard work he has poured into this sport.”
2026 MSHSL State Wrestling Tournament
Mauricio Arriaga (3-3) 107 – 6th (8 pts): Bout 758 (Mat 2) – Champ. Rd of 16: Class A – 107 – Kiptyn Meiners (31-15) 8th, CAHO over Mauricio Arriaga (32-6) So., CROO (F 3:29); Bout 912 (Mat 3) – Cons. Sub-Quarters: Class A – 107 – Mauricio Arriaga (32-6) So., CROO over Brody Kopp (22-8) Jr., LUVE (F 0:46); Bout 964 (Mat 1) – Cons. Quarters: Class A – 107 – Mauricio Arriaga (32-6) So., CROO over Adam Grabow (41-7) Sr., BHVP (Dec 12-6); Bout 1041 (Mat 1) – Cons. Sub-Semis: Class A – 107 – Mauricio Arriaga (32-6) So., CROO over Heydan Danielson (40-10) Jr., MINN (Dec 10-4); Bout 1067 (Mat 2) – Cons. Semis: Class A – 107 – Kiptyn Meiners (31-15) 8th, CAHO over Mauricio Arriaga (32-6) So., CROO (F 4:23); Bout 1093 (Mat 1) – 5th Place Match: Class A – 107 – Benjamin Schmid (42-5) 8th, MLR over Mauricio Arriaga (32-6) So., CROO (Dec 13-6).
Gavyn Hlucny (3-2) 152 – 5th (13 pts): Bout 815 (Mat 6) – Champ. Rd of 16: Class A – 152 – Gavyn Hlucny (29-3) Sr., CROO over Cayden Maly (22-23) So., WERA (TF 15-0 (2:12)); Bout 889 (Mat 6) – Quarters: Class A – 152 – Gavyn Hlucny (29-3) Sr., CROO over Tayden Soma (27-14) Sr., OCB (TF 17-1 (4:33)); Bout 1030 (Mat 1) – Semis: Class A – 152 – Dallas Gossen (41-9) Jr., JCC over Gavyn Hlucny (29-3) Sr., CROO (Dec 11-10); Bout 1082 (Mat 2) – Cons. Semis: Class A – 152 – Hayden Holm (39-12) Sr., GOOD over Gavyn Hlucny (29-3) Sr., CROO (Dec 7-5); Bout 1107 (Mat 2) – 5th Place Match: Class A – 152 – Gavyn Hlucny (29-3) Sr., CROO over Conrad Koll (34-8) Jr., UNCW (MD 16-5).
