The KROX Athletes of the week are Carter Coauette, a 152-pound junior, Ethan Bowman, a 145-pound senior, Evin Trudeau, a 113-pound Junior, Hunter Knutson, a 182-pound senior, Ethan Boll, a 220-pound senior, and Gavyn Hlucny, a 126-pound freshman, who will all be competing for the Crookston Pirate Wrestling team in the Class A Individual State Tournament beginning this Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. All six of them earned State Tournament berths a year ago and will be making a return trip.
Carter Coauette competed at 138-pounds in the State Tournament a year ago and did not place. The junior had no issues making a return trip to State this year. “Carter has such a will to win and that’s something that can’t be taught,” said Pirates Wrestling Coach Wes Hanson. “He’s wrestled a ton of matches and had lots of success. He along with all of these guys are returning to the State Tournament so I think they’ve raised the bar for themselves and that’s exciting.” After receiving a first round bye in the Section 8A Tournament, Coauette won his next two matches 11-4 and 5-1 to secure 1st place in his division.
Ethan Bowman is hungry to get back on the mat at the State Tournament as the senior got just one match down in St. Paul a year ago, and it was a 4-1 loss. Bowman also received a first round by this past weekend in the Section 8A Tournament, and then won his next two matches for a first place finish in the 145-pound division. “Ethan is the kind of guy that I truly believe can score on anybody,” said coach Hanson. “That makes him really dangerous and at this time of the year the guys that are aggressive tend to win a lot of matches so I’m excited to see him work this weekend.”
Evin Trudeau will also be representing the Pirates in the State Tournament this year after a 2nd place finish in the Section 8A Tournament at 113-pounds. Trudeau needed to win his last match on Saturday to advance he got it done with a pin in just 44 seconds. Trudeau faced stiff competition in the State Tournament a year ago losing both matches and will be eager to get back on the mat. “Evin does everything we ask as coaches. He always shows up to anything extra and is constantly committing himself to the sport to have success,” said coach Hanson. “The results have proven that and now that he has experience at the State Tournament I am looking forward to seeing him make some noise this time around.”
Hunter Knutson will be wrestling for the final time this upcoming weekend, and the senior will look for more opportunities this go around after losing his first and only match at the State Tournament last year. “Hunter is a senior and captain and has been a great leader for us all season long. I think he really shined this past weekend at the Individual Tournament and wrestled the best he has all season,” said coach Hanson. “He dictated the matches, scored at all positions, and if he can wrestle like that again this weekend there will be good things ahead for him. “Knutson took 1st place at 182-pounds in the Section 8A Tournament with a bye, followed by two victories of 7-4 and 2-1.
Ethan Boll is a defending State Champion, and like last year, he has his sights set on another State Title. Boll had no issues at 220-pounds throughout the course of the Section 8A Tournament on his way to 1st place and will be one of the favorites down at the State Tournament as he looks to go back-to-back as a State Champion. “He’s a returner State Champion so really that’s all you need to know,” said coach Hanson. “His goals are very clear and I know he is going to do everything he can to try and go get another one, and compete as hard as he can like always. Ethan has been dominant all season long and he’s always looking to score points.”
Gavyn Hlucny had three wins in the Section 8A Tournament this past weekend to win 1st place at 126-pounds. Other than Ethan Boll, Gavyn Hlucny was the other Pirate to place at the State Tournament last year taking 6th at 120-pounds. “Gavyn is a returning State Tournament placer, and a big reason why is because he is such a great competitor,” said coach Hanson. “He is a student of the sport, he looks forward to big matches, and I’m really excited to coach him this weekend.”
All six wrestlers begin their journey toward a state title on Friday in St. Paul and will be receiving a Send-Off from the community tomorrow morning at 9:15 a.m. “I’m really looking forward to coaching all these guys down at the State Tournament and seeing what they can do,” said coach Hanson. “All these guys need to be looking to score points and stay aggressive and if they can do that, they are going to have a great weekend.”
CARTER COAUETTE:
Other Activities outside of Wrestling– football and track & field, I’m going to play baseball this spring
First started wrestling– 1st Grade
Best part of your game- on my feet
Part of your game that still needs the most work– Top position
Toughest wrestler you’ve ever faced– Charley Elwood, Medford
Do you have a pre-match ritual– listening to music and get into the right mindset
Favorite sport– football or wrestling
Favorite sports team– Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete– Bo Jackson
Favorite movie- Step Brothers
Favorite TV program– Trailer Park Boys
Favorite food– Maui Wowis
What music are you listening to– Rap
Something about you that people don’t know– Not really if I’m being honest
Your stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you– Riley Helgeson, my dad, and Hunter Knutson
Plans after graduation– “Stay alive”
Family –
Dad- Andy (Farmer)
Stepmom- Lisa Britnell (Altru Clinic)
Sisters- Jenna (Freshman at UND)
Charlie (fifth-grade)
Brother- Matt (sophomore)
ETHAN BOWMAN:
Other Activities outside of Wrestling– football
First started wrestling– preschool
Best part of your game– technique
Part of your game that still needs the most work– weight management
Toughest wrestler you’ve ever faced– Ethan Hendrickson, United North Central
Do you have a pre-match ritual– not really, just get in the zone
Favorite sport– wrestling
Favorite sports team– Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete- Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell Wrestler)
Favorite Move– Fast & Furious
Favorite TV program– I don’t watch a lot of TV
Favorite food– Chicken Alfredo or Mashed Potatoes
What music are you listening to– a little bit of everything
Something about you that people don’t know– I’m taking PSEO right now
Your are stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you– My mom, dad, and sister
Plans after graduation– go to Northland next year and finish my degree in Farm Operations & Management
Family –
Dad- Dave (New Flyer)
Mom- Sunny (REM)
Sisters- Emily (sophomore)
EVIN TRUDEAU:
Other Activities outside of Wrestling– Football, Baseball, and Track
First started wrestling– 1st Grade
Best part of your game– Bottom position
Part of your game that still needs the most work– On my feet
Do you have a pre-match ritual– Just make sure I get a good warmup in
Favorite sport– wrestling
Favorite sports team– Minnesota Twins
Favorite athlete– Kirby Puckett
Favorite Movie– The Harry Potter series
Favorite TV program– Stranger Things
Favorite food– Steak
What music are you listening to– Older Rock music
You are stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you– My mom, dad, somebody really rich
Plans after graduation– not sure yet, possibly wrestle if the opportunity is there
Family –
Dad- Dale (Diesel Mechanic)
Mom- Kari (Hairdresser)
Sisters- Tiffany (Graduated from CHS)
Paige (Graduated from CHS)
Avery (freshman at CHS)
HUNTER KNUTSON:
Other Activities outside of Wrestling– football and trap
First started wrestling– 2nd Grade
Best part of your game– escapes and takedowns
Part of your game that still needs the most work– takedowns
Do you have a pre-match ritual– listening to music and get ready
Favorite sport– football or wrestling
Favorite sports team– Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete– Chris Goodrich
Favorite Movie– Step Brothers
Favorite TV program– Outer Banks
Favorite food– Pizza
What music are you listening to– Rap but pretty much everything
Something about you that people don’t know– I whoop up on Carter Coauette in practice
Your stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you– My grandpa, and my two dogs
Plans after graduation– Go to NDSCS in Wahpeton for Construction Management
Family –
Dad- Justin (Custom Collision)
Mom- Tracey (Lawyer at Reynolds, Harbott, Knutson, & Larson P.L.L.P.)
Sisters- Carley (sophomore)
ETHAN BOLL:
Other Activities outside of Wrestling– football, baseball, and Track
First started wrestling– 1st Grade
Best part of your game– On my feet
Part of your game that still needs the most work– top position and riding
Toughest wrestler you’ve ever faced– Max McEnelly, Waconia
Do you have a pre-match ritual- says a prayer and get in the zone
Favorite sport– football
Favorite sports team– Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete– Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers)
Favorite Movie– Rambo
Favorite TV program– Yellowstone
Favorite food– Steak
What music are you listening to– country
Something about you that people don’t know– I outlift Daniel Rooney
Your stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you–
My dad, mom, and grandpa
Plans after graduation– Go to college at UND, play Football, major in Business, and come back to take over the farm.
Family –
Dad – Bryan (Farmer)
Mom – Melissa (Occupational Therapist)
Sisters – Emma (Sophomore at Northland Community and Technical College)
Chloe (Freshman)
Grace (Seventh-grader)
Morgan (Sixth-grader)
Brother – Eli (Third-grader)
GAVYN HLUCNY:
Other Activities outside of Wrestling– football, baseball
First started wrestling– 2nd Grade
Best part of your game– Top Position
Part of your game that still needs the most work– Bottom position
Toughest wrestler you’ve ever faced– Tommy Elwood, Medford
Do you have a pre-match ritual- just vibe out to music
Favorite sport– wrestling
Favorite sports team– Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete– Kyle Dake (Olympic wrestler)
Favorite Movie– Top Gun Maverick
Favorite TV program– I don’t watch much TV
Favorite food– Anything after weigh-ins
What music are you listening to– rap
Something about you that people don’t know– I’m an open book
Your stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you–
My dad, uncle, and mom
Family –
Dad- Jerry (Machinist at Northern Valley Machine)
Mom- Kelly (Business Office in Grand Forks)
Sister- Ella (currently attends NDSU)
