The KROX/Drafts Sports Bar and Grill Athlete of the week is Lukas Meier, a 160-pound senior captain on the Crookston Pirate Wrestling team that is ranked fifth in the state in Class A at 160 pounds.
Lukas is a tremendous athlete, but he is also a student of the sport of wrestling. He studies and knows everything a kid could know about the game and when he is wrestling, he is extremely strong, but he wins his matches on the technical side. He is a technician and is ranked one of the top wrestlers in the state because of it.
Lukas is 6-0 in his matches the past week and is 9-1 on the season. This past week, Lukas won his match against Hillsboro-Central Valley by an 8-4 decision and at the Mahnomen-Waubun duals he went 4-0 with a 12-3, 9-5, and 10-6 wins by decision and he capped the evening with a pin at 3:56 and he was named the dual tournament Most Valuable Wrestler. In the final match of the week, at Fertile, he won by a pin at 1:45. “Lukas has a tremendous work ethic and leads by example in our practice room,” said Coach Wes Hanson. “He has been versatile in our line-up competing at 160 and 170 lbs in search of competition and to make our team better. Lukas has incorporated some new attacks into his offense which make him even more effective on the mat.”
Last year, Lukas was 36-9 and finished Section 8A runner up and 5th place at state at 145 lbs. His total career record is currently 95-48. Lukas is a three-sport athlete and also competes in football and track.
In the fall, Lukas led the Pirate football team in defensive points with 145 and he led the team with seven fumble recoveries. Lukas was named the Pirate Football defensive MVP and received the senior award. Lukas was also named First-team all-Section 8AA, Section 8AA linebacker of the year and he was named to the All-Midwest District first team.
In track, Lukas runs in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays, the 200 meters and competes in the pole vault where he will be one of the top pole vaulters in Section 8A this spring.
Lukas is a post-secondary student and was an honor roll student at Crookston High School.
First started wrestling- First grade
The best part of your game – Mental toughness
Part of your game that still needs work – Bottom
The toughest wrestler you’ve ever faced – AJ Bethea, Hibbing
Biggest thrill in your athletic career so far– Making it to the state semi-finals in wrestling last year.
Do you have a pre-match ritual – I listen to music and mentally prepare for the match
Favorite sport – Wrestling
Favorite sports team – Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete –Zahid Valencia, wrestles at Arizona State
Favorite place to wrestle – The Skip Nalan Tournament Championship round
Last movie you’ve seen – A Million Ways to Die in The West
Favorite TV program – Sports Center
Favorite food – Chicken Alfredo Pasta
What music are you listening to – Anything Drake
Something about you that people don’t know – North Dakota Greco and Freestyle State Runner-Up losing to his cousin in the Finals in 2009
You’re stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you – Zach Brown, Hunter Knutson and Ethan Bowman
Plans after graduation – Attending college somewhere and pursue a degree in the Engineering field
Family –
Dad – Neil, works in construction for Reit Rock
Mom- Becky, nurse at Riverview
Sisters –Kylee (16), Junior at Crookston High School
