Episode 4 — Weekly Recap + Brainerd’s New Coach
This week on Matside Minnesota, Chris and Derek kick things off with a recap of last week’s biggest matches, breaking down key results and storylines across Minnesota wrestling.
Then we welcome Andy Pickar, the new Head Coach at Brainerd High School. Coach Pickar shares his vision for the Warriors program, his approach to building culture, and what excites him most about leading the team.

🎉 A fun highlight: Coach Pickar’s daughter Ariana joins the conversation! Ariana is currently ranked individually in Minnesota, and the Brainerd Warrior girls team also holds a state ranking — making this a true family wrestling moment.

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This week on Matside Minnesota, we bring you a double feature. First, Chris and Derek share their season overview, highlighting area wrestlers to watch and storylines that will shape the 2024–25 season across central and northern Minnesota.

Then, we sit down with Lynn Jennissen, Class AA ratings editor for The Guillotine, Minnesota’s wrestling newspaper. Lynn takes us behind the scenes of his process for evaluating wrestlers across all 13 weight classes and building the Top 10 rankings — a task that blends data, match results, and plenty of judgment calls.

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We sit down with two new head coaches to hear how they’re building programs, connecting with their communities, and preparing athletes for the season. Jamey Koetter (Holdingford) and Tate Card (Minnewaska) share coaching philosophies, early priorities, and the small decisions that shape a team’s culture.

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