By Eric Erickson,
Sports analysis

On a Saturday morning in December, a group of Como Park wrestlers boarded a bus for a St. Paul city competition.

Another group of Como Park wrestlers took a different bus bound for a girls-only tournament 90 minutes west at Buffalo Lake-Hector High School featuring 160 students.

The Cougar wrestling program has welcomed female participants with opportunities to be part of the boys’ team during the previous decades. But girls’ wrestling was not a sanctioned sport in the state.

In the 2020s, wrestling is growing rapidly for high school girls and Como is part of the movement, with eight girls competing on this year’s 2024-2025 squad.

The new era of Como wrestling still features a fixture of Cougar athletics, the ageless Roy Magnuson, who is guiding the girls’ team.

The Cougar boys are in their first year of being led by Anthony Minus, a veteran football and wrestling coach in St. Paul and Minneapolis and who is in his second year as an assistant principal at Como.

The coaching staff is rounded out by Peter Yang, Mark Simmons and Thay Ler See, all experienced and accomplished wrestlers willing and able to get on the mat and demonstrate technical moves.

Practices are upbeat and energetic, with both the boys and girls training together. The weight classes are different for the genders, and girls generally grapple with similarly sized girls. But skill set is the most significant factor in determining partners.

The 17 boys and eight girls who collectively make up the Como program are becoming a cohesive group, bonded by the unique physical exertion of their sport.

“We work really hard,” said Hser Poe of the 127-pound boys’ division. “We run, do stairs, it’s challenging.”

The fitness is of course preparation for fighting the fatigue that occurs on the mat. Coach Minus has been impressed by everyone’s commitment.

“They are being really receptive,” Minus said. “We are holding them to high standards in wrestling, academically and accountability wise, but they are embracing the challenge. Each person has grown tremendously from the first day to where they are now.”

Dual meets in the city are limited to boys’ competition. But girls can participate in those plus their own tournaments. To the team’s credit, their focus extends beyond match results.

The Como boys’ roster doesn’t have anyone for the three largest weight classes—an 18-point disadvantage in every match due to forfeits.

But in a close contest against a city rival, Makiya May volunteered to wrestle up in weight class and battled her male opponent late into the final period, with every Como wrestler screaming support from the side of the mat.

The culture that is emerging with two genders representing Como wrestling is inspiring to see. The benefits to young people are abundant.

“Wrestling is like the ultimate individual team sport,” Minus said. “You need your teammates to help push you to hold you accountable, but then you also have to look in the mirror every day and hold yourself accountable when things are difficult.

“When you’re tired from school and classes, you have to still find the energy to show up in practice with your best self, because that not only impacts your development, it impacts the development of your partner and team.”

Lueck shines at state swim meet

Como Park junior Aleia Lueck competed in her third consecutive state meet, earning a fourth-place medal in the 50-yard freestyle and a sixth-place medal in the 100-yard backstroke.

In reaching state, Lueck repeated her performance as the section champ for the 50-yard free while setting an all-time Section 4A meet record.

She also set a new school record and career best in the 100-yard backstroke during the section meet. In fact, Lueck now holds school records for all but one individual swim race and is a record holder for all relay races.

The Cougar girls swim team had 20 members this season including six who were new to competitive swimming. A young team without any seniors is eagerly anticipating continued success next year. 

Eric Erickson is a social studies teacher at Como Park High School and a longtime coach of school and youth sports in St. Paul.

Photo cutlines:

Como wrestlers observed and implemented technical skills at a recent practice. The 25-person Cougar roster features eight females and reflects how wrestling is the fastest-growing high school sport for girls. Photo by Eric Erickson.

Aleia Lueck. Photo by coach Lisa Sackreiter.