Girls wrestling is one of the fast-growing high school sports in the state of Minnesota, and the Saints’ wrestling program is indicative of that claim. The Saints started out with one girl back in 22-23 when Ally Pettis competed that season, and it has grown to 15 girls out for the sport this year.
The program was started under former Saints' coaches Ryan Timmerman (now coaching women's wrestling at Luther College, Iowa) and Keith Hanson, and continues to grow under new coach Joey Brown.
(PICTURED ABOVE) Members of the 2025-26 Saints girls wrestling team includes: front row (l to r), Kyha Hamm, Morgan Rogers, Kylee Wendroth, Kyla Yost, Kendra Johnson; second row, B-yonka Ortega Nielsen, Brooklyn Schmidt, Zyiana Kopischke, Allison Wiley; back row, Eva Bultman, Olivia Schumann, and Layla Castro. Not pictured are Kyra Bredeson, Crystal King, Jaylin Yost.
“Our returners have done an awesome job recruiting! Since the start of the season we have added new girls to the team every couple days it feels like. They have done an awesome job making all the girls who have come out feel welcome. The most impressive part is how the old girls have gone out of their way to help the others learn.” Brown said. “Our girls’ coaches, Jacob and Grace Pehrson, have done a great job helping teach our girls how to prepare for competition. It’s exciting because we head into the first week of competition with enough girls to fill 12 of 13 weight classes. They have been working hard and are excited to show what they can do when this season."
The Saints’ girls squad opened the season on Saturday at the Hutchinson Girls Tournament this past weekend for their first action of the 2025-26 season at an individual tournament. Some team members will also have matches during the regular season dual meet schedule as well, like tonight (Tuesday) when the Saints full wrestling squad hosts a triangular meet with Tri-City United and Marshall.
Two Saints’ seniors, Kylee Wendroth and Kyla Yost, have been with the wrestling program for multiple seasons, and the following is a Q&A story about their thoughts and goals for the upcoming season:
How many years have you participated in wrestling, including your time in youth wrestling?
(Kylee) This year is my fifth year of wrestling.
(Kyla) This will be my second year of wrestling.
What is it you enjoy most about the sport of wrestling?
(Kylee) I really enjoy how close you get with all of your teammates, it feels like a second family. We share the best laughs together and obtain great memories with all of the time that we spend together. I have become friends with people I would have never talked to before if it wasn’t for wrestling and that is such a great feeling.
(Kyla) I enjoy how the team feels like a family. Also I enjoy learning more about the sport, having fun, and meeting new people.
What other sports are you involved with during the school year?
(Kylee) I played soccer for eight years, not playing my senior year due to injuries and I will also compete with the St. Peter Trap Team next spring.
(Kyla) I’m also involved in volleyball, track, and gymnastics during the school year.
What goals do you have for yourself this wrestling season?
(Kylee) To recover from my knee surgery and wrestle in a couple of tournaments/ meets if possible! If I end up not getting to wrestle my goal is to be a great captain for the girls and help lead them through their goals, also being a great support unit for them!
(Kyla) To have fun, do well at sections, and hopefully make it to state.
How does it feel to see the number of girls out for wrestling increase so much?
(Kylee) Seeing the amount of girls double this year compared to last year is an amazing feeling!! I am so happy and so proud to see so many girls joining or even just giving wrestling a shot. I can’t wait to see what the numbers look like in a couple of years!
(Kyla) It’s amazing to see how many girls are joining wrestling, and I love watching our community grow into a real girls’ wrestling family.