Matside Minnesota
Matside Minnesota Podcast is your weekly front-row seat to high school wrestling across central and northern Minnesota. Co-hosts Chris Etzler and Derek Holst deliver in-depth recaps, exclusive interviews with coaches, athletes, fans, and officials, and insider commentary that dives into the stories, triumphs, and grit behind every takedown.
Episodes
24 episodes
NCAA Recap & A Missed Opportunity: Steph Rice Joins Us
Chris and Tim are back with another NCAA Nationals Special Edition — starting with a quick recap of the Minnesota high school grads, Gophers, and NDSU wrestlers they’re following in Cleveland.Then things get special. Tim’s daugh...
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38:07
Matside Minnesota Extra — NCAA Special Edition with Tim Rice
We kick off our NCAA Nationals coverage with a special episode packed with road trip memories, wrestling stories, and the athletes we’ll be following in Cleveland. After 16 years of traveling together, we’ve got tales to tell! We are spot...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:02:14
It's a (W)rap - Matside Minnesota Season 1
Yeah…Season one in the books, Minnesota style.Grab your headgear, we takin’ it matside.Twenty-two episodes, yeah we put in the grind,Talking Minnesota wrestling every single time.From the first big show when the season go...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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20:01
Cardinal Edition: Turner Beachy a One of a Kind Senior and An All Time Team with Mark Anderson
Matside Minnesota – Cardinal EditionFor our final Cardinal Edition of the season, we’re closing things out with two powerful conversations that capture the heart of Staples‑Motley wrestling.We begin with Mark Anderson, Editor of t...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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58:58
From the Booth to the Mat — Our State Tournament Breakdown
We are back from an unforgettable weekend at the Minnesota State High School League State Wrestling Tournament, and this episode is all about reliving the best moments. We share our experiences both matside and inside the NSPN streaming b...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:04:16
Episode 14: Section Team Recaps & Individual Section Previews with MNwrestle's Aaron Lorentz
Matside MinnesotaThis week’s episode is a two‑part sprint toward the postseason.In Segment One, we break down team section tournaments from the past weekend, giving each class just six minutes on the clock. It’s fast, focused, and...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:23:11
Cardinal Episode 5 – Senior Standouts: Elijah Greenwaldt & Riley Reese
Matside Minnesota – Cardinal EditionIn this episode, We sit down with two of the Staples‑Motley Cardinals’ most experienced and wrestlers, Elijah Greenwaldt and Riley Reese. Both seniors are highly ranked in their weight classes and brin...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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49:20
Episode 13: Section Showdown, Six Minutes at a Time
Matside MinnesotaIn this fast‑paced episode, we break down all seven sections we cover — 6A, 7A, 8A, 6AA, 7AA, 8AA, and 8AAA — using a six‑minute timer for each preview. Some sections stayed within regulation… and a couple needed overtim...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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54:13
Cardinal Edition Episode 4: History Made - Kana, Leah, Anika & Coach Truax
Matside Minnesota – Cardinal EditionThis week, we celebrate a moment that will be remembered forever at Staples‑Motley High School. Kana Reese, Leah Greenwaldt, and Anika Tureson made school history by becoming the first girls ever to qu...
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1:19:41
Cardinal Edition Episode 3: Ranked and Ready — Luke Bjerga & Adrian Gomez
Two ranked Cardinals. Two big personalities. One episode you don’t want to miss.This week on the Cardinal Edition, we sit down with 189‑pound hammer Luke Bjerga and heavyweight force Adrian Gomez to talk big wins, big momen...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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39:40
Episode 12 – Inside the State Tournament with Mark Kuisle
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Kuisle, Activities Director at Big Lake High School and co‑manager of the Minnesota State High School League State Wrestling Tournament. Mark brings a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at how the state’s biggest...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:00:23
Episode 11: Wagner Legacy: A Coach, A Contender, and the Rise of Girls Wrestling
Episode 11 brings a special in‑studio conversation with Bill Wagner, former Minnesota Coach of the Year and current head girls coach for BHVPP, along with his daughter Elora, a defending state runner‑up and one of the top-r...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:01:09
Two #1s — Colbe Tappe & Gage Bjerga Lead the Cardinal Charge
In this episode, we sit down with two of the biggest names in Minnesota high school wrestling: Colbe Tappe and Gage Bjerga. Both are currently ranked #1 in their weight classes, both have state titles, and both recently notched wins over nation...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:41:25
Episode 10: MNwrestle All-Class Rankings Recap and the Voice of Girls Wrestling — Rance Bahr
In this episode, we kick things off with a north central Minnesota breakdown of the new all‑class rankings released by MNwrestle. Then we welcome a guest who needs no introduction in Minnesota wrestling circles, Rance Bahr. After 14...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:07:51
Episode 9: Weekly Recap, Rick Lee Duals
In Episode 9 we recap the biggest events across the region with a focus on the Rick Lee tournaments in Bemidji.#MatsideMinnesota #RickLeeDuals #MNwrestling #HighSchoolWrestling
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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40:15
Episode 8: New Year, Big Tournaments — Clash & Rumble Recap
In Episode 8 we keep it simple and get straight to the action. With no guests this week, we recap the biggest New Year wrestling events across the region, The Clash in La Crosse and Rumble on the Red in Fargo.#MatsideMinnesota #TheClash ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:10:57
Cardinal Edition Episode 1: The Early Years of Cardinal Wrestling
Cardinal Edition – Episode 1: The Early Years of Cardinal Wrestling Matside Minnesota – Cardinal EditionWe’re kicking off the very first episode of the Cardinal Edition by going back to where it all began. We sit down with ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:11:38
Episode 7: Previewing The Clash
Episode 7: Previewing The Clash In this episode, We keep it simple and focused: The Clash is coming. Held in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this nationally recognized high school wrestling tournament features 29 teams from 11 st...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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53:27
Episode 6: Northwoods Wrestling on the Rise
Episode 6: Northwoods Wrestling on the Rise This Christmas Day episode is packed with stories, highlights, and a whole lot of Minnesota wrestling spirit.We kick things off by breaking down the week’s top match highligh...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:19:28
Episode 5: 3 For the Takedown
Episode 5: 3 For the TakedownIn this episode, Chris Etzler and Derek Holst kick things off with a quick recap of last week’s key matches across Minnesota wrestling before diving into one of the biggest topics from last season — th...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:27:02
Episode 4: Coach Pickar, Ariana, and the Week in Wrestling
Episode 4 — Weekly Recap + Brainerd’s New CoachThis 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 welc...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:23:14
Behind the Rankings + Wrestlers to Watch
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 norther...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:03:49
New Coach Spotlight 1
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 pri...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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57:48
A New Mat Rolls Out in Pillager
In the heart of Minnesota, a new wrestling program is taking shape, bringing excitement and opportunity to young athletes. The inaugural episode of the Matside Minnesota podcast dives deep into the journey of Pillager High School as it rolls ou...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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56:28