1962 to today

Six decades of Wildcats.

Twenty individual state titles, five trips to team state and every qualifier, All-American, conference and regional champion the program has on record.

Before the wall

How we got here.

1964
DeWayne Benedict wrestles 138 for Ron Wunrow and becomes the first Wildcat to reach the state tournament. Twenty-four years later he came back to River Falls as head coach.
1971
Pauly Cudd at 185 and Mike Jenkins at heavyweight both win state ... the program's first two champions, in the same winter.
1975-83
Three more champions across Amdahl's fifteen seasons: Doug Branigan, Jim Kassera, Paul Wehking. Six winters between the last two. A wrestling town does not turn out a champion every year.
1990
Dave Brandvold takes over and coaches the Wildcats through 2008.

The honor roll

Twenty individual state titles.

Every WIAA individual state championship in River Falls history, from 1971 to 2022. Kevin Black is the only four-time champion the program has produced.

20 State titles
144 State qualifiers
29 Athletic All-American honors
131 Conference champions

Champion no. 20

2022 285

Vito Massa

Season

42-2

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 19

2019 152

Nathan Fuller

Season

38-1

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 18

2006 189

Trevor Brandvold

Season

45-0

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 17

1999 112

Tony Black

Season

39-1

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 16

1998 275

Joe Cudd

Season

38-0

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 15

1998 119

Kevin Black

Season

38-0

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 14

1998 103

Tony Black

Season

38-1

Grade

Junior
Champion no. 13

1997 275

Joe Cudd

Season

39-0

Grade

Junior
Champion no. 12

1997 152

Phil Meier

Season

37-1

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 11

1997 130

Brady Cudd

Season

38-1

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 10

1997 112

Kevin Black

Season

39-0

Grade

Junior
Champion no. 9

1996 130

Durand Brown

Season

36-2

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 8

1996 112

Kevin Black

Season

38-0

Grade

Sophomore
Champion no. 7

1995 103

Kevin Black

Season

36-0

Grade

Freshman
Champion no. 6

1992 140

Jesse Cudd

Season

31-2

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 5

1983 167

Paul Wehking

Season

31-2

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 4

1977 98

Jim Kassera

Season

29-0

Grade

Junior
Champion no. 3

1975 98

Doug Branigan

Season

32-0

Grade

Junior
Champion no. 2

1971 Hwt

Mike Jenkins

Season

27-5

Grade

Senior
Champion no. 1

1971 185

Pauly Cudd

Season

13-2

Grade

Senior

Past the state line

National honors.

The national record lives on its own two pages now, not repeated here.

The whole room

The team at state.

Individual titles are one wrestler's day. A WIAA team state appearance takes fourteen weight classes at once, and River Falls has managed it 5 times.

2001 Team state · D1 0-1 in team duals. Head coach David Brandvold.
2000 Team state · D1 1-1 in team duals. Head coach David Brandvold.
1998 Team state · D1 1-1 in team duals. Head coach David Brandvold.
1997 Team state · D1 2nd at state 2-1 in team duals. Head coach David Brandvold.
1996 Team state · D1 2nd at state 2-1 in team duals. Head coach David Brandvold.

Madison, every year they earned it

State qualifiers.

Every River Falls wrestler on record to reach the WIAA individual state tournament, back to 1964. The twenty champions above are in here too ... a title starts with a qualification, and splitting them into two datasets would make the same twenty men look like two different sets of facts.

River Falls WIAA individual state qualifiers by year
Year	Wrestler	Weight	Sectional	At state	Finish
2026	Jacob Hutchins	190	1st	3-1	2nd
2026	Oliver Larson	132	2nd	4-1	5th
2025	Jacob Hutchins	190	2nd	2-2
2025	Jonas Longsdorf	138	1st	2-2
2025	Oliver Larson	120	2nd	3-2	6th
2025	Olivia Luther	100	2nd	2-2
2025	Vinny Costabilo	144	2nd	2-2
2025	Waylon Deaton	113	1st	2-2
2024	Jenna Lawrence	120	1st	2-2
2024	Jonas Longsdorf	132	2nd	1-2
2024	Lincoln McCarty	215	1st	2-3	6th
2024	Oliver Larson	113	2nd	1-2
2023	Jenna Lawrence	107
2023	Lincoln McCarty	285	2nd	1-2
2023	Travis Moelter	126	1st	4-1	3rd
2023	Zack Peterson	195	2nd	2-2
2022	Gavin Kohel	182	1st	2-3	6th
2022	Travis Moelter	113	1st	0-1
2022	Tyler Haydon	160	2nd	0-1
2022	Vito Massa	285	1st	4-0	Champion
2021	Miles Longsdorf	152
2021	Travis Moelter	106	1st	1-2	6th
2021	Tyler Haydon	160
2019	Nathan Fuller	152	1st	4-0	Champion
2018	Chance Kamrowski	195	2nd	1-2
2018	Mitchell Williamson	285	1st	3-1	3rd
2018	Nathan Fuller	152	1st	4-2	5th
2016	Austen Hakes	220	2nd	4-2	5th
2016	Matthew Williamson	195	2nd	0-2
2014	Darius Wright	152	2nd	3-2	4th
2014	Sebastian Larson	182	2nd	3-2	5th
2012	Tyson Bystrom	195	2nd	1-2
2011	Adam Figi	160	2nd	2-2
2011	Logan Cudd	125	1st	3-1	2nd
2011	Tyson Bystrom	189	1st	2-2
2010	Cameron Loomis	140	1st	1-2
2010	Logan Cudd	119	1st	3-1	3rd
2010	Tyson Bystrom	189	2nd	0-2
2009	Logan Cudd	112	1st	2-2	6th
2009	Sam Johnson	189	2nd	1-1
2008	Logan Cudd	112	2nd	1-1
2007	J. Radkey-Pechacek	160	2nd	3-1	2nd
2006	J. Radkey-Pechacek	145	1st	4-1	5th
2006	Justin Parsons	215	2nd	2-2	4th
2006	Trevor Brandvold	189	1st	4-0	Champion
2005	J. Radkey-Pechacek	130	1st	3-2	6th
2005	Jacob Figi	145	2nd	0-2
2005	Trevor Brandvold	189	1st	3-1	2nd
2004	J. Radkey-Pechacek	119	2nd	1-1
2004	Trevor Brandvold	160	1st	3-1	2nd
2003	Collin Cudd	125	2nd	3-1	2nd
2003	Matt Magee	160	1st	0-1
2002	Collin Cudd	112	2nd	3-1	2nd
2002	John Katelhut	275	1st	3-2	6th
2001	Adam Meier	145	2nd	1-1
2001	Brian Frederickson	189	2nd	2-2	4th
2001	Dave Kapping	275	2nd	2-2
2001	Ross Zimmerman	160	2nd	0-2
2001	Travis Miller	135	2nd	3-1	3rd
2000	Cameron Miller	189	1st	3-1	3rd
2000	Collin Cudd	103	2nd	3-1	2nd
1999	Luke Forehand	189	1st	2-2
1999	Ross Zimmerman	152	2nd	0-1
1999	Tony Black	112	2nd	4-0	Champion
1999	Travis Miller	140	2nd	0-1
1998	Adam Meier	112	3rd	0-1
1998	Joe Cudd	275	1st	4-0	Champion
1998	Kevin Black	119	1st	4-0	Champion
1998	Landon Lueck	145	2nd	3-1	5th
1998	Tony Black	103	1st	4-0	Champion
1997	Brady Cudd	130	1st	4-0	Champion
1997	Joe Cudd	275	1st	4-0	Champion
1997	Kevin Black	112	1st	4-0	Champion
1997	Landon Lueck	135	1st	2-2
1997	Phil Meier	152	1st	4-0	Champion
1997	Tony Black	103	2nd	3-1	2nd
1996	Brady Cudd	125	1st	3-1	3rd
1996	Durand Brown	130	1st	4-0	Champion
1996	Jason Pettitt	140	2nd	3-1	5th
1996	Joe Cudd	171	2nd	0-2
1996	Kevin Black	112	1st	4-0	Champion
1996	Phil Meier	152	1st	3-1	2nd
1996	Steve Swain	189	2nd	0-1
1995	Brady Cudd	112	1st	4-1	5th
1995	Durand Brown	125	2nd	1-2
1995	Jason Pettitt	130	2nd	2-2	4th
1995	Kevin Black	103	1st	4-0	Champion
1994	Clint Clay	160	1st	3-1	3rd
1994	Durand Brown	119	1st	2-2
1992	Alec Timmerman	189	2nd	3-1	3rd
1992	Clint Clay	152	2nd	0-1
1992	Jesse Cudd	140	1st	4-0	Champion
1992	John Longsdorf	130	2nd	0-2
1992	Josh Cudd	171	2nd	0-2
1991	Chad Cernohous	160	1st	3-1	3rd
1990	Mark Lynch	275	2nd	0-2
1989	Aaron Cudd	119	2nd	0-2
1989	Mike Benedict	160	1st	4-1	5th
1989	Pat O'Malley	171	2nd	0-2
1988	Mike Benedict	155	2nd	0-1
1987	Aaron Cudd	98	2nd	0-1
1986	Erik Kees	126	2nd	0-2
1986	Scott Halverson	112	2nd	0-1
1986	Todd Larson	167	2nd	4-1	5th
1985	Todd Robey	119	1st	1-2	4th
1984	Al Longsdorf	167	2nd	2-1	3rd
1984	Mike Kusilek	112	1st	1-2	4th
1984	Rick Jensen	119	2nd	1-2	6th
1983	Jeff Delander	119	1st	2-1	2nd
1983	Paul Wehking	167	1st	3-0	Champion
1982	Jeff Miner	105	1st	2-1	3rd
1981	Greg O'Malley	155	2nd	2-1	5th
1980	Milton Sumpton	98	2nd	0-1
1980	Tom Florer	155	1st	1-1
1979	Brandon Falteisek	98	3rd	0-1
1978	Gary Nelson	145	1st	2-3	6th
1978	Jim Kassera	105	1st	4-1	3rd
1978	Tom Florer	138	2nd	1-1
1977	Gary Nelson	138	2nd	1-1
1977	Jim Kassera	98	1st	4-0	Champion
1977	Tim Emholtz	185	1st	1-2	6th
1976	Craig Nelson (Hounder)	167	2nd	0-1
1976	Doug Branigan	112	1st	3-1	2nd
1976	Jim Kassera	98	2nd	2-3	6th
1976	Todd Jenkins	132	2nd	2-2	4th
1975	Craig Nelson (Hounder)	167	1st	3-2	5th
1975	Doug Branigan	98	1st	4-0	Champion
1975	John Field	132	2nd	0-1
1975	Todd Jenkins	126	2nd	0-1
1975	Todd Keith	185	2nd	0-2
1974	Dave Peskar	167	2nd	0-1
1974	Doug Branigan	98	1st	1-1
1974	Nat Pope	119	1st	4-1	3rd
1974	Steve Florer	Hwt	1st	2-3	6th
1973	Ron Richards	98	2nd	4-1	3rd
1972	Nat Pope	119	2nd	3-1	2nd
1971	Gee Pope	145	2nd	0-1
1971	Mike Jenkins	Hwt	2nd	4-0	Champion
1971	Pauly Cudd	185	2nd	4-0	Champion
1971	Randy Baar	112	1st	0-1
1970	Pauly Cudd	185	1st	0-1
1969	Randy Baar	95	2nd	0-1
1965	DeWayne Benedict	138	1st	0-1
1964	DeWayne Benedict	138	2nd	1-1

Also at state, before there was a standard to meet. Entry to the first WIAA girls tournament was open, so these appearances are recorded but not counted as qualifications: Jenna Lawrence (2022).

Narrow screens show year, wrestler, weight and finish. Turn the phone sideways, or open this page on a larger screen, to also see each wrestler's sectional placing and his won-lost record at state.

Middle Border & Big Rivers

Conference champions.

2017 Chance Kamrowski
2016 Matthew Williamson
2014 Sebastian Larson
2011 Adam Figi
2011 Logan Cudd
2011 Nick Johnson
2011 Tyson Bystrom
2010 Cam Loomis
2010 Logan Cudd
2009 Austin Johnson
2008 Cam Loomis
2007 J. Radkey-Pechacek
2006 Andy Rhoads
2006 J. Radkey-Pechacek
2006 Justin Parsons
2006 Ryan Gwidt
2006 Trevor Brandvold
2005 J. Radkey-Pechacek
2005 Jake Figi
2005 Justin Parsons
2005 Trevor Brandvold
2004 Trevor Brandvold
2003 Collin Cudd
2003 Jordan Buss
2003 Matt Magee
2003 Trevor Brandvold
2002 Collin Cudd
2002 John Katelhut
2001 Adam Nelson
2001 Brian Fredrickson
2001 Dave Kapping
2001 Travis Miller
2000 Cameron Miller
2000 Collin Cudd
1999 Luke Forehand
1999 Tony Black
1998 Benny Berg
1998 Joe Cudd
1998 Kevin Black
1998 Luke Forehand
1998 Tony Black
1997 Benny Berg
1997 Brady Cudd
1997 Joe Cudd
1997 Kevin Black
1997 Phillip Meier
1997 Tony Black
1996 Brady Cudd
1996 Jason Pettit
1996 Kevin Black
1996 Phillip Meier
1996 Steve Swain
1996 Tony Black
1995 Brady Cudd
1995 Kevin Black
1994 Durand Brown
1994 Jon O'Malley
1993 Adam Cudd
1993 Clint Clay
1993 Jason Moore
1993 John Longsdorf
1993 Josh Cudd
1992 Alec Timmerman
1992 Brian Dado
1992 Jesse Cudd
1991 Alec Timmerman
1991 Chad Cernohous
1991 Jesse Cudd
1991 Josh Cudd
1990 Chris Campbell
1990 Ian Kees
1990 Jason Hammond
1989 Chris Campbell
1989 Mike Benedict
1988 Mike Benedict
1988 Paul Kliszcz
1988 Scott Halverson
1987 Paul Kliszcz
1984 Al Longsdorf
1984 Jeff Delander
1984 Mike Kusilek
1984 Todd Robey
1984 Tom O'Malley
1983 Jeff Delander
1983 Mike O'Malley
1983 Paul Wehking
1983 Rick Jensen
1983 Todd Robey
1982 Jeff Miner
1982 Mike Lenselink
1982 Milton Sumption
1982 Paul Wehking
1982 Rick Jensen
1981 Jeff Robey
1981 Jim Morrow
1981 Paul Wehking
1980 Tom Florer
1979 Brandon Falteisek
1979 Tim Kusilek
1978 Dan Kusilek
1978 Gary Nelson
1978 Jim Kassera
1978 Tom Jenkins
1977 Danny Larson
1977 Jim Kassera
1977 Tim Emholtz
1976 Billy Hendrickson
1976 Craig Nelson
1976 Doug Brannigan
1976 Terry Deiss
1976 Todd Jenkins
1975 Craig Nelson
1975 Doug Brannigan
1975 John Field
1975 Todd Jenkins
1974 Doug Brannigan
1974 Nat Pope
1974 Ronny Johnson
1974 Steve Florer
1973 Ron Richards
1973 Ronny Johnson
1972 Ron Richards
1971 Randy Baar
1970 Pauly Cudd
1970 Randy Baar
1969 Randy Baar
1968 Dwight Nelson
1968 Randy Baar
1966 Billy James
1966 Gary Delander
1964 Eugene Wymer

The conference itself

Big Rivers Conference.

River Falls has finished first in the Big Rivers 15 times, back to 1989-90. Of those, 2 are shared titles, marked here.

2025-26 , shared title
2021-22
2018-19
2004-05
2000-01
1999-2000
1998-99
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91 , shared title
1989-90

A shared title. River Falls tied New Richmond on record in 2025-26 and Eau Claire North on points in 1990-91, and the conference lists both seasons as co-championships.

All-conference

The coaches pick a fourteen-man first team and a fourteen-man second team, regardless of weight class. There is no honorable mention tier in this conference, and the published teams carry no weights. These are the 74 River Falls selections on record, newest season first, first team ahead of second.

2024-25 Jacob HutchinsFirst team · Sophomore
2024-25 Jonas LongsdorfFirst team · Senior
2024-25 Oliver LarsonFirst team · Sophomore
2024-25 Vinny CostabiloFirst team · Senior
2024-25 Waylon DeatonFirst team · Sophomore
2024-25 Lincoln McCartySecond team · Senior
2023-24 Jonas LongsdorfFirst team · Junior
2023-24 Lincoln McCartyFirst team · Junior
2023-24 Oliver LarsonFirst team · Freshman
2023-24 Vinny CostabiloSecond team · Junior
2022-23 Lincoln McCartyFirst team · Sophomore
2022-23 Travis MoelterFirst team · Senior
2022-23 Zack PetersonFirst team · Senior
2022-23 Jacob RangeSecond team · Junior
2021-22 Gavin KohelFirst team · Junior
2021-22 Miles LongsdorfFirst team · Senior
2021-22 Travis MoelterFirst team · Junior
2021-22 Tyler HaydonFirst team · Senior
2021-22 Vito MassaFirst team · Senior
2021-22 Owen LarsonSecond team · Senior
2019-20 Miles LongsdorfFirst team · Sophomore
2019-20 Tyler HaydonFirst team · Sophomore
2019-20 Vito MassaFirst team · Sophomore
2019-20 Cooper AndreaSecond team · Senior
2019-20 Garett BorthSecond team · Senior
2019-20 James HamptonSecond team · Sophomore
2019-20 Owen LarsonSecond team · Sophomore
2018-19 Garnett RipleyFirst team · Senior
2018-19 Nathan FullerFirst team · Senior
2018-19 Bennet CernohousSecond team · Senior
2018-19 Garett BorthSecond team · Junior
2018-19 James HamptonSecond team · Freshman
2018-19 Josie BartishofskiSecond team · Senior
2018-19 Miles LongsdorfSecond team · Freshman
2017-18 Chance KamrowskiFirst team · Junior
2017-18 Glen PendletonFirst team · Senior
2017-18 Mitchell WilliamsonFirst team · Senior
2017-18 Nathan FullerFirst team · Junior
2017-18 Michael RebozoSecond team · Senior
2017-18 Spencer CernohousSecond team · Sophomore
2016-17 Michael RebozoFirst team · Junior
2016-17 Chance KamrowskiSecond team · Sophomore
2016-17 Nathan FullerSecond team · Sophomore
2016-17 Tyler JohnsonSecond team · Senior
2014-15 Austen HakesSecond team · Junior
2014-15 David HennesseySecond team · Junior
2013-14 Darius WrightFirst team · Senior
2013-14 Sebastian LarsonFirst team · Senior
2013-14 Zack Radkey-PechacekSecond team · Senior
2012-13 Nathan KinnemanSecond team · Senior
2012-13 Sebastian LarsonSecond team · Junior
2011-12 Tyson BystromFirst team · Senior
2011-12 Nathan KinnemanSecond team · Junior
2009-10 Cam LoomisFirst team · Senior
2009-10 Logan CuddFirst team · Junior
2009-10 Adam FigiSecond team · Junior
2009-10 Josh KinnemanSecond team · Senior
2009-10 Matt LinehanSecond team · Junior
2009-10 Peter WolffSecond team · Senior
2009-10 Tyson BystromSecond team · Sophomore
2008-09 Logan CuddFirst team · Sophomore
2008-09 Sam JohnsonFirst team · Senior
2008-09 Austin JohnsonSecond team · Junior
2008-09 Brad HetchlerSecond team · Junior
2008-09 Cam LoomisSecond team · Junior
2007-08 Cam LoomisFirst team · Sophomore
2007-08 Logan CuddFirst team · Freshman
2007-08 Brad HetchlerSecond team · Sophomore
2007-08 Sam JohnsonSecond team · Junior
2004-05 Jake FigiFirst team · Senior
2004-05 Jake Radkey-PechacekFirst team · Sophomore
2004-05 Trevor BrandvoldFirst team · Junior
2004-05 Ryan GwidtSecond team · Junior
2004-05 Zach ThompsonSecond team · Junior

Team standings and all-conference teams come from the Big Rivers Conference boys wrestling page (opens in a new tab). Selections run through the 2024-25 season, which is the last one the conference has published.

One round from Madison

Regional champions.

2020 Tyler Haydon
2020 Vito Massa
2019 Garnet Ripley
2019 Josie Bartishofski
2019 Nathan Fuller
2018 Chance Kamrowski
2018 Mitchell Williamson
2018 Nathan Fuller
2017 Nathan Fuller
2014 Sebastian Larson
2013 Sebastian Larson
2012 Tyson Bystrom
2011 Adam Figi
2011 Logan Cudd
2010 Cam Loomis
2010 Logan Cudd
2009 Cam Loomis
2009 Josh Kinneman
2009 Logan Cudd
2009 Sam Johnson
2008 Cam Loomis
2007 Andy Rhoads
2007 Chris Konieczka
2007 Jake Radkey-Pechacek
2006 Andy Rhoads
2006 Jake Radkey-Pechacek
2006 Justin Parsons
2006 Ryan Gwidt
2006 Trevor Brandvold
2005 Jake Figi
2005 Jake Radkey-Pechacek
2005 Justin Parsons
2005 Trevor Brandvold
2004 Trevor Brandvold
2003 Collin Cudd
2003 Jake Figi
2002 Collin Cudd
1999 Tony Black
1998 Joe Cudd
1998 Kevin Black
1998 Tony Black
1997 Brady Cudd
1997 Joe Cudd
1997 Kevin Black
1997 Tony Black
1996 Brady Cudd
1996 Kevin Black
1996 Tony Black
1995 Kevin Black
1994 Brady Cudd

These records come from the program's records workbook and are as complete as the sheets that survived. If a name, a year or a weight class is wrong, or someone is missing, tell us and we will correct it.

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