STMA Youth Wrestling

History

The wrestling program at St. Michael-Albertville (STMA) in St. Michael, Minnesota / Albertville, Minnesota is one of the most successful high-school wrestling dynasties in Minnesota. Known as the Knights, STMA has built a reputation for consistent excellence, producing state champions, college wrestlers, and nationally recognized teams.

Early Years (1960s – 1980s)

  • The STMA wrestling program began competing in the late 1960s.
  • Early teams quickly became competitive, posting strong records through the 1970s.
  • The program first reached the Minnesota state tournament in the mid-1970s, finishing runner-up in 1976 in Class A.

During these early decades, STMA established the community wrestling culture that still exists today, including strong youth participation and local support.

Rise to State Power (1990s)

The program entered a new era of success in the 1990s.

KEY MILESTONES

  • 1996 – First team state championship (Class A)
  • 1997 – Second championship (Class AA)

These titles helped establish STMA as a top-wrestling program in Minnesota, and the team began regularly appearing in the state tournament.

Dynasty Years (2000s)

The 2000s marked the beginning of STMA’s national-level reputation.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2004 – State Champion (AA)
  • 2005 – State Champion (AA)
  • 2006 – State Champion (AA)
  • 2007 – State Champion (AA)

From 2004 – 2007 the Knights won four straight team state titles, dominating Class AA wrestling in Minnesota.

Transition to Class AAA & Continued Success (2010s)

As the school grew, STMA moved to Class AAA, the largest enrollment class in Minnesota.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 2013 – Co-champion with Apple Valley
  • 2018 – State Champion

Even when not winning titles, the program consistently finished in the top 3 – 5 at state.

Modern Era (2020s)

The 2020s have been another golden era.

RECENT TITLES:

  • 2022 – Class AAA State Champion (24-0 season)
  • 2024 – Class AAA State Champion
  • 2025 – Class AAA State Champion (27-0)
  • 2026 – Class AAA State Champion (27-0)

BY 2026:

  • 12 total team state championships
  • 24 state championship match appearances
  • 36 state tournament appearances
  • 28 straight state tournament appearances since 1999

STMA is now widely considered one of the best high-school wrestling programs in Minnesota history.

Coaching Leadership

Several influential coaches helped build the program:

JOSH JORIMAN

head coach since 2018, continuing the tradition and winning Class AAA championships, including undefeated 2021-22, 2024-25, and 2025-26 seasons.

EMILY SHILSON

long-time head coach who led the team to multiple state appearances and helped build the dynasty.

Youth Wrestling Pipeline

One major reason for STMA’s success is its strong youth system.

RECENT TITLES:

  • Youth wrestling in the community dates back to 1969.
  • Programs train wrestlers from pre-K through 6th grade, feeding into middle school and high school teams.

This pipeline produces experienced wrestlers who often reach varsity with years of mat time already behind them.