CALVIN SUND

Prior Lake • wrestling

Barely a year ago, Sund, then a junior, was recovering from a knee injury and preparing to wrestle for the first time all season. He returned just in time for the section meet, still managed to qualify for the state meet at 182 pounds and advanced to the championship match before losing to Owatonna’s Cade King in the Class 3A finals.

Instead of being disappointed, Sund was determined to use his junior year as a steppingstone.

“Obviously, losing in the finals was tough, but I was really more thankful that I made it that far,” Sund said.

It has shown all season. Last week he won all five of his matches, four of them in the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejacket Duals, where he racked up three first-period pins and a technical fall.

Motivated after his brush with a state title, Sund gave up football last fall to double down on his training regimen. He spent a lot of time working out with college-age wrestlers at the University of Minnesota. “I put in a lot of time in the spring and the summer and the fall, doing everything I can to prepare,” he said. “I have a goal of being an undefeated state champ, but I’m not looking too far ahead.”

He’s undefeated (24-0) and ranked No. 1 in Class 3A at 195 pounds.

“So far, so good,” he said.