By MIKE BIALKA
Sports Editor

First and foremost, the Brainerd Warriors' delegation at the state tournament wants to win an individual championship.

But a road to a title appears difficult as four Warriors will face ranked wrestlers in the opening round Wednesday night. The next best thing is to at least get a medal, which is awarded to the top six finishers.

The Warriors have such a difficult road because four individuals were section runners-up, who meet section champions at state.

"I think everyone's got a shot, going into the state tournament," Warriors co-head coach Mike Boran said. "If things go well some guys have a chance to get in the top six and take a medal out of there, but it's never an easy road. You always run up against someone who's tough."

Chad Ohman (35-7 at 171 pounds) is the Warriors' only section champion. He has drawn Zak Coates of Henry Sibley (35-2), the top-ranked wrestler in the class.

"Chad wrestled him at the Cambridge tournament and (Coates) beat us soundly," Boran said. "(Coates) lost to an Apple Valley kid, that's his only loss in Minnesota this year. He also wrestled, and lost, to a kid from North Dakota. Chad just has to go out and get after him, but (Coates) is a good one."

Aaron Padrnos (130) will face top-ranked Mason Young (33-3), also of Henry Sibley, in his first trip to state.

"It's a tough draw, but Aaron is ranked (seventh)," Boran said. "Aaron's had a great season, he's 34-5. He will go out after (Young). If you can stay in the match and get to the third period sometimes you can beat kids.

"We've seen Young, at the Cambridge tournament, but we didn't wrestle him. He's a good wrestler, but Aaron's not going to back down from anybody."

Mack Glasby (30-5 at 145) is the only Warrior whose opponent is unranked. August Noble of Wayzata is 30-5 and a section champion.

"We don't know much about him," Boran said. "It's Mack's second trip to state, so he's got some experience down there, and that should help him. He just needs to go out, give him a match and hopefully win it."

At 160, Tyler Kohlmeier (20-9) faces 10th-ranked Jeremy Duruji (36-5) of Owatonna.

"We don't know much about him," Boran said, "But Owatonna has a good program, their team is

in the state tournament, so chances are he's pretty solid.

"It's Tyler's first trip. He just has to go down there and go after him. Sometimes it's good to not know much about the guy so you don't worry about things and just go out and wrestle your match."

Sam Pagel (31-10 at 189) draws third-ranked Kraig Schumm of St. Michael-Albertville (39-3).

"We haven't seen, him but we know he's good," Boran said. "Rankings don't always mean a lot, but he's a solid kid, a tough one to beat.

"Sam will be down there for the first time so he doesn't have any history. He just needs to go out, wrestle him and see what he can do."