Among the 10 area state qualifiers is New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva senior David Lindell, No. 1 ranked at 215, and certainly enters with target on his back to start the Class A individual tournament Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

His teammate sophomore David Lassahn enters the tournament in a different position as a first-time entrant at 112 pounds.

“The one thing Lindell has that Lassahn doesn’t is a years worth of experience,” said Panthers head coach Paul Cyr. “It’s just invaluable in terms of just how you feel.”

Lindell’s experience at the state tournament was short last season. He faced Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg’s Joel Bauman, the No. 1 wrestler in Class A at 189, and lost 3-2 to Bauman, who went on to win the state title. Lindell faced Tayler Yliniemi, the second-ranked wrestler at 189 and lost 5-2 in the wrestlebacks.

Lindell (34-2) has already beaten Logan Brand, the second ranked wrestler and United South Central’s A.J. Dreyer, the third-ranked wrestler twice this season, but Cyr said he has not wrestled his best yet.

“I think it’s a tribute to the fact that he’s made some progress and made some strides and he’s still not been at his best for six minutes and still beaten some pretty good kids,” Cyr said. “We need one time before this season is out to put six solid minutes together.”

Lindell wrestles sixth-ranked Joe Holdvogt in the first round.

Lassahn (24-11) came on strong at the section individual meet and defeated Maple River’s Jesse Jaeger in the semifinals. Lassahn lost by major decision to Jaeger.

“My biggest concern was not that he doesn’t have the ability, because he’s a very talented athlete and a pretty good wrestler, but mentally could he get over the hump,” Cyr said of Lassahn.

Lassahn proved that at sections and now will get his first test at the state tournament against fourth-ranked Ted Berckes (35-1) from Canby.