University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Sam Janicki
11/11/2026 8:28:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota wrestling program added seven new members on National Signing Day as Zane Engels, Max Gonzalez, Bennett Kujawa, Carson Neubert, Bryston Scoles, Landon Thoennes and Drake VomBaur all signed with the Golden Gophers for the 2027-28 season, head coach Brandon Eggum announced Wednesday.
"We're really excited about this group of young men and what they're going to bring to our program," Eggum said. "We've added some outstanding talent, but just as importantly, we've added great people who come from strong families and understand what it takes to be successful. This is a competitive group that loves wrestling, works hard and wants to be part of something special. We believe they have a bright future here at Minnesota."
Zane Engels | Northfield, Minn. | 184/197 LBS
A Northfield, Minn., native, Engels has competed for Northfield High School and is a two-time state placewinner, highlighted by a trip to the Class AAA 172-pound finals last season. His other placement came his sophomore season when he was fourth at 160 pounds. Over the last two seasons, he's gone 95-9 for Northfield. In the summer of 2025, he placed fifth at USA Nationals to become a Fargo All-American. Ranked 200th overall in the recruiting class by MatScouts and 19th at 175 pounds by FloWrestling, Engels is expected to compete at 184/197 pounds for Minnesota.
"Zane is a young man with a tremendous upside," Eggum said. "He's continued to improve throughout his high school career, and we really like his size, athleticism and the way he competes. He's a hard worker who is only scratching the surface of his potential. We're excited to keep him home in Minnesota and help him develop at the next level."
Max Gonzalez | East Troy, Wis. | 149/157 LBS
Gonzalez is a native of East Troy, Wis., and wrestles for East Troy High School where he's placed twice at the Wisconsin state championships. Last year as a junior, he came in fifth at 150 pounds, while as a freshman he earned a third-place finish at 126 pounds. In his sophomore campaign, he was 21-0 before an injury ended his season early. Gonzalez was a Fargo All-American in 2024 at 16U when he placed eighth at 132 pounds. Ranked second in the state at Division II at 150 pounds by WisconsinGrappler.com, Gonzalez is expected to compete at 149 or 157 pounds.
"Max is a tough, competitive wrestler who has shown a lot of resilience throughout his career," Eggum said. "He's battled through adversity and continued to find ways to get better. We love his attitude, his work ethic and the way he competes. He's got a lot of potential, and we're excited about what he can accomplish in our room."
Bennett Kujawa | Becker, Minn. | 149/157 LBS
Kujawa hails from Becker, Minn., and attends Becker High School where he has placed four times at the state championships, highlighted by a spot in the Class AA 139-pound finals last season. In addition, he's got a third-place finish as a freshman at 144 pounds, a fourth-place finish in his sophomore season at 133 pounds, plus a fifth-place result as an eighth grader at 106 pounds. This past summer, Kujawa was an All-American at USA Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, placing seventh in the former and fourth in the latter. Ranked 103rd overall in the class by MatScouts and No. 12 by FloWrestling at 150 pounds, he is expected to compete at 149 or 157 pounds for the Gophers.
"Bennett is a tremendous competitor who brings a lot of toughness and versatility to the mat," Eggum said. "He's had success in multiple styles of wrestling, and that speaks to his ability and willingness to challenge himself. He's the type of young man who embraces hard work and competition. As a multiple sport athlete, Bennett has continued to progress each year and we are excited for his growth as he focuses solely on wrestling. We're excited to have another talented Minnesota wrestler joining our program."
Carson Neubert | Luxemburg, Wis. | 157 LBS
Neubert is a two-time Wisconsin state champion at Luxemburg-Casco High School, winning the Division I 126-pound title in 2025 and then taking the DI 144-pound title last season. In addition, he placed third at 120 pounds at the DII level in 2024. Entering his senior season, Neubert was 163-8 in his prep career. He's also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success on the national level, winning the 2025 NHSCA national championship at 132 pounds, plus USA Wrestling folkstyle national titles for 14U at 114 pounds in 2023 and 16U at 132 pounds in 2025. MatScouts ranks him No. 67 overall on its Big Board, while at 157 pounds he's ranked ninth nationally. He's expected to compete at 157 pounds for Minnesota.
"Carson is a proven winner who has had success at every level he's competed at," Eggum said. "He's technically sound, competes with confidence and knows how to perform in big moments. What really stands out is his consistency and his desire to keep improving. We believe his competitive mindset and approach to the sport will make him a great fit in our program."
Bryston Scoles | Kewaskum, Wis. | 165 LBS
Scoles hails from Kewaskum, Wis., and Kewaskum High School where he is a two-time state finalist and the reigning Division II state champion at 157 pounds. He was the runner up at 150 pounds in 2025 and also took third at 138 pounds in 2024. He holds a career prep record of 143-4. Expected to compete at 165 pounds for the Gophers, he's ranked No. 45 overall and fifth at 157 by FloWrestling in this year's recruiting class.
"Bryston is an extremely consistent competitor who brings a tremendous amount of pace and intensity to every match," Eggum said. "He wrestles hard for the full seven minutes and is constantly looking to create opportunities to score. That style of wrestling will translate well to the college level. We love his competitive mentality and believe he's going to thrive in our environment here at Minnesota."
Landon Thoennes | St. Cloud, Minn. | 125/133 LBS
Hailing from St. Cloud, Minn., Thoennes is the two-time defending state champion for St. Michael-Albertville High School. This past season, he was 50-2 en route to winning the Class AAA title at 114 pounds, while as a sophomore he went 40-2 in claiming the title at 107 pounds. He's a five-time Fargo All-American across freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman competition. He took third at 106 pounds in junior freestyle in 2025, while 2024 saw him take second in 16U in both Greco-Roman and folkstyle. Competing at 88 pounds in 16U in 2023, he was seventh in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle. A prospect at either 125 or 133 pounds, Thoennes is rated 119th overall and No. 15 at 120 pounds by MatScouts.
"Landon is a highly accomplished wrestler who has consistently challenged himself against great competition," Eggum said. "He's had tremendous success in both folkstyle and freestyle, and we love the way he competes. He's disciplined, hardworking and has a strong desire to be the best. We're excited to keep another outstanding Minnesota talent home and help him reach his goals."
Drake VomBaur | Greeley, Colo. | 125/133 LBS
VomBaur follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Vance, a two-time All-American at 141 pounds for the Gophers who is a sixth-year senior this season. Drake hails from Greeley, Colo., and is a three-time state champion for Severance High School. He won the Class 4A 106-pound title in 2024 then followed with state crowns at 113 pounds as a sophomore and 120 pounds as a junior. Nationally, he won a USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals title and was a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals finalist. MatScouts ranks him 220th overall in the class, and he's expected to compete at 125 or 133 pounds.
"We're excited to welcome another VomBaur into the Gopher Wrestling family," Eggum said. "Drake has a tremendous passion for wrestling and a strong work ethic, and is constantly dissecting his wrestling. He competes at a high pace, constantly looking to create scoring opportunities and put pressure on his opponents. He's a talented young man who has already accomplished a lot, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him here at Minnesota."
"We're really excited about this group of young men and what they're going to bring to our program," Eggum said. "We've added some outstanding talent, but just as importantly, we've added great people who come from strong families and understand what it takes to be successful. This is a competitive group that loves wrestling, works hard and wants to be part of something special. We believe they have a bright future here at Minnesota."
Zane Engels | Northfield, Minn. | 184/197 LBS
A Northfield, Minn., native, Engels has competed for Northfield High School and is a two-time state placewinner, highlighted by a trip to the Class AAA 172-pound finals last season. His other placement came his sophomore season when he was fourth at 160 pounds. Over the last two seasons, he's gone 95-9 for Northfield. In the summer of 2025, he placed fifth at USA Nationals to become a Fargo All-American. Ranked 200th overall in the recruiting class by MatScouts and 19th at 175 pounds by FloWrestling, Engels is expected to compete at 184/197 pounds for Minnesota.
"Zane is a young man with a tremendous upside," Eggum said. "He's continued to improve throughout his high school career, and we really like his size, athleticism and the way he competes. He's a hard worker who is only scratching the surface of his potential. We're excited to keep him home in Minnesota and help him develop at the next level."
Max Gonzalez | East Troy, Wis. | 149/157 LBS
Gonzalez is a native of East Troy, Wis., and wrestles for East Troy High School where he's placed twice at the Wisconsin state championships. Last year as a junior, he came in fifth at 150 pounds, while as a freshman he earned a third-place finish at 126 pounds. In his sophomore campaign, he was 21-0 before an injury ended his season early. Gonzalez was a Fargo All-American in 2024 at 16U when he placed eighth at 132 pounds. Ranked second in the state at Division II at 150 pounds by WisconsinGrappler.com, Gonzalez is expected to compete at 149 or 157 pounds.
"Max is a tough, competitive wrestler who has shown a lot of resilience throughout his career," Eggum said. "He's battled through adversity and continued to find ways to get better. We love his attitude, his work ethic and the way he competes. He's got a lot of potential, and we're excited about what he can accomplish in our room."
Bennett Kujawa | Becker, Minn. | 149/157 LBS
Kujawa hails from Becker, Minn., and attends Becker High School where he has placed four times at the state championships, highlighted by a spot in the Class AA 139-pound finals last season. In addition, he's got a third-place finish as a freshman at 144 pounds, a fourth-place finish in his sophomore season at 133 pounds, plus a fifth-place result as an eighth grader at 106 pounds. This past summer, Kujawa was an All-American at USA Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, placing seventh in the former and fourth in the latter. Ranked 103rd overall in the class by MatScouts and No. 12 by FloWrestling at 150 pounds, he is expected to compete at 149 or 157 pounds for the Gophers.
"Bennett is a tremendous competitor who brings a lot of toughness and versatility to the mat," Eggum said. "He's had success in multiple styles of wrestling, and that speaks to his ability and willingness to challenge himself. He's the type of young man who embraces hard work and competition. As a multiple sport athlete, Bennett has continued to progress each year and we are excited for his growth as he focuses solely on wrestling. We're excited to have another talented Minnesota wrestler joining our program."
Carson Neubert | Luxemburg, Wis. | 157 LBS
Neubert is a two-time Wisconsin state champion at Luxemburg-Casco High School, winning the Division I 126-pound title in 2025 and then taking the DI 144-pound title last season. In addition, he placed third at 120 pounds at the DII level in 2024. Entering his senior season, Neubert was 163-8 in his prep career. He's also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success on the national level, winning the 2025 NHSCA national championship at 132 pounds, plus USA Wrestling folkstyle national titles for 14U at 114 pounds in 2023 and 16U at 132 pounds in 2025. MatScouts ranks him No. 67 overall on its Big Board, while at 157 pounds he's ranked ninth nationally. He's expected to compete at 157 pounds for Minnesota.
"Carson is a proven winner who has had success at every level he's competed at," Eggum said. "He's technically sound, competes with confidence and knows how to perform in big moments. What really stands out is his consistency and his desire to keep improving. We believe his competitive mindset and approach to the sport will make him a great fit in our program."
Bryston Scoles | Kewaskum, Wis. | 165 LBS
Scoles hails from Kewaskum, Wis., and Kewaskum High School where he is a two-time state finalist and the reigning Division II state champion at 157 pounds. He was the runner up at 150 pounds in 2025 and also took third at 138 pounds in 2024. He holds a career prep record of 143-4. Expected to compete at 165 pounds for the Gophers, he's ranked No. 45 overall and fifth at 157 by FloWrestling in this year's recruiting class.
"Bryston is an extremely consistent competitor who brings a tremendous amount of pace and intensity to every match," Eggum said. "He wrestles hard for the full seven minutes and is constantly looking to create opportunities to score. That style of wrestling will translate well to the college level. We love his competitive mentality and believe he's going to thrive in our environment here at Minnesota."
Landon Thoennes | St. Cloud, Minn. | 125/133 LBS
Hailing from St. Cloud, Minn., Thoennes is the two-time defending state champion for St. Michael-Albertville High School. This past season, he was 50-2 en route to winning the Class AAA title at 114 pounds, while as a sophomore he went 40-2 in claiming the title at 107 pounds. He's a five-time Fargo All-American across freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman competition. He took third at 106 pounds in junior freestyle in 2025, while 2024 saw him take second in 16U in both Greco-Roman and folkstyle. Competing at 88 pounds in 16U in 2023, he was seventh in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle. A prospect at either 125 or 133 pounds, Thoennes is rated 119th overall and No. 15 at 120 pounds by MatScouts.
"Landon is a highly accomplished wrestler who has consistently challenged himself against great competition," Eggum said. "He's had tremendous success in both folkstyle and freestyle, and we love the way he competes. He's disciplined, hardworking and has a strong desire to be the best. We're excited to keep another outstanding Minnesota talent home and help him reach his goals."
Drake VomBaur | Greeley, Colo. | 125/133 LBS
VomBaur follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Vance, a two-time All-American at 141 pounds for the Gophers who is a sixth-year senior this season. Drake hails from Greeley, Colo., and is a three-time state champion for Severance High School. He won the Class 4A 106-pound title in 2024 then followed with state crowns at 113 pounds as a sophomore and 120 pounds as a junior. Nationally, he won a USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals title and was a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals finalist. MatScouts ranks him 220th overall in the class, and he's expected to compete at 125 or 133 pounds.
"We're excited to welcome another VomBaur into the Gopher Wrestling family," Eggum said. "Drake has a tremendous passion for wrestling and a strong work ethic, and is constantly dissecting his wrestling. He competes at a high pace, constantly looking to create scoring opportunities and put pressure on his opponents. He's a talented young man who has already accomplished a lot, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him here at Minnesota."
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