Brainerd wrestler Easton Dircks advances to state finals at 152 pounds

Dircks wins two matches to reach championship bout, while Ari Halbert reaches semifinals in girls bracket

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Brainerd High School wrestler Easton Dircks won a technical fall and a decision match to advance to the Class 3A State Individual Finals at 152 pounds on Friday. Dircks will face defending state champion Davis Parrow of Farmington in the finals. In the girls bracket, Brainerd's Ari Halbert reached the semifinals at 142 pounds before losing a close match.

Why it matters

Dircks has been chasing a state championship for years, and his run to the finals represents a major accomplishment for the Brainerd wrestling program. Halbert's semifinal appearance also shows the continued growth of girls wrestling in Minnesota.

The details

In the quarterfinals, Dircks scored four takedowns against St. Francis' Kenny Ferrario before ending the match with a four-point near fall in the third period. In the semifinals, Dircks won a 2-1 decision against Park's Zack Carr, with the winning point coming on a stalling call against Carr with 55 seconds left. Halbert reached the semifinals with a pin of Jovanna Volker at 142 pounds, but lost a close 7-5 decision to Taniah Borney of Eagan.

  • Dircks won his quarterfinal match on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Dircks won his semifinal match on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Halbert won her quarterfinal match on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Halbert lost her semifinal match on Friday, February 27, 2026.

The players

Easton Dircks

A wrestler for the Brainerd High School wrestling team who has advanced to the Class 3A State Individual Finals at 152 pounds.

Davis Parrow

The defending state champion at 152 pounds who Dircks will face in the finals.

Ari Halbert

A wrestler for the Brainerd High School girls wrestling team who reached the semifinals at 142 pounds.

Taniah Borney

The Eagan wrestler who defeated Halbert in the semifinals at 142 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“Easton wrestled amazing. He's been chasing this for a number of years now. He's showing everyone what he's made of. He wrestled super hard and kept the pace high.”

— Andy Pickar, Brainerd head coach (brainerddispatch.com)

“She'll be on the podium no matter what and that quarterfinal match was huge. The quarterfinal girl she wrestled placed last year, but we knew that the way Ari had been wrestling, she could wrestle with anyone. She followed the gameplan and was in good positioning the whole match.”

— Layne Danielson, Brainerd assistant coach (brainerddispatch.com)

What’s next

Easton Dircks will face defending state champion Davis Parrow of Farmington in the Class 3A State Individual Finals at 152 pounds on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The takeaway

Brainerd's wrestling program continues to produce elite-level talent, with Easton Dircks reaching the state finals and Ari Halbert making a strong run in the girls bracket. This showcases the strength of the program and the dedication of the coaches and athletes.