Edina wrestling star's season-ending injury ends title hopes

Knee injury sidelines Hornets captain Anthony Nichols, leaving team leadership to other seniors

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Edina High School wrestling star Anthony Nichols, a senior captain with a 16-0 record, suffered a season-ending knee injury, dashing his hopes of becoming the first Hornet wrestler to win a state individual title. While Nichols handled the situation well and remained a team leader, his absence left on-mat leadership to fellow seniors Sam Hoy and Cooper Austin, who stepped up to lead the young Hornets squad.

Why it matters

Nichols' injury was a major blow to the Edina wrestling team's chances of success this season, as he was a dominant wrestler with a real shot at making history. The Hornets had to adjust their leadership and strategy without their top performer, highlighting the challenges high school teams face when dealing with key player injuries.

The details

Anthony Nichols, Edina's senior captain, had compiled a 16-0 record and was on track to become the first Hornet wrestler to win a state individual title. However, a season-ending knee injury suffered about a third of the way through the season dashed those hopes. While Nichols handled the situation maturely and remained a team leader, his absence left the on-mat leadership to fellow seniors Sam Hoy and Cooper Austin. Hoy, coming off a shoulder injury, stepped up and made the All-Lake Conference team, while Austin led the team in wins with 22, earning all-conference honorable mention.

  • About a third of the way through the high school wrestling season, Anthony Nichols suffered a season-ending knee injury.
  • At the end of the season, Nichols' teammates voted him the team MVP despite his injury.

The players

Anthony Nichols

A senior captain on the Edina High School wrestling team who had a 16-0 record and was on track to become the first Hornet wrestler to win a state individual title before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Sam Hoy

A senior on the Edina wrestling team who stepped up to provide on-mat leadership after Nichols' injury. Hoy made the All-Lake Conference team with a 5-2 record in conference matches, coming off a shoulder injury in his junior season.

Cooper Austin

A senior on the Edina wrestling team who led the Hornets in wins with 22 and earned all-conference honorable mention, in only his third year of wrestling.

Josh Burhans

The head coach of the Edina High School wrestling team from 2010 to 2026, who announced he will not return next season.

Ethan Julkowski

An eighth-grader on the Edina wrestling team who earned all-conference honorable mention, showing the team's potential for the future.

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What they’re saying

“Anthony's injury was a blow to the team. He is a year-round wrestler, who had a legitimate shot at the state title. Much of his success came from a great work ethic.”

— Josh Burhans, Head Coach

“He handled the situation well. At the end of the season, Anthony's teammates voted him the MVP.”

— Josh Burhans, Head Coach

“Sam was coming off a shoulder injury in his junior [wrestling] season. He came in this year and worked super hard. Sam made the All-Lake Conference team with a 5-2 record in conference matches.”

— Josh Burhans, Head Coach

“This is only Cooper's third year of wrestling. He was all-conference honorable mention.”

— Josh Burhans, Head Coach

“Coaching Edina wrestling has been a great opportunity for me.”

— Josh Burhans, Head Coach

What’s next

The Edina High School wrestling team will look to rebuild for next season, with several promising younger wrestlers like eighth-grader Ethan Julkowski. However, the team will be without the leadership of longtime head coach Josh Burhans, who announced he will not return next season.

The takeaway

Nichols' season-ending injury was a major setback for the Edina wrestling team's chances this year, but the Hornets showed resilience and leadership from other seniors like Hoy and Austin. The team's younger wrestlers also demonstrated potential, suggesting a bright future despite the loss of their longtime head coach.