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Youth Coaches

Jafari Vanier

  • Head Coach for Tonka Elite program
  • Owner of Super D Wrestling Academy 
  • High School State Champion (Bloomington Kennedy)
  • Fargo Cadet Finalist
  • Fargo Junior All-American, 3rd Place
  • NJCAA All-American Finalist (Iowa Central)
  • NCAA DIII All-American, 2x Finalist (Augsburg)

Lonnie Welsh

  • State place winner for Apple Valley High School
  • Bronze Coaching Status - USA Wrestling
  • Jr National Freestyle All-American
  • National qualifier for Luther College
  • Coach since 2022
  • Enterprise Partnerships at Vertical Insure
  • Married to Nickie and father to Adeline and George (K and 3rd grade)

RYAN LEBEAU

  • State Champion for Prior Lake High School
  • Bronze Coaching Status - USA Wrestling
  • 2x All American for Luther College
  • Coach since 2022
  • Vice President of Benefits Consulting at USI Insurance
  • Married to Sarah and father to Logan and Griffin (1st and 4th Grade)

Shane Falz

  • Wrestled for White Bear Lake HS
  • Wrestled for Navy
  • Cadet and Junior MN Storm Greco National team
  • Coach since 2022
  • Director of Maintenance - Ziegler Caterpillar
  • Father to Danica and Otto (6th and 4th Grade)

Jeff Merz

Jeff wrestled from youth through high school, finishing as a Minnesota State Tournament qualifier for Wayzata. These days, he's a medical device manufacturing engineer at Integer Corp. by day and works piano keys, the perfect pie crust, and arts and craft supplies by night. A proud dad of two daughters (ages 5, Catherine; and 11, Vada), Jeff enjoys Zumba, DIY projects, and teaching his kids everything from baking to brake pads. He brings energy, humor, and a love for lifelong learning to the wrestling mat.

James Heer

  • State place winner for Britton High School
  • President and CEO at WCRA of Minnesota
  • 9th year coaching with Tonka Wrestling
  • University of South Dakota 
  • Father of Austin (Minnetonka HS)

Phil Beaumia

  • 3x MN state high school place winner from Apple Valley
  • Wrestled at UW Madison
  • Coached at Wayzata elementary program 2023-24
  • Coached at Richfield High School from 2016-2018
  • 2nd year coach with Tonka
  • Married to Nikki, and father to Kellan (3rd Grade)

Greg Janey

  • Wrestled for Park Center HS
  • Career high school record: 142-35
  • Wrestled for NDSU
  • 3rd year coaching with Tonka
  • VP of Contractor & Residential Businesses at The Toro Company
  • Father to Ryker (3rd Grade)

David Fleming

  • State qualifier for Waconia High School
  • First year coaching with Tonka
  • Father of Paige and Charlie (1st and Pre-K)

Kyle LeDuc

  • State Finalist and 3x state place winner for Thief River Falls
  • National qualifier for Concordia College
  • 3x NWCA Academic All American
  • Coached at Tonka High School from 2018 - 2019
  • Owner of Connection Chiropractic in Minnetonka - www.connectionchiromn.com

COACHES WANTED

  • No prior wrestling experience needed!
  • Help build a great program
  • Talk to a coach at practice or contact us at Youth@TonkaWrestling.org for more information