It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Smokestack gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Mayer, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting West Ridge Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Agave Mexican Restaurant or visit Lake County Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Mayer, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Mayer, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mayer, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
MINNEAPOLIS — Brielle Janssen's cellphone has been blowing up with messages lately.The star guard/forward led the MACCRAY girls basketball team to its fourth state berth after the Wolverines secured a 54-44 victory against Hills-Beaver Creek in the Section 3A championship last Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University's R/A Facility in Marshall."It's really just cool to see that when you come from a s...
MINNEAPOLIS — Brielle Janssen's cellphone has been blowing up with messages lately.
The star guard/forward led the MACCRAY girls basketball team to its fourth state berth after the Wolverines secured a 54-44 victory against Hills-Beaver Creek in the Section 3A championship last Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University's R/A Facility in Marshall.
"It's really just cool to see that when you come from a small town, that you truly have the whole community behind you, supporting you," Janssen said. "That's been really fun to see."
MACCRAY (23-5) opens up the Class A state tournament as the seventh seed and faces No. 2 Mayer Lutheran at 3 p.m. Thursday at the University of Minnesota's Maturi Pavilion.
The Crusaders (26-3) enter state fresh off a 58-49 win against United Christian Academy in the Section 4A championship last Friday at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids.
"We can go as far as we want," Wolverines senior guard Callie Jaenisch said. "There's nothing to lose at this point."
That starts with a lengthy, athletic Mayer Lutheran team in the quarterfinal round led by sisters Clara and Izabelle Keaveny.
Clara Keaveny, a 5-foot-10 junior wing who is a Class A All-State player, is averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, according to the Minnesota Girls Basketball Hub.
Izabelle Keaveny, also a 5-10 junior wing who has posted 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, is a Class A All-State Honorable Mention.
"(The Crusaders) have two twins that are really good basketball players," MACCRAY head coach Shaun Condon said. "If we do all the little things, we can beat anybody."
Also in Mayer Lutheran's starting lineup is Avery Arvig, a 5-10 junior wing who "always guards the other team's best player," Crusaders head coach Kris Gustin said. Hallie Hunter, a 6-0 sophomore post/interior defender averaging 11.8 points and 5.6 rebounds, and Marley Martin, a 6-1 senior wing primarily used as a "help defender," Gustin said, are the other starters.
"Our size and length usually gives teams trouble," Gustin said. "But, it doesn't look like that will be the case with MACCRAY because they have that as well."
Janssen, a 6-1 junior who is committed to Division II Minnesota State University-Mankato, is averaging 26.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.7 steals per game.
Along with Clara Keaveny, Janssen is also one of the 10 players on the Class A All-State team. She was named the Camden Conference MVP for a third consecutive season.
"Janssen is really, really good," Gustin said. "Anytime you can handle the ball like that and navigate the floor like that at 6-1, that's pretty impressive. Obviously, she's going to make a great college player. Mankato is going to be lucky to have her."
Emma Thein, a 6-0 junior center, is averaging 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Wolverines.
Ella Hultgren, a 5-7 senior guard, Sam Hultgren, a 5-8 sophomore guard, and Jaenisch, a 5-7 senior guard, round out MACCRAY's starting lineup
"(Thein) is a really nice post player and does a really good job of getting position, keeping position and finishing," Gustin said."They got a couple of shooters that can go with that.
"(The Wolverines) are playing really well right now. It's certainly going to be a challenging match-up for us."
MACCRAY enters the state tournament with the longest winning streak (10) of the eight teams in the field.
The Wolverines look to carry that momentum toward their first state title since the inception of MACCRAY.
State appearances for the Wolverines include: 1990, 1991 and 2006. Midwest Minnesota, a co-op between Clara City and Maynard, won a Class A title in 1986.
"The big feeling we all have is excitement, excitement to bring this to our community," Jaenisch said. "This hasn't happened for 19 years."
"I don't know that it has even sank in yet," Condon said. "I'm excited for these girls — they've earned it — and I'm excited for this community. It's been quite a long time since we've been down there."
The Crusaders have nine players on their girls basketball roster who were on Mayer Lutheran's volleyball team which won the Class A state title in November.
Mayer Lutheran, which has had five previous state appearances and three in the last five seasons, is looking to capture its first state title in girls basketball.
"(A state championship) would be pretty special," Gustin said.
Q1: (1) Goodhue vs. (8) Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, 11 a.m.Q2: (4) West Central Area vs. (5) Cromwell-Wright, 1 p.m.Q3: (2) Mayer Lutheran vs. (7) MACCRAY, 3 p.m.Q4: (3) Sleepy Eye St. Mary's vs. (6) Sacred Heart, 5 p.m.
S1: Winners of Q1 and Q2, noonS2: Winners of Q3 and Q4, 2 p.m.
CS1: Losers of Q1 and Q2, 10 a.m.CS2: Losers of Q3 and Q4, noon
Championship: Winners of S1 and S2, noon at Williams ArenaThird-place: Losers of S1 and S2, 10 a.m. at Gangelhoff CenterConsolation: Winners of CS1 and CS2, 8 a.m. at Gangelhoff Center
Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran filled the vacuum when Simley, winner of six consecutive championships, lost in the semifinals.By Jim Paulsen and Alyce BrownFor the Minnesota Star TribuneExcellence is expected when you ...
Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran filled the vacuum when Simley, winner of six consecutive championships, lost in the semifinals.
By Jim Paulsen and Alyce Brown
For the Minnesota Star Tribune
Excellence is expected when you wrestle for St. Michael-Albertville, so the Knights’ 47-18 victory over Shakopee in the Class 3A championship match Thursday at Xcel Energy Center came as no surprise to anyone who’s followed high school wrestling this season.
The Knights are deep and talented, with two undefeated wrestlers with more than 40 victories — Landon Robideau and John Murphy — at key weights in their lineup. Five more have won more than 30. They were the defending champion, and they didn’t lose a match in 2024-25, finishing 27-0.
But the driving force for their stampede through their season can be traced back to two years ago, when St. Michael-Albertville had a state title all but tucked away before Hastings rallied with five straight victories in the championship match — three of them pins — to shock the wrestling community with a remarkable victory.
To a man, the Knights remember the disappointment of that night in 2023. And it still motivates them.
“Since that time, we definitely haven’t looked past anyone,” said Robideau, who improved to 41-0 on the season. “We’re making sure no matter if we lose a couple of matches, we’re picking our guys up.”
Senior Jarrett Wadson said there is one difference between this year’s team and the one that lost two years ago.
“We just went out and put a stamp on our season,” he said. “It feels awesome. One thing we learned is humbleness. … We just go out and do the job.”
On Thursday night, something happened that doesn’t happen very often: Class 2A got a first-time wrestling state champion.
Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran defeated Kasson-Mantorville 33-20 to win the program’s first state title and break a long-running streak at the top of the class.
“I want to raise the bar. I want to make history wherever I go,” said co-head coach Bill McDonald. “I came in there and I told the kids, ‘Let’s win the state tournament. That’s the goal. We’re not here to qualify.‘ ”
The last time the 2A wrestling title didn’t go to either Simley or Kasson-Mantorville was 2007, back when powerhouse St. Michael-Albertville was still a 2A school and claimed the championship.
Simley, usually the darling of 2A wrestling, was absent from the championship match for the first time in seven years after losing in the semifinals to Kasson-Mantorville.
Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran was ready for their opportunity. After a strong beginning gave the Royals a slight lead, the night’s winning pin came from senior Bryce Burkett at 172 pounds.
“I was just excited knowing that if I pin, it’s over,” Burkett said. “I just live for that. It’s the most perfect situation I could have had.”
The team hailing from in and near Watertown (pop. 5,000), 45 minutes west of Minneapolis, had one of the night’s largest cheering sections. It lit up for the wrestlers’ every move.
“These people, this will be a memory when they come back to their 40-year class reunion. They’ll have pictures when they’re old men like I am now,” McDonald said. “And they’ll talk about it forever. That’s a small town, that’s how it is. That’s what makes it fun.”
Staples-Motley assistant coach Dan Bjerga was a member of the last two Cardinals teams to win a state title, in 1984 and 1985.
He never expected it to take 40 years for the program to win another.
Staples-Motley beat No. 1-ranked Chatfield 33-16 in the finals. The victory reversed the decision from a year ago, when Chatfield won handily in the finals.
Staples-Motley was nearly unbeatable all day, thrashing United North Central 51-11 in the quarterfinals and shutting out No. 3 seed Jackson County Central 64-0 in the semifinals.
“You want to be at your best at this time of year, and that’s exactly what this team did,” Bjerga said.
His two sons on the team, Garrett and Gage, helped kickstart the Cardinals in the finals. Garrett won at 107 pounds and Gage at 121, sparking the Cardinals to six straight victories to start the match, staking Staples-Motley to a 21-0 lead.
“We knew we would have to win the first four matches, and we did that,” said head coach Jim Jackson, who also has won state championships with Apple Valley and Shakopee. “We’ve got great kids and we’ve got great coaches. And they all have kids on the team. That’s what makes this team great.”
Royals stars Bryce Burkett and twins Joel and Titan Friederichs are a combined 121-0 this season and going for state titles this weekend.The Minnesota Star TribuneThe wrestling room at Watertown-Mayer High School is not blessed with excess space. The mats cover almost every square foot of the lower-level room, and the four coaches have to watch their steps as they move around.One of those coaches, Bill McDonald, was the Royals’ first state wrestling champion, winning in 1984 at 145 pounds in Class A. He went from t...
Royals stars Bryce Burkett and twins Joel and Titan Friederichs are a combined 121-0 this season and going for state titles this weekend.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
The wrestling room at Watertown-Mayer High School is not blessed with excess space. The mats cover almost every square foot of the lower-level room, and the four coaches have to watch their steps as they move around.
One of those coaches, Bill McDonald, was the Royals’ first state wrestling champion, winning in 1984 at 145 pounds in Class A. He went from there to become a four-time All-American for Southwest Minnesota State. He’s in both the SMSU and Northern Sun Conference Halls of Fame.
Bill has rounded out a bit physically in the decades since he was a killer on the mat, but the enthusiasm for the favorite of his three sports (also football and baseball) and his home high school remains off the charts.
Kurt Becker and McDonald describe themselves as co-head coaches for the Royals. T.J. Friederichs, father to twins Joel and Titan, and Troy Peterson, former state runner-up here and stepfather to 172-pounder Bryce Burkett, serve as assistants.
McDonald takes the prize in the conversation area. On Monday, he was agreeing with me that no sport matches wrestling for the grueling effort it requires.
“Wrestling is hard!” McDonald said. “You want to have fun? Play baseball. You get your swings in batting practice, then stand around in the field while other guys are hitting.
“You want to get thrown around for 90 minutes in a hot room? Wrestle. You want to get some laughs for 90 minutes? Go to baseball practice.”
Seventh-graders through seniors, there were 30 kids in this wrestling room. Lots of smaller young men, but don’t let that fool you.
Titan Friederichs is a 127-pound junior entering the state meet at 40-0 this winter. He’s a two-time defending state champion and carries a 138-match winning streak. Brother Joel is at 121 pounds, also 40-0 and 131-9 over the past three seasons.
And then there’s the Friederichs’ self-described “big brother,” senior Burkett, another state champion — 41-0 this season and 141-1 for the past three years.
“The twins are so full of energy,” Burkett said. “They drive me crazy, and at the same time, I love them to death. When we aren’t wrestling, high school, development programs, national meets … if it’s summer, we’re playing golf at Timber Creek."
Joel said: “Burkett can make a 3, followed by a 13, faster than anybody on a golf course.”
Burkett laughed and said: “There’s no lie there.”
There will not be as much golf this summer. Burkett has committed to wrestle at Oklahoma and the Sooners — a staff with a strong connection to Minnesota — want him in Norman only a couple of weeks after he graduates from high school.
The Friederichs already are committed to the Gophers. “We’ve known [coach] Brandon Eggum for a long time; we’ve worked in the regional training program at the U,” Joel said. “And the Gophers were in contact with offers on the first day a college could do that last June.”
Eggum and the twins’ late uncle, Ty Friederichs, were teammates with the Gophers. Ty was a four-time state champion at Osseo High School. Their father, T.J., also was a standout there and then wrestled at St. Cloud State.
So T.J. — how was it that one twin is Joel (common name) and his partner in birth winds up being a Titan?
“Timothy Joel is my name; he arrived first and was a junior,” father Friederichs said. “The second baby took 45 minutes and gave his mother a very hard birth. We decided that made him a Titan.”
Training partners with proper skills can be hard to find for tremendous wrestlers in smaller high schools. The twins have each other.
“We get in some battles and wind up practice upset with each other,” Joel said. “By the time we get home, we’re best friends again. Now the golf course … that’s where the real battles take place."
Watertown-Mayer is 19-1 this season, losing only to Class 3A power St. Michael-Albertville, 30-21. The Royals are seeded No. 1 in Class 2A, opening vs. Totino-Grace on Thursday at 11 a.m.
They also have seven individuals in competition: the twins, Burkett, Blake Brose, Sully Marx, Kaleb Mead and Kyler Burmeister, a 215-pounder. Burmeister would be a college recruit in football and wrestling, but he’s going to be an electrician, not a college student.
Titan will be going for a third state title and has that tremendous winning streak to protect this week.
“My last loss ended my eighth-grade season in the state tournament,” Titan said. “Robby Sherk from Park Rapids caught me in a cradle and pinned me. Then he lost his next match, so I didn’t get to wrestle again.
“Big mistake by me. You can’t make those.”
Lesson learned — 138 prep matches ago, and counting.
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