Independent file photo Minneota’s Trent Esping (78) celebrates after the Vikings defeated Wabasso in the Class A Championship game on Nov. 25. The senior will continue his football career at Dakota Wesleyan University.

MINNEOTA – Trent Esping is a three-sport athlete for the Minneota Vikings. In the spring he’s a member of the Minneota golf team. This past winter Esping was a state champion on the mat for the Vikings, winning the state championship in the 285-pound division.

This past fall Esping capped his prep football career with a state title. It was the third state championship team that Esping has been apart of. Esping and his fellow seniors finished their careers with more state titles (3) than losses (1).

Esping was able to end his prep football career on a high note and now he’s ensured himself that Minneota’s victory over Wabasso in the state title game wasn’t his last time strapping on the pads. Esping recently committed to continue his football career at Dakota Wesleyan University.

“Playing college football has always been a dream of mine,” Esping said. “Now that it came true its very unreal.”

Esping was a two-way player for the Vikings. On offense he was the team’s starting left tackle, protecting fellow senior Alex Pohlen, who also recently committed to play at DWU.

“It will be really cool to play with Alex for another four years,” Esping said. “We will both be able to see each other grow and push each other to be our best.”

On the defensive side of the ball he was an anchor on Minneota’s defensive line. At DWU Esping will be playing defensive end.

“The biggest challenge for me is accepting that I am not going to be able to do everything perfect,” Esping said.

This past season the Tigers finished with a 6-5 record. It’s a program that’s familiar with winning, as they’ve accumulated a record of 44-20 over the past six seasons. Esping said that the winning tradition was a big draw, but the biggest factor was the environment surrounding the campus and the program.

“I chose DWU because it is very family orientated,” Esping said. “Everyone there is like one family.”

Esping said that he’ll miss all the friendships he’s forged over the past four years the most when he graduates from Minneota this spring.

“I will miss the bonds that I made with everyone around town,” Esping said. “I’ll miss all the conversations about football with all of the past players and fans in the community.”