MN State Individual Wrestling Tournament

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- The individual competition of the State Wrestling Tournament is scheduled for March 2-3 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Here is a look at the tournament:

FAST FACTS

The schedule:

Friday, March 2, Session 3

9 a.m. – Class AA Individual First Round

11 a.m. – Class AAA Individual First Round

1 p.m. – Class A Individual First Round

Friday, March 2, Session 4

4 p.m. – Class AA Individual Championship Quarterfinals

5 p.m. – Class AAA Individual Championship Quarterfinals

6 p.m. – Class A Individual Championship Quarterfinals

7 p.m. – All Wrestlebacks

Saturday, March 3, Session 5

9 a.m.  – All Individual Consolation Quarterfinals

10:15 a.m. – All Individual Championship Semifinals

12:15 p.m. – All Individual Consolation Semifinals

Saturday, March 3, Session 6

4 p.m. – All Individual 3rd- and 5th-place Matches; Awards following matches

6:30 p.m. – All Individual Championships, Awards following matches

Webcast: All matches will be webcast on www.Prep45.com for a charge of $10.95 per day. A three-day pass, which includes the team tournament on Thursday, March 1, is available for $23.97.

Tickets: $14 adults, $9 students per single session. $26 adults, $17 students per daily pass. $78 adults, $51 students per season book (includes the team tournament).

Ticket Box Offices open: 8 a.m. each day.

Results: Posted on www.mshsl.org. Members of the media should also note that paper copies of brackets will not be distributed this year.

Social media: Follow the tournament on the League’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @MSHSL and @MSHSLJohn.

INDIVIDUAL PREVIEW

      Class A:

      106 pounds — There are no returning medalists or perfect records in this class.

                113 pounds — Jeron Matson (38-3) of Kenyon-Wanamingo returns to defend his title. Brett Willaby (37-3) of Windom/Mountain Lake, who placed fourth at 106 pounds, also returns. No one in this class is undefeated.

                120 pounds — This class features five returning medalists: Dayne Morton (40-3) of Sibley East of Arlington, runner-up at 113 pounds; Jackson Hale (31-3) of GMLOS, third at 106 pounds; Jace Geving (45-2) of Deer River, fourth in this weight class; Canon Swanson (44-2) of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, fifth at 113 pounds; and Landon Byer (32-12) of Frazee, sixth at 106 pounds.  No one has a perfect record.

                126 pounds — Michael Suda (36-3) of Pipestone Area returns to defend his title at this weight. Blake Legred (36-5) of United South Central of Wells, who won the championship at 106 pounds last year, will also compete in this weight class. The only other returning medal-winner is Tanner Schermerhorn (39-4) of Frazee, who placed second at 120 pounds last year. There are no undefeated competitors in this class.

                132 pounds — Hunter Burnett (40-2) of Pipestone Area, who claimed top honors at 120 pounds last year, will seek gold in this weight class this year. Two other medalists return: Mark Buringa (38-5) of St. Charles, third at 120 pounds; and Dillon McGee (32-6) of Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis, sixth at 113 pounds. No one has a perfect record in this class.

                138 pounds — Two 2017 medalists return: Tagen Miller (37-5) of Wabasha-Kellogg, fifth at 126 pounds last year; and Alex Borsgard (37-4) of Windom/Mountain Lake, fifth at 132 pounds. No one in this class is undefeated.

                145 pounds — Jake Mandt (35-0) of Chatfield is seeking his second title at this weight. Three additional medal-winners return: Seth Brossard (35-2) of Kenyon-Wanamingo, third at 132 pounds; Brady Tweeton (40-1) of Barnesville, third at 138 pounds; and Chandler Mooney (39-2) of Roseau, fourth in this class. Mandt has the only perfect record.

                152 pounds — Five medalists return in this weight class: Adam Jaeger (30-0) of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, third at 145 pounds; Zach Buseman (39-5) of Blue Earth Area, fourth in this weight class; Jacob Tvinnereim (45-5) of Jackson County Central, fourth at 138 pounds; Toby Hintzman (32-2) of United North Central, fifth at 160 pounds; and Tommy Wentzlaff (43-2) of Sibley East, sixth at 138 pounds. Jaeger boasts the only undefeated record.

                160 pounds — Jeremiah Colon (33-3) of Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Area is the highest returning medal-winner. He placed second at 170 pounds last year. Colon is joined by four additional medalists: Kelby O’Reilly (29-7) of Goodhue, third at 152 pounds; Colton Krell (35-3) of Westfield, fourth in this class; Kaden Spindler (40-3) of West Central Area/Ashby/Evansville, sixth at 145 pounds; and Ian Frenzel (27-4) of Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena, sixth at 152 pounds. No one in this class is undefeated.

                170 pounds — Two medalists return in this weight class: Hayden Voxland (30-12) of Zumbrota-Mazeppa, fifth; and Levi Larkin (35-7) of West Central Area/Ashby/Evansville, sixth. There are no perfect records in this field.

                182 pounds — Defending champion Caden Steffen (35-3) of Zumbrota-Mazeppa is the only returning medal-winner. No one is undefeated in this weight class.

                195 pounds — Jacob Bennett (41-3) of Zumbrota-Mazeppa leads a field of three returning medalists. Bennett earned runner-up honors in this class in 2017. He will be joined by: Dalton Wagner (9-0) of Jackson County Central, second at 160 pounds; and Jake Erckenback (34-2) of New York Mills, fourth in this weight class. Wagner has the only undefeated record.

                220 pounds — Four medal-winners return in this weight class: Jarret Haglund (33-8) of Zumbrota-Mazeppa, runner-up in this class; Jason Kasella (39-1) of Royalton/Upsala, third at 195 pounds; Dominik Vacura (28-4) of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River, fifth at 195 pounds; and Grant Ludwig (33-6) of Paynesville Area, sixth in this weight class. No one in this class has a perfect record.

                285 pounds — Mitchell Oswald (30-5) of Westfield looks to improve on last year’s third-place finish at 220 pounds. He will be joined by Josh Hansen (41-6) of Canby, who placed fifth in this weight class in 2017. There are no perfect records in the class.

                Sibley East and Frazee lead the Class A field with 10 qualifiers apiece.

      Class AA:

      106 pounds — There are no returning medal-winners or perfect records in this weight class.

                113 pounds — Three medalists return in this class: Jaxson Rohman (44-2) of Fairmont/Martin County West, runner-up at 106 pounds; Jared Johnson (39-3) of Kasson-Mantorville, fourth in this weight class; and Nate Garceau (30-3) of Foley, sixth at 106 pounds. Ashton Clark (35-0) of Park Rapids Area has the only unblemished record.

                120 pounds — Jake Svihel (50-1) of Totino-Grace of Fridley is the only returning medal-winner. He placed second at 113 pounds last year. There are no perfect records.

                126 pounds — Charlie Pickell (44-2) of Mankato West, defending champion at 113 pounds, leads a group of seven returning medalists. The others are: Jackson Stauffacher (43-4) of Scott West, runner-up in this weight class; Cael Berg (35-14) of Simley of Inver Grove Heights, fourth at 106 pounds; Jacob Prunty (34-2) of Worthington, fourth at 120 pounds; Josh Holm (47-3) of Grand Rapids, fifth in this class; Ezra Kaping (39-5) of Litchfield, sixth in this weight class; and Cade Lundeen (38-5) of Thief River Falls, sixth at 120 pounds. There are no perfect records.

                132 pounds — Jake Gliva (44-6) of Simley, who won at 126 pounds in last year, returns in search of more gold. Three additional medal-winners return: Brock Luthens (45-1) of Hutchinson, third at 126 pounds; Quinn Youngs (39-2) of Annandale/Maple Lake, fourth at 126 pounds; and Tyler Shackle (35-12) of Scott West, fifth in this weight class. No one in this class has an unblemished record.

                138 pounds — Two 2017 medalists return to compete in this weight class: Payton Anderson (35-5) of Fairmont/Martin County West, runner-up at 132 pounds; and Tanner Kroells (37-3) of Delano, third at 120 pounds. Kellen Schauer (50-0) of Grand Rapids boasts the only perfect record. 

                145 pounds — Hunter Ranweiler (40-2) of New Ulm Area is the highest returning medal-winner; he placed fifth at 138 pounds last year. He will be joined by AJ Bethea (46-2) of Hibbing, who placed sixth in this weight class in 2017. There are no unblemished records.

                152 pounds — Defending champion at 145 pounds, Tyler Wagener (49-1) of Waconia is the only returning medalist in this weight class. No one has a perfect record.

                160 pounds — Three medal-winners return in this class: Cade Mueller (45-5) of Waconia, fourth in this weight class; Braydon Orloff (22-1) of Detroit Lakes, fourth at 145 pounds; and Peyton Mortenson (38-2) of Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle/Montevideo, sixth at 152 pounds. There are no unblemished records.

                170 pounds — Dawson Kellogg (40-6) of Perham, who placed fourth at 182 pounds last year, is the only returning medalist. There are no perfect records.

                182 pounds — Patrick Kennedy (23-0) of Kasson-Mantorville, who struck gold at 170 pounds last year, leads a field of four returning medal-winners. The others are: Collin Steuber (44-3) of Fairmont/Martin County West, runner-up at 160 pounds; Tyler Buesgens (45-1) of Scott West, third in this class; and Gabe Zierden (35-0) of Albany, sixth in this weight class. Kennedy and Zierden boast the only unblemished records.

                195 pounds — Three medalists return in this weight class: Saylor Schmit (21-0) of Foley, runner-up in this class; Bobby Striggow (43-0) of Orono, runner-up at 182 pounds; and Ty Moser (39-1) of Perham, third in this weight class. Striggow and Schmit have the only perfect records.

                220 pounds — Daniel Kerkvliet (45-1) of Simley returns in search of more gold; he won at 195 pounds last year. Kerkvliet will be challenged by two additional medal-winners from this weight class: Steven Hajas (30-2) of Delano, fourth; and Sam Wamre (35-3) of United Clay Becker, sixth. No one has an unblemished record.

                285 pounds — Mitch Trigg (41-2) of Foley returns to defend his title. Three additional medalists return: Zachary Jakes (37-0) of Mankato West, runner-up at 220 pounds; Manny Alvarez (31-1) of Columbia Heights, fourth in this class; and Tony Putz (31-2) of St. Peter, sixth in this weight class. Jakes has the only perfect record.

                Kasson-Mantorville and South St. Paul lead the Class AA field with 11 and 10 qualifiers, respectively.

      Class AAA:

      106 pounds — Joey Thompson (42-0) of Maple Grove is the only undefeated competitor. There are no returning medal-winners in this weight class.

                113 pounds — Four medalists return in this weight class: Regan Schrempp (26-12) of Apple Valley, runner-up at 106 pounds; Derrick Cardinal (45-2) of Forest Lake, fourth at 106 pounds; Chad Orsburn (27-6) of Brainerd, fifth in this class; and Cole West (16-2) of Woodbury, sixth at 106 pounds. No wrestlers have a perfect record.

                120 pounds — Reid Ballentyne (38-1) of Stillwater Area is the reigning champion at 106 pounds. He is joined by four other returning medalists: Israel Navarro (34-4) of Willmar, runner-up at this weight; Jackson Penk (39-8) of Sartell-St Stephen, third at 113 pounds; Adam Mickelson (19-5) of Apple Valley, fourth at 113 pounds; and Boyd Mumbuwa (44-5) of Minnetonka, sixth in this weight class. There are no undefeated competitors.

                126 pounds —  Patrick McKee (45-0) of St. Michael-Albertville, the defending champion at 120 pounds, leads a field of four returning medalists. The others are: Trayton Anderson (35-4) of Farmington, runner-up at 113 pounds; Zach Smith (9-2), fourth at 120 pounds; and Mitch Engebretson (31-9) of Mounds View, sixth at 113 pounds. McKee has the only perfect record.

                132 pounds — Clay Carlson (41-0) of Willmar is looking to improve on last year’s runner-up showing in this weight class. He will be joined by two medal-winners from the 126-pound field: Dylan Droegemueller (44-2) of Anoka, third; and Bret Wilson (40-3) of Rogers, sixth. Carlson is the only undefeated competitor.

                138 pounds — Five medalists return: Cael Carlson (41-0) of Willmar, runner-up at 126 pounds; Colby Njos (46-4) of Anoka, third at 120 pounds; Jack Vaselaar (37-5) of Winona/Cotter, third at 132 pounds in Class AA; Brady Gross (40-7) of Apple Valley, fifth at 120 pounds; and Curtis Lemair (35-3) of Prior Lake, fifth at 126 pounds. Carlson has the only perfect record.

                145 pounds — Three medal-winners return in this weight class: Mitchell Wilson (23-1) of St. Francis, fourth at 132 pounds; Sam Webster (35-6) of Shakopee, fourth at 138 pounds; and Nate Larson (40-3) of Apple Valley, sixth in this class. There are no unblemished records.

                152 pounds — Two defending champions square off in this weight class: Tyler Eischens (45-0) of Anoka, champion at 138 pounds; and Alex Lloyd (42-1) of Shakopee, champion at 145 pounds. They will be joined by Brody Nielsen (39-5) of Albert Lea Area, third at 138 pounds in Class AA. Eischens boasts the only perfect record.

                160 pounds — Peyton Robb (44-0) of Owatonna, looks to improve on his second-place finish at 145 pounds last year. Other returning medalists are from the 152-pound weight class are: Austin Brenner (41-3) of St. Cloud Tech, third; Riley Habisch (28-5) of Buffalo, fourth; and Tanner Wiese (15-2) of Forest Lake, fifth. Robb is the only undefeated qualifier.

                170 pounds — Kenny O’Neil (28-3) of Prior Lake, the defending champion at 160 pounds, leads the field in this class. Other returning qualifiers are: Zach Glazier (41-1) of Albert Lea Area, runner-up at 152 pounds in Class AA; Lincoln Shinn (34-3) of Willmar, fourth at 160 pounds; Cole Kirpach (40-4) of St. Francis, fifth in this class; and Matt Boyum (43-1) of Chanhassen, sixth at 160 pounds. There are no perfect records.

                182 pounds — Two undefeated competitors will compete for top honors at this weight: Cade King (40-0) of Owatonna, runner-up at 152 pounds; and Riley Schock (23-0) of Moorhead, fourth at 170 pounds. They will be joined at Calvin Sund (21-3) of Prior Lake, who was fifth in this weight class last year.

                195 pounds — Trey Rogers (42-0) of Hastings is the only returning medalist and boasts the only perfect record. He placed second at 182 pounds in 2017.

                220 pounds — Cole Fibranz (39-1) of Sartell-St. Stephen returns to defend his title. He will be challenged by two other medalists from this weight class: Austin Rendler (41-1) of Faribault, runner-up; and Marco Cavallaro (23-7) of East Ridge of Woodbury, sixth. No one enters competition with a perfect record.

                285 pounds — Defending champion Gable Steveson (35-0) of Apple Valley leads the field. Last year’s runner-up in this weight class, Brandon Frankfurth (47-1) of Anoka, also returns. The final returning medalist is Corey Guenther (33-0) of North of North St. Paul. He placed fourth at this weight in 2017. Steveson and Guenther have the only unblemished records.

                Anoka and St. Michael-Albertville qualified nine wrestlers apiece.

2017 STATE TOURNAMENT RECAP

      Class A: Four returning champions won a gold medal for a second consecutive season: Kenyon-Wanamingo sophomore Jeron Matson (113), Pipestone Area junior Hunter Burnett (120), Pipestone Area junior Michael Suda (126), and Goodhue senior Bailee O’Reilly (160).

                Class AA: Senior Brady Berge of Kasson-Mantorville received a standing ovation after defeating Collin Steuber, a junior from Fairmont/Martin County West, 25-10 in the 160-pound championship. Berge, who won his fourth title and finished his season 45-0, acknowledged the crowd with a salute.

   Delano senior Tucker Sjomeling captured his third individual championship following a 9-1 major decision over Payton Anderson, a ninth-grader from Fairmont/Martin County West, in the 132-pound title match.

      Class AAA: Shakopee, which spent much of the 2016-17 season as the top-ranked Class AAA team, produced five individual champions. Senior Brent Jones captured his fourth individual crown with a 3-2 victory over Willmar junior Clay Carlson in the 132-pound championship match.

      Also winning championships for the Sabers were: junior Aaron Cashman (113), eighth-grader Carson Manville (126), junior Alex Lloyd (145), and senior Alex Crowe (152).

      Apple Valley junior Gable Steveson punctuated a tournament of dominance by winning the heavyweight championship with a pin of Anoka junior Brandon Frankfurth in just 11 seconds in the final. Steveson recorded pins in all three of his matches during the team portion of the tournament and another four consecutive pins during the march to his third individual championship. The longest pin for Steveson was 2:52 in his semifinal victory over North of North St. Paul junior Corey Guenther.

MN State Team Wrestling Tournament Preview

(via mshsl.org)

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- A team champion in wrestling has been crowned at the Minnesota State High School League’s state tournament since 1938. The annual tradition continues Thursday, March 1 with 24 teams in three enrollment classifications chasing a championship. Here is a look at the team tournament:

FAST FACTS

The schedule: Thursday, March 1, at Xcel Energy Center

Class A Quarterfinals

Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (26-7) vs. No. 2 Frazee (21-6), 9 a.m.

Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena (20-1) vs. No. 3 Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville (23-1), 9 a.m.

Ottertail Central (18-7) vs. No. 1 Zumbrota-Mazeppa (24-6), 9 a.m.

No. 5 Kenyon-Wanamingo (19-9) vs. No. 4 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove (28-2), 9 a.m.

Championship semifinals, 1 p.m.; Consolation semifinals, 11 a.m.; Consolation final, 5 p.m.; Third place, 5 p.m.; Championship, 7 p.m.

Class AA Quarterfinals

Grand Rapids (25-6) vs. No. 2 Scott West (14-2), 11 a.m.

South St. Paul (22-2) vs. No. 3 Fairmont/Martin County West (25-0), 11 a.m.

Totino-Grace (20-4) vs. No. 1 Kasson-Mantorville (22-0), 11 a.m.

No. 5 Foley (28-3) vs. No. 4 Perham (27-1), 11 a.m.

Consolation semifinals, 1 p.m.; Championship semifinals, 1 p.m.; Consolation final, 5 p.m.; Third place, 5 p.m.

Championship, 7 p.m.;

Class AAA Quarterfinals

Hastings (21-12) vs. No. 2 Anoka (24-3), 9 a.m.

Stillwater Area (18-8) vs. No. 3 St. Michael-Albertville (24-4), 9 a.m.

Minnetonka (16-11) vs. No. 1 Shakopee (24-2), 9 a.m.

No. 5 Albert Lea Area (25-4) vs. No. 4 Willmar (15-1), 9 a.m.

Consolation semifinals, 11 a.m.; Championship semifinals, 1 p.m.; Consolation final, 5 p.m.; Third place, 5 p.m.; Championship, 7 p.m.

Webcast: Charges for the live webcast on Prep45.com: $10.95 per day; four-day pass $30.96.

Tickets: Single session --- $14 adults, $9 students. Daily pass --- $26 adults, $17 students.

Gates open: The Xcel Energy Center opens its gates to fans one hour prior to the first scheduled match of the session.

Match results: Posted on the League’s website at www.mshsl.org

Social media: Follow the tournament on the League’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @MSHSL and @MSHSLJohn.

State Tournament Preview

Class A

Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City vs. Frazee --- ACGC edged Sibley East 28-25 in the Section 4A final to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2015 and 11^th time overall. The Falcons were the Class A champion in 2007 and the runner-up in 2014. No. 2-ranked Frazee is arguably the most storied program in Class A. The Hornets are in the state tournament for the 25^th time since 1987. In that stretch, the Hornets have been a state champion four times and runner-up seven times. Frazee outscored the opposition 197-23 in the Section 8A tournament.

Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena vs. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville --- Unranked Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena has qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2000. From 1997-2000, the Bears made four consecutive state tournament trips. In its only other state tournament appearance, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle was an entrant in 2003. The Thunder have won three invitationals this season and enter the tournament on a nine-match winning streak.

Ottertail Central vs. Zumbrota-Mazeppa --- No. 9-ranked Ottertail Central topped defending Section 6A champion West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville 30-27 to earn its first state tournament trip. The Bulldogs won three of five invitationals they competed in this season. Zumbrota-Mazeppa is the defending Class A champion and was also the runner-up in 2015. The Cougars have won eight consecutive duals entering their 10^th state tournament appearance.

Kenyon-Wanamingo vs. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove --- Kenyon-Wanamingo won the consolation dual with Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in the 2017 tournament. The Knights have not lost since a 50-23 setback to Class AA power Kasson-Mantorville. Kenyon-Wanamingo, the 2016 Class A champion, is making its fifth state tournament appearance. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove used a 36-22 victory over Minneota, the Class A champion in 2015, to earn a berth for the first time in the state tournament. The last dual loss for the Panthers was a 35-30 setback to Minneota on Jan. 11. Since, the Panthers are on a 14-dual winning streak.

Class AA

Grand Rapids vs. Scott West --- Grand Rapids placed sixth in the eight-team 2017 state tournament field. The unranked Thunderhawks are making their second consecutive state appearance and 13^th overall. Grand Rapids hasn’t lost to a Minnesota team since a 36-35 edging by Moorhead on Jan. 13. No. 3-ranked Scott West had two significant victories in December: A 29-28 win over Anoka at Champlin Park on Dec. 8 and a first-place finish at the Rumble on the Red on Dec. 29 at the Fargodome. The Panthers have won three other invitationals this season.

South St. Paul vs. Fairmont/Martin County West --- South St. Paul is also a state tournament rookie following its 58-16 victory over Mahtomedi in the Section 4AA final. The Packers have won seven consecutive duals since losing to Hastings, a Class AAA entrant, during the Metro East Conference schedule. No. 6-ranked Fairmont/Martin County West opened December with two invitational victories. The success has continued, the latest victory, a 49-20 win over Marshall/Lakeview in the Section 3AA final for the program’s first state tournament berth.

Totino-Grace vs. Kasson-Mantorville --- Totino-Grace is making its sixth consecutive state tournament appearance and 16^th overall. The Eagles, ranked No. 11 in Class AA, have won 12 of their past 13 duals. The only setback was a 49-22 loss to Forest Lake of Class AAA. Top-ranked Kasson-Mantorville is the two-time defending Class AA champion. The KoMets had to get past No. 2 Simley 34-25 in the Section 1AA final for a chance at a three-peat. Simley, one of the most successful programs in Minnesota wrestling history, was moved into Section 1AA from 4AA prior to the season.

Foley vs. Perham --- Foley, ranked No. 5 in Class AA, placed fourth in the 2017 tournament. The Falcons are another perennial state tournament entrant, making their 11^th consecutive appearance and 25^th overall. After a runner-up finish to Forest Lake in the Foley Invitational on Jan. 6, the Falcons have won 16 consecutive duals.  Perham won the consolation final during the 2017 tournament with a victory over Grand Rapids. The Yellowjackets, ranked No. 4 in Class AA, tied Albert Lea for third at the Rumble on the Red at the Fargodome during the holiday break.

Class AAA

Hastings vs. Anoka --- Hastings was fourth in the 2017 state tournament. The unranked Raiders had a second-place finish at the Cambridge-Isanti Invitational, and have won seven of their past eight duals. Hastings is making its third consecutive state tournament appearance and 15^th overall. Anoka was the Class AAA runner-up to Apple Valley in 2017. The No. 3-ranked Tornadoes are making their 21^st state tournament appearance. Anoka won the Minnesota Christmas tournament and two other invitationals. Anoka hasn’t lost a dual since the Clash Duals at the end of December.

Stillwater Area vs. St. Michael-Albertville --- Stillwater is the Section 4AAA champion and state tournament representative for the second consecutive season. The unranked Ponies have won five duals in a row since a loss to Apple Valley on Feb. 3. St. Michael-Albertville, ranked No. 4 in Class AAA, has added to its wrestling legacy with a 20^th consecutive trip to the state tournament. The Knights won three invitationals this season and haven’t lost since a setback to Shakopee on Jan. 13.

Minnetonka vs. Shakopee --- Minnetonka is making its third consecutive state tournament appearance. The Skippers, unranked in the final 2017-18 poll of the regular season, dropped two duals during the 2017 tournament. Minnetonka won the Hopkins Invitational during the season and has won five consecutive duals entering the state tournament. Shakopee has had two signature victories during the 2017-18 season: Both were against Apple Valley. The Sabers, making their first state tournament appearance since 2004, defeated the Eagles 32-30 during the South Suburban Conference schedule and then recorded a 34-30 win over Apple Valley in the Section 2AAA final. That win in the section final snapped Apple Valley’s 35-year streak of state tournament appearances. Shakopee finish one point behind champion Anoka at the Minnesota Christmas tournament.

Albert Lea vs. Willmar --- Albert Lea returns to the tournament for the first time since finishing as the Class AAA runner-up in 2015. The Tigers, ranked No. 8, are in the state tournament for the 13^th time in program history. Albert Lea tied for third with Perham at the Rumble on the Red tournament. The Tigers reversed a 30-27 loss to Owatonna during the Big 9 Conference schedule with a 33-19 win in the Section 1AAA final.  Willmar finished sixth in the eight-team field during the 2017 state tournament. The Cardinals, ranked No. 5, are making their seventh consecutive state tournament appearance and ninth overall. Willmar was runner-up to Scott West at the Rumble on the Red, but has won four other invitationals.

2017 State Tournament Recap

Class A --- Zumbrota-Mazeppa opened the Class A tournament as the No. 4 seed, but then used two victories against higher-seeded teams in capturing the program’s first state championship. The Cougars completed their historic feat with a 35-16 victory over No. 2 Pierz in the championship dual.  Zumbrota-Mazeppa, the Class A runner-up in 2015, won the final four weights to pull away. Junior Hayden Voxland began the surge with a decision at 182 pounds. That was followed by decisions from junior Caden Steffen (195), sophomore Jacob Bennett (220) and junior Jarret Haglund at heavyweight. Pierz, a two-time Class A champion, was making its first appearance in a championship match since 2005. Top-seeded Frazee rebounded from its semifinal loss to Zumbrota-Mazeppa to claim the third-place trophy with a 40-18 victory over West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville. In the consolation final, Kenyon-Wanamingo recorded a 37-18 victory over Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg. Kenyon-Wanamingo, the No. 5 seed to begin the tournament, broke open what had been a 22-19 lead with victories in the final three weights.

Class AA --- Kasson-Mantorville completed its undefeated season by racing past Simley, 45-18, in the title match en route to winning the Class AA crown for the second consecutive season. The KoMets won three of the first five matches to build a 10-9 edge over Simley, a seven-time Class AA champion. But starting at 138 pounds, the KoMets rattled off 31 unanswered points over the next six weights. During the spree, Kasson-Mantorville had three pins and two technical falls. It was the third state championship for top-seeded Kasson-Mantorville, who also won in 2013. Scott West captured the third-place trophy with a 33-24 victory over Foley. The Panthers, the No. 3 seed to open the tournament, won five of the first seven matches to build a 20-6 lead. In the consolation final, Perham recorded a 60-3 victory over Grand Rapids. The Yellowjackets won 13 of the 14 matches.

Class AAA --- Apple Valley added to the richest wrestling legacy in Minnesota high school history with a 25^th championship in 36 state tournament appearances. But unlike their two early matches in the 2017 tournament when the Eagles cruised to victories, they needed some late power to get past Anoka. Senior Tanyi Besong lifted Apple Valley into a 24-all tie following a 12-1 major decision over junior Evan DeChene at 220 pounds. Moments later, junior Gable Steveson, the top-ranked heavyweight in the country, applied a quick pin 22 seconds into his match with junior Brandon Frankfurth to give the Eagles another championship. St. Michael-Albertville bounced back from a semifinal loss to record a 36-33 victory over Hastings in the third-place match. St. Michael-Albertville senior Evan Foster completed the victory with a 5-1 decision over junior Drake Guck in the heavyweight match. In the consolation final, Owatonna edged Willmar, 30-29. The Huskies secured a victory in what proved to be the decisive match when junior Parker Holton recorded a 5-0 decision over junior Josiah Swanson in the 195-pound match.