Big prep events on tap this week

The end of this week will bring two of the premier events on the winter sports calendar, making a reporter wish he could clone himself and be in two places at once.

The Clash national wrestling duals tournament will be held in Rochester on Friday and Saturday. This will be the eighth annual Clash, and it has quickly become one of the top high school wrestling events in Minnesota as well as the nation. This year's 32-team field includes teams from Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Colorado, South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon, California and Hawaii.

Apple Valley is the favorite to emerge as the Clash champion for the third time. The Eagles are ranked second in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. The field includes nine other teams that are ranked in the nation's top 40.

The 32 teams are split into four eight-team brackets for Friday's action. How teams fare Thursday will determine which brackets they will be placed into on Saturday. By the end of the tournament, the teams will rank from 1 to 32.

The second major event is the Timberwolves Gatorade Shootout, held Saturday at Target Center. Six boys' basketball games will be held, bringing together some of the top talent in the state, as well as two teams from outside Minnesota.

Here's the schedule:

10 a.m.: No. 6 3A Grand Rapids vs. Orono

2 p.m.: No. 1 2A Crosby-Ironton vs. No. 7 2A Plainview-Elgin Millville

4 p.m.: Henry SIbley vs. Northlawn College Prep (Chicago)

6 p.m.: Minnetonka vs. Linn-Mar (Iowa)

8 p.m.: No. 1 4A Hopkins vs. No. 10 4A Champlin Park