Prep athletes of the week: Shakopee wrestler has state title string going, too

Unheralded amid the hubbub surrounding Mark Hall's record sixth individual state championship was the third consecutive championship for Jones. He defeated Anoka's Tyler Eischens 7-3 in the final to add a 126-pound title to a resume that includes championships at 106 pounds as a freshman and 113 pounds as a sophomore.

"It's pretty exciting," Jones said. "Now I can go for four before going into college."

Jones gravitated toward wrestling as a sport due to his size, but it wasn't until fifth grade, when he started training at a well-known local wrestling club, that his career took off.

"I wasn't big enough for sports like football or basketball, so I always thought wrestling would be the sport for me," he said. "But it wasn't until I went to Pinnacle [Wrestling Club] that my skills went through the roof."

Jones said Hall's success gave him something to aspire to.

"On the mat, he's so smooth and his movement is amazing," he said. "Off the mat, I want to be humble like him and be willing to help anybody who asks."

The junior helped the Eagles to the Class 2A, Section 2 team title with four victories. He won the 50 freestyle in a school-record time of 20.52. He also won the 100 freestyle and was on the winning 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay teams.

The 6-4 senior swingman led the Hawks with 28 points as Cooper pulled off its biggest victory of the season by defeating Wayzata 70-67 on Saturday in the Class 4A, Section 6 semifinals. Three nights earlier, he scored 20 in an 83-78 victory over Minneapolis South.

LYNDSEY ROBSON

The junior guard closed out the regular season as the leading scorer in team history with 1,654 career points. Last week the Wis-Green Bay recruit scored a season-high 27 in a victory over Prior Lake and 16 in a close loss to Lakeville South.

With three meet-record-setting swims — 200 freestyle (1:42.07), 200 freestyle relay (1:26.51) and 400 freestyle relay (3:09.52) — among his four victories, Weiss led the Cadets to the Class 1A, Section 4 championship. He earned swimmer of the meet honors.

Known for her defense, the senior turned in a stellar offensive week as the Knights finished undefeated in the Mississippi 8 Conference. She made a school-record eight three-pointers in a victory over St. Francis and averaged 15 points, 8 steals and 7 assists in two games.