The finals are set for tonight's state team championships in all three classes.
The matches, set for 7 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center are:
Class 3A: No. 1 Apple Valley vs. No. 2 St. Michael Albertville
Class 2A: No. 1 Simley vs. No. 3 Scott West
Class 1A: No. 1 Jackson County Central vs. No. 3 Frazee
A few observations:
There is really nothing left to say about Apple Valley. The Eagles defeated Prior Lake 70-0 to get to the finals. Again: Seventy to nothing. In the state semis. Even coach Jim Jackson afterward admitted that final score surprised him a bit.
Simley got into the finals with a similar rout, defeating Foley 52-3. Jake Short, a nationally-ranked wrestler at 140 pounds, won via pin after escaping with an 8-7 win in the semifinals.
Frazee got into the finals because their heavyweight lost. No, really. Up by five in the team count over Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, all the Falcons' big guy had to do was stay off his back in the final match. He did that - by losing 7-0. At the conclusion of the six-minute bout, he pumped his fist in the air and leapt into the arms of waiting coaches and teammates. Ah, what a sport.
A bit of a break here now - the wrestlers for the consolation , third place and championship final matches are weighing in. For updates on these matches, follow me on Twitter (@stensation) or just look up the #stribpreps hashtag.
