Wrestlers not fit to be tied at St. Michael-Albertville

After winning a share of the Class 3A state wrestling team championship and having five wrestlers finish either first or second in the individual tournament, it would be difficult to consider St. Michael-Albertville's 2013 finish anything but a success.

For many of the wrestlers, however, it didn't feel that way.

Having been ranked No. 1 in Class 3A all season, the Knights were favored to end Apple Valley's seven-year reign as state champions. The two teams tied for the team title, 28-28, making them co-champions in the eyes of the Minnesota State High School League.

Yet, as the teams received their medals following the team finals, it was clear that one team, Apple Valley, was pleased with the result while the other, St. Michael-Albertville, was not.

"I'm not sure how to feel," senior heavyweight Michael Kessler said. "This was our opportunity and it feels like weren't at our best. I mean, I'm happy that we can say we're champions, but it doesn't feel like that right now. In 10 years, I'm sure I'll feel better about it."

Last week was a good week for Riley Dearring and the Minnetonka boys' basketball team.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the 6-foot-5 senior guard scored 17 points to lead the Skippers to a 62-58 victory over Hopkins, completing a season sweep over the Royals for the first time in more than a decade.

The Edina boys' basketball season started slowly, with four consecutive losses, but the Hornets finished the regular season with a flourish.

They won their last seven games, taking the Lake Conference championship by two games over Minnetonka.

The key to their improvement was the play of senior power forward Reggie Lynch, who averaged 16.4 points over the final stretch.

Four West metro hockey players were among the 12 finalists for Let's Play Hockey newspaper's inaugural Reed Larson Award, given to the state's top senior defenseman.

They are Edina's Matt Nelson and Parker Reno and Minnetonka's Jimmy Schuldt and Tommy Vannelli.