Apple Valley, St. Michael reach title match

It would have surprised no one if the referees who worked the Class 3A team semifinal match between Apple Valley and Eden Prairie on Friday requested a post-match bucket of ice to cool down their mat-slapping hands.

Defending champion and nationally top-ranked Apple Valley recorded eight pins – six in the first period, including one in 10 seconds and one in 22 seconds – in steamrolling Eden Prairie 64-10 in the state tournament at Xcel Energy Center. The match opened with Apple Valley 103-pounder Jordan Kingsley pinning Ben Brancala in 22 seconds. The fastest fall came at 135 when Brandon Kingsley pinned Vinny Lamovec in 10 seconds. Dakota Trom (119), Devin Scott (140), Nate Bruner (145), Destin McCauley (152), Steven Keogh (161) and Jake Waste (171) also won by fall. Eden Prairie's winners were Sam Brancale, who beat Cory Rathman 9-1 at 112, and Tyler Kubler, who pinned Apple Valley's Luke Schmidt in 4:10 at 215. Apple Valley's opponent in today's title match will be St. Michael-Albertville, which defeated Owatonna 36-14. St. Michael-Albertville placed fourth in Class 2A last year, and a growing enrollment moved the Knights up to 3A this season. St. Michael-Albertville put together a pair of three-match winnings to put Owatonna in a hole. Victories came at 112, 119 and 125, then again at 135, 140 and 145. The Knights closed things out by winning four of the final final matches. An early key came at 112, where St. Michael's Lincoln Mallinger defeated Evan Green 2-1 in triple overtime. "Oh wow, we wrestled really well," said St. Michael coach Dan Lefebvre. "The turnaround match at 112 was really big. We knew there were about eight or nine toss-up matches and we were winning some of those early. That boosts our guys and then it's hard for the other side." St. Michael will take a record of 32-2 into the finals. The Knights' only losses were against Kasson-Mantorville and Foley, which both advanced to state in 2A. Apple Valley is 40-0. "We'll enjoy this today and get our guys ready for tonight," Lefebvre said before Friday night's individual semifinals. "We'll battle and see what happens. They're obviously a very good team and we're glad we have the opportunity to wrestle them. Hopefully we'll win a few matches."