Section team wrestling tournaments will go on across the state this week, with 24 state tournament berths to be decided by Saturday night.
In Class 3A, Mounds View, which took over the No. 1 ranking three weeks ago and is looking to qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 2007, will host the Section 4 tournament Friday. The Mustangs have been anticipating the team tournament since unexpectedly losing to rival Stillwater in the finals a year ago.
St. Michael-Albertville is another team seeking redemption from a year ago. The Knights, seeded No. 1 in Section 5, all but had the Class 3A state championship sewed up before shockingly losing five straight matches in the finals and falling to Hastings 33-32. No. 2-seed Wayzata is standing in St. Michael-Albertville’s way.
In Class 2A, Simley is the favorite in Section 4 and will seek its 17 consecutive state tournament berth. The No. 1-ranked Spartans have won the past five 2A team championships. The Section 1 tournament will draw plenty of eyes, likely pitting No. 3-ranked Kasson-Mantorville against No. 2 Zumbrota-Mazeppa with a spot in the state tournament at stake. Finals will be held Saturday at Rochester Mayo Civic Center.
Wrestling state rankings
Rankings are by theguillotine.com.
CLASS 3A: 1. Mounds View; 2. Shakopee; 3. Stillwater; 4. St. Michael-Albertville; 5. Hastings; 6. New Prague; 7. Waconia; 8. Wayzata; 9. Albert Lea; 10. Apple Valley; 11. Northfield; 12. Farmington.
CLASS 2A: 1. Simley; 2. Zumbrota-Mazeppa; 3. Kasson-Mantorville; 4. Totino-Grace; 5. Scott West; 6. Becker; 7. Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle/Montevideo; 8. Marshall; 9. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton; 10. Little Falls; 11. Rocori; 12. Annandale/Maple Lake.
CLASS 1A: 1. Chatfield; 2. Holdingford; 3. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa; 4. Jackson County Central; 5. Staples-Motley; 6. Kenyon-Wanamingo; 7. Royalton/Upsala; 8. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial; 9. Frazee; 10. Paynesville; 11. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton; 12. Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie.