State Team Wrestling Champs Crowned

The team portion of the State Wrestling tournament produced three champions Thursday.  In Class A the Chatfield Gophers followed up their fall football crown with a wrestling title.  Leaving little doubt about their athletic prowess, the number three seed in the tournament rolled over Pierz 48-18, then crushed Frazee 38-19 and Handled top seed Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in the championship 38-22.  Pierz won the consolation title and Jackson County Central captured third place.  In Class 2A top seeded Simley captured the championship with a 33-21 win over Scott West.  Defending champ Kasson-Mantorville won their first match 32-25 over Totino-Grace and then fell to Simley in the semis 40-19.  They lost to Foley in the third place match 38-20.  Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus and Totino Grace had a 34-34 tie in the consolation championship.

In Class 3A Apple Valley didn't let their opponents off the mat with a 64-4 win over Maple Grove, 65-3 defeat of Hastings and 56-9 win in the championship over Prior Lake.  The Lakers upended second seed St. Michael-Albertville 37-21 ending hopes of a rematch of last year's title match.  St. Michael-Albertville won third place over Hastings 30-25 and Moorhead edged Willmar 30-26 for the Consolation championship.  Individual competition takes place Friday and Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.