Faribault, Kenyon-Wanamingo #3 Section Wrestling Seeds

Section 1A and 1AAA Team Wrestling Tournaments are going to be a lot of fun with no clear dominant team.

Kasson-Mantorville is a heavy favorite in Section 1AA but #2 seed Zumbrota-Mazeppa and 3 seed Albert Lea Area are hoping they get a shot for an upset.

The Tigers of Albert Lea Area won the Big Nine Conference title this season with Rochester Mayo, Northfield and Faribault all finishing in a tie for second place.

Faribault was the only Big Nine team to defeat Albert Lea Area  43-28.

Faribault lost to Northfield 39-34 and Rochester Mayo 32-25.

Northfield lost to Rochester Mayo 45-31 and Albert Lea Area 51-21.

Mayo lost to Albert Lea Area 40-31 and Owatonna 37-33

So you can see why I say Section 1AAA is about as open a contest as it can be.

Mayo (18-7) earned the top seed, Northfield (14-5) is #2 and Faribault (18-9) #3 with #4 Owatonna (16-14) proving their ability to knock off a very good team.

The bye for the top two seeds is huge because they don't have to leave home.

#3 Faribault goes to Northfield to wrestle Rochester John Marshall (3-18) in quarterfinals action with the winner taking the mat to face a rested Raiders team immediately after their 6:00 p.m. match Thursday, February 16, 2023.

#4 Owatonna and #5 Rochester Century (7-17) go to Rochester Mayo for the other quaraterfinals match.  Winner tangles with the Mayo Spartans.

Winners in semifinals go to Rochester Mayo Civic Center for title match 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Same time as Section 1A and 1AA title matches.

Section 1AA favorite Kasson-Mantorville (22-2) defeated #2 seed Z-M in Mazeppa 44-15 earlier this month.

#3 Albert Lea Area as noted previously won the Big Nine with 1 loss in a highly competitive league.  They did not go up against the top two seeds so it will come down to individual matchups as it always does.

At 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023 Stewartville and Lewistom-Altura wrestle in Mazeppa with the victor competing against Z-M.

At same time on that side of the bracket Plainview-Elgin-Millville tackles Wabasha-Kellogg in Albert Lea with winner squaring off against the Tigers.

On the other side K-M hosts Pine Island and Byron at 6:00 p.m. with the KoMets trying to advance to Saturday Semifinals at Noon in Rochester.

#4 Lake City will have #5 Cannon Falls coming to their gym Thursday at 6:00 p.m.  Winner advances to Rochester Mayo Civic Center Saturday.

The bracket lists the title match at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2023 in Rochester.

Section 1A top seed Caledonia/Houston (28-6) hosts St. Charles and Triton Thursday at 6;00 p.m. followed by winner facing the state ranked team.

#4 Dover-Eyota (18-4) will entertain #5 Goodhue (20-7) with winner advancing to semifinals noon in Rochester on Saturday.

#2 seed Chatfield (14-2) will face winner of Fillmore Central/Lanesboro/Mabel-Canton (7-18) and Wabasha-Kellogg (1-8) in Chatfield with victor going to Rochester Saturday.

#3 Kenyon-Wanamingo (23-3) wrestles Grand Meadow/Leroy-Ostrander/Southland (13-6) in Castle Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Winner goes to Rochester Saturday.

Championship is also scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday in Rochester Mayo Civic Center Arena.

In my opinion each championship should have all eyes watching like volleyball in the fall and boys and girls basketball in a few weeks.

The athletes deserve it after their hard work getting to the title match.