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.

Dubuque Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival 2023

The winner of this snow sculpting competition secures themselves a place in the United States Snow Sculpting championship in Lake Geneva, WI next year.

 

 

 

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