St. Michael-Albertville is on a mission.
That’s not breaking news for anyone attuned to February wrestling in Minnesota. Since joining the Class AAA ranks, STMA has made standing atop the team podium its mission each and every year, but has run into a familiar foe each and every time.
Apple Valley and the Knights appear to be on another collision course. But STMA threw down a gauntlet over the last two weeks. The Knights didn’t surrender a single point Feb. 13 at the Section 5, Class 3A tournament, outscoring Cooper, Maple Grove and Wayzata by a combined 222-0 in three duals to earn the championship and a record 18th straight appearance in the team tournament at state.
Then, STMA put all 14 wrestlers on the podium at the individual tournament, with 10 winning section titles and 11 earning spots in the state individual meet. The other three took home bronze medals with third place finishes.
Mitch McKee dominates in last year’s 126-pound final (MinnesotaPrepSports.com)
And while that’s all great – the Knights expected it. STMA moved out of the murderer’s row that was Section 6 and into Section 5 and was predicted to dominate schools like Wayzata, Rogers and Maple Grove vs. other schools that have huge wrestling traditions (Anoka, Forest Lake and Cambridge in Section 6). And, STMA has its most formidable lineup since tying Apple Valley for the state championship as a team back in 2013.
But it has no intention of doing that this year.
STMA is led, of course, by senior Mitchell McKee, who has two state championships under his belt and was part of that shared team title. The Knights, with many wrestlers coming off a football title in the fall, want the trophy to themselves this season. McKee is 42-0 in Minnesota this season and spent all of 2 minutes, 12 seconds on the mat en route to three wins (all by fall) and the section championship at 138 pounds.
Fellow state champ from 2015 Lucas Jeske also looked strong on the way to his title at 182 pounds. While Evan Foster, Donnie Leuer and Jake Allar have to be considered contenders for state championships in their weight classes this season.
It’s not going to be easy. The dual tournament, which starts this Thursday on the floor of the Xcel Energy Center, has a familiar foe poised to take on STMA in the semifinals. If both Anoka and STMA get by Centennial and Hastings (respectively) in the opening rounds, the 2 vs. 3 matchup will have a familiar spin to it.
“You always want that banner at the end. We feel like we’ve put together teams that have the ability to wrestle for it, and if things come together the right way, maybe you can hang one up there,” said coach Dan Lefebvre, who will no doubt juggle his lineup throughout the team duels to pit STMA against Apple Valley in the end. “We wrestle a lot of tournaments throughout the year against the tough competition so the guys know what to expect. There isn’t much we haven’t seen before.”
“When you get to the individuals, it’s a much different deal,” the coach continued. “It’s up to them. They’re in a position to finish the best they can, and now it’s a matter of going out and making the most of the opportunity.”
The team tournament begins right away at 9 a.m. Thursday at the X. Semifinals are at 1 p.m. Thursday, with the finals beginning at 7 p.m. for Class AAA.
Individual wrestling sessions begin at 11 a.m. Friday, with quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m.
Semifinal Saturday is set for 10:45 a.m., with finals beginning Saturday night under the spotlight at 7 p.m.
Here are the individual results (breakdown) from Section 5, Class 3A
106 Results
1st Place – Patrick Mckee of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Joseph Thompson of Maple Grove
3rd Place – Ben Ruhr of Buffalo-West Lutheran
4th Place – Sam Essendrup of Rogers
5th Place – Bryce Donahue of Osseo
6th Place – Cael Swensen of Wayzata
8th Place – Zeph Yang of Park Center
8th Place – NewYoung Vang of Robbinsdale Cooper
1st: Patrick Mckee (St Michael-Albertville) 40-2, So. over Joseph Thompson (Maple Grove) 21-9, 8th. (Fall 1:53).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Joseph Thompson (Maple Grove) 21-9, 8th. over Ben Ruhr (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 28-11, So. (RULE).
3rd: Ben Ruhr (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 28-11, So. over Sam Essendrup (Rogers) 18-22, 8th. (MD 9-0).
5th: Bryce Donahue (Osseo) 20-16, So. over Cael Swensen (Wayzata) 16-16, 7th. (M. For.).
113 Results
1st Place – Zachary Nygaard of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Gunnar Nelson of Park Center
3rd Place – Thomas Samson of Buffalo-West Lutheran
4th Place – Royce Hogue of Wayzata
5th Place – Alhassan Bangura of Robbinsdale Cooper
6th Place – Gunnar Johansen of Robbinsdale Armstrong
8th Place – Michael Whirley of Maple Grove
8th Place – Marshall Packer of Rogers
1st: Zachary Nygaard (St Michael-Albertville) 27-7, Sr. over Gunnar Nelson (Park Center) 19-3, Fr. (MD 10-1).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Gunnar Nelson (Park Center) 19-3, Fr. over Thomas Samson (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 19-13, Fr. (RULE).
3rd: Thomas Samson (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 19-13, Fr. over Royce Hogue (Wayzata) 14-15, 8th. (MD 9-1).
5th: Alhassan Bangura (Robbinsdale Cooper) 11-11, Sr. over Gunnar Johansen (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 17-22, Jr. (SV-1 4-2).
120 Results
1st Place – Elan Quezada of Osseo
2nd Place – Bret Wilson of Rogers
3rd Place – Zac Schoen of St Michael-Albertville
4th Place – Gavin Peterson of Maple Grove
5th Place – Mitchell Hogue of Wayzata
6th Place – Eric Dorland of Robbinsdale Armstrong
8th Place – Nathan DesMarais of Buffalo-West Lutheran
8th Place – Chuefu (Peter) Lee of Robbinsdale Cooper
1st: Elan Quezada (Osseo) 25-11, So. over Zac Schoen (St Michael-Albertville) 21-20, Sr. (Dec 3-2).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Bret Wilson (Rogers) 35-7, So. over Zac Schoen (St Michael-Albertville) 21-20, Sr. (Dec 8-5).
3rd: Bret Wilson (Rogers) 35-7, So. over Gavin Peterson (Maple Grove) 24-15, 8th. (MD 11-1).
5th: Mitchell Hogue (Wayzata) 16-8, So. over Eric Dorland (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 7-14, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:12 (17-1)).
126 Results
1st Place – Jack Herbes of Maple Grove
2nd Place – Zach Dehmer of St Michael-Albertville
3rd Place – Jared Meyer of Buffalo-West Lutheran
4th Place – Dominic Smith of Osseo
5th Place – Lee Santiago-Martinez of Rogers
6th Place – Vieri Oculisti-Szabo of Wayzata
8th Place – Damon Barli of Robbinsdale Armstrong
8th Place – Terell Barnes of Robbinsdale Cooper
1st: Jack Herbes (Maple Grove) 30-8, Sr. over Zach Dehmer (St Michael-Albertville) 22-20, Jr. (Dec 9-4).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Zach Dehmer (St Michael-Albertville) 22-20, Jr. over Jared Meyer (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 16-15, Sr. (SV-1 8-6).
3rd: Jared Meyer (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 16-15, Sr. over Dominic Smith (Osseo) 17-17, So. (Dec 10-4).
5th: Lee Santiago-Martinez (Rogers) 16-16, Jr. over Vieri Oculisti-Szabo (Wayzata) 11-24, So. (UTB 2-1).
132 Results
1st Place – Cody Schoen of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Charlie DesMarais of Buffalo-West Lutheran
3rd Place – Jake Born of Rogers
4th Place – Tim Gilseth of Wayzata
5th Place – James Young of Robbinsdale Armstrong
6th Place – Nick Bugajski of Maple Grove
8th Place – Riley Best-Willett of Osseo
8th Place – Muhsin Omar of Robbinsdale Cooper
1st: Cody Schoen (St Michael-Albertville) 16-13, Jr. over Charlie DesMarais (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 19-9, Jr. (Dec 4-0).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Charlie DesMarais (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 19-9, Jr. over Jake Born (Rogers) 16-20, Fr. (RULE).
3rd: Jake Born (Rogers) 16-20, Fr. over Tim Gilseth (Wayzata) 18-23, Jr. (MD 16-5).
5th: James Young (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 23-16, Jr. over Nick Bugajski (Maple Grove) 16-19, Jr. (Dec 6-2).
138 Results
1st Place – Mitchell Mckee of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Riley Habisch of Buffalo-West Lutheran
3rd Place – Mitchell Lewison of Osseo
4th Place – Aacoda Aitkin of Maple Grove
5th Place – John Spolar of Wayzata
6th Place – Jack Kammers of Rogers
8th Place – Jackson Forkpayea of Robbinsdale Armstrong
8th Place – Preston White of Park Center
1st: Mitchell Mckee (St Michael-Albertville) 42-0, Sr. over Riley Habisch (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 29-8, Fr. (Fall 1:13).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Riley Habisch (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 29-8, Fr. over Mitchell Lewison (Osseo) 29-11, Jr. (RULE).
3rd: Mitchell Lewison (Osseo) 29-11, Jr. over Aacoda Aitkin (Maple Grove) 20-21, So. (Dec 7-4).
5th: John Spolar (Wayzata) 16-17, Jr. over Jack Kammers (Rogers) 10-25, Jr. (MD 10-1).
145 Results
1st Place – Wyatt Bice of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – David Couri of Wayzata
3rd Place – Cole Scherber of Buffalo-West Lutheran
4th Place – Jack Berndt of Maple Grove
5th Place – Ben Mennenga of Robbinsdale Armstrong
6th Place – Ethan Quezada of Osseo
8th Place – Anthony Lenz of Rogers
8th Place – Teddy Flomo of Park Center
1st: Wyatt Bice (St Michael-Albertville) 24-15, Jr. over David Couri (Wayzata) 23-14, Sr. (SV-1 4-2).
2nd Place Wrestleback
David Couri (Wayzata) 23-14, Sr. over Cole Scherber (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 14-15, Sr. (Dec 6-5).
3rd: Cole Scherber (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 14-15, Sr. over Jack Berndt (Maple Grove) 20-16, Jr. (Dec 5-4).
5th: Ben Mennenga (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 16-15, Fr. over Ethan Quezada (Osseo) 14-19, So. (Dec 8-6).
152 Results
1st Place – Jake Allar of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Logan Dick of Maple Grove
3rd Place – Caleb Drews of Buffalo-West Lutheran
4th Place – Ivory Jones of Robbinsdale Cooper
5th Place – Cameron Johnson of Wayzata
6th Place – Lucas Miernicki of Robbinsdale Armstrong
7th Place – Evan Braesch of Rogers
1st: Jake Allar (St Michael-Albertville) 38-3, Jr. over Logan Dick (Maple Grove) 37-4, Sr. (Fall 0:47).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Logan Dick (Maple Grove) 37-4, Sr. over Caleb Drews (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 16-16, So. (RULE).
3rd: Caleb Drews (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 16-16, So. over Ivory Jones (Robbinsdale Cooper) 10-12, Jr. (Dec 7-4).
5th: Cameron Johnson (Wayzata) 4-16, So. over Lucas Miernicki (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 6-32, Jr. (Dec 11-7).
7th: Evan Braesch (Rogers) 0-4, 8th. over () , . (Bye).
160 Results
1st Place – Donnie Leuer of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Dan Herda of Wayzata
3rd Place – Adam Lanners of Osseo
4th Place – Mike Edison of Maple Grove
5th Place – Steven Stockdill of Robbinsdale Armstrong
6th Place – Victor Bangura of Robbinsdale Cooper
8th Place – Dylan Ditty of Park Center
8th Place – Johnny Hoyt of Rogers
1st: Donnie Leuer (St Michael-Albertville) 30-10, Sr. over Dan Herda (Wayzata) 33-8, Jr. (Dec 9-4).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Dan Herda (Wayzata) 33-8, Jr. over Adam Lanners (Osseo) 26-12, So. (RULE).
3rd: Adam Lanners (Osseo) 26-12, So. over Mike Edison (Maple Grove) 21-16, Sr. (Dec 9-4).
5th: Steven Stockdill (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 24-10, Sr. over Victor Bangura (Robbinsdale Cooper) 4-8, So. (Fall 1:12).
170 Results
1st Place – Andrew Kovach of Wayzata
2nd Place – Jacob Scherber of Buffalo-West Lutheran
3rd Place – Garrett Ailts of St Michael-Albertville
4th Place – Taylor Meissner of Osseo
5th Place – Kenneth Alo of Park Center
6th Place – Hunter Derouin of Rogers
8th Place – Cel Massmann of Robbinsdale Armstrong
8th Place – Westyn Doubler of Maple Grove
1st: Andrew Kovach (Wayzata) 32-10, Sr. over Jacob Scherber (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 31-4, So. (Dec 9-5).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Jacob Scherber (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 31-4, So. over Garrett Ailts (St Michael-Albertville) 26-16, Sr. (Dec 4-3).
3rd: Garrett Ailts (St Michael-Albertville) 26-16, Sr. over Taylor Meissner (Osseo) 20-9, Fr. (Dec 6-1).
5th: Kenneth Alo (Park Center) 20-12, Sr. over Hunter Derouin (Rogers) 4-16, Jr. (Dec 11-5).
182 Results
1st Place – Lucas Jeske of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Brandon Lundeen of Robbinsdale Armstrong
3rd Place – Fletcher Durand of Buffalo-West Lutheran
4th Place – Brandon Wilson of Rogers
5th Place – Calem Eugene of Wayzata
6th Place – Aaron Fiske of Maple Grove
8th Place – Joseph McGee of Osseo
8th Place – Fred Williams of Park Center
1st: Lucas Jeske (St Michael-Albertville) 40-1, Sr. over Brandon Lundeen (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 29-7, Sr. (Fall 0:55).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Brandon Lundeen (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 29-7, Sr. over Fletcher Durand (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 10-12, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:24 (15-0)).
3rd: Fletcher Durand (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 10-12, Jr. over Brandon Wilson (Rogers) 6-14, Jr. (Dec 1-0).
5th: Calem Eugene (Wayzata) 16-9, So. over Aaron Fiske (Maple Grove) 22-16, Sr. (Inj. 2:00).
195 Results
1st Place – Evan Ronsen of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Adam Treptau of Buffalo-West Lutheran
3rd Place – Zac Aanerud of Rogers
4th Place – Adam Skogman of Maple Grove
5th Place – Jamani Buckner of Wayzata
6th Place – RJ Massie of Robbinsdale Armstrong
8th Place – DeAndre Porter of Robbinsdale Cooper
8th Place – Huechee Lee of Park Center
1st: Evan Ronsen (St Michael-Albertville) 36-4, Sr. over Adam Treptau (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 27-4, Sr. (Dec 8-2).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Adam Treptau (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 27-4, Sr. over Zac Aanerud (Rogers) 24-17, Jr. (RULE).
3rd: Zac Aanerud (Rogers) 24-17, Jr. over Adam Skogman (Maple Grove) 23-15, So. (Dec 4-0).
5th: Jamani Buckner (Wayzata) 17-21, Sr. over RJ Massie (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 19-19, Sr. (SV-1 10-8).
220 Results
1st Place – Evan Foster of St Michael-Albertville
2nd Place – Corrie King of Wayzata
3rd Place – Taylor Tison of Maple Grove
4th Place – Dominic Skawiniak of Rogers
5th Place – Ben Ungar of Robbinsdale Armstrong
6th Place – Hunter Hendricks of Buffalo-West Lutheran
7th Place – Gavin Engles of Park Center
1st: Evan Foster (St Michael-Albertville) 35-6, Jr. over Corrie King (Wayzata) 34-7, Sr. (TB-1 3-2).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Corrie King (Wayzata) 34-7, Sr. over Taylor Tison (Maple Grove) 31-11, Sr. (RULE).
3rd: Taylor Tison (Maple Grove) 31-11, Sr. over Dominic Skawiniak (Rogers) 28-13, Sr. (Fall 3:26).
5th: Ben Ungar (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 19-13, Jr. over Hunter Hendricks (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 3-4, Fr. (Fall 3:35).
7th: Gavin Engles (Park Center) 12-18, Fr. over () , . (Bye).
285 Results
1st Place – Andrew Piehl of Rogers
2nd Place – Bryson Wilkins of Wayzata
3rd Place – Jake Ross of St Michael-Albertville
4th Place – Seamus Filkins of Buffalo-West Lutheran
5th Place – Geroge Mennenga of Robbinsdale Armstrong
6th Place – Anthony Johnson of Maple Grove
7th Place – Cedric Williams of Robbinsdale Cooper
1st: Andrew Piehl (Rogers) 39-0, Sr. over Bryson Wilkins (Wayzata) 23-11, Jr. (Fall 0:29).
2nd Place Wrestleback
Bryson Wilkins (Wayzata) 23-11, Jr. over Jake Ross (St Michael-Albertville) 19-9, Sr. (RULE).
3rd: Jake Ross (St Michael-Albertville) 19-9, Sr. over Seamus Filkins (Buffalo-West Lutheran) 6-15, So. (Fall 0:52).
5th: Geroge Mennenga (Robbinsdale Armstrong) 5-8, Jr. over Anthony Johnson (Maple Grove) 4-16, Jr. (Dec 2-1).
7th: Cedric Williams (Robbinsdale Cooper) 2-10, Fr. over () , . (Bye).