Wrestling State Tournament Advance News Release
Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2021 - 3:35 PM
March 21, 2021
The Minnesota State High School League’s Wrestling State Tournament, held annually since 1938, will be presented in a modified format with the semifinals and championship rounds to be held at St. Michael-Albertville High School on March 25-27. State tournament preliminaries in both the team event and individual competition were held on March 13 and March 20, respectively, with participants advancing to this week’s culminating season tournament. Here is a look at the final stage of the state tournament.
At St. Michael-Albertville High School
Thursday, March 25
Class AAA
Semifinals, 9 a.m.
No. 1 Shakopee (24-0) vs. No. 4 Anoka (24-2)
No. 2 Stillwater (28-2) vs. No. 3 St. Michael-Albertville (31-3)
Championship, approximately 11 a.m.
Individual competition, 2 p.m.
Friday, March 26
Class AA
Semifinals, 9 a.m.
No. 1 Simley (26-0) vs. No. 4 Princeton (20-8)
No. 2 Fairmont/Martin County West (28-1) vs. No. 3 Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield (26-3)
Championship, approximately 11 a.m.
Individual competition, 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 27
Class A
Semifinals, 9 a.m.
No. 1 Kimball (23-4) vs. No. 4 Royalton/Upsala (23-4)
No. 2 Jackson County Central (31-3) vs. No. 3 Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie (28-7)
Championship, approximately 11 a.m.
Individual competition, 2 p.m.
Tournament Information:
Onsite media --- Only pre-approved and credentialed media are permitted for onsite coverage.
Webcast: School Space Media will livestream the meet. Find the stream at www.prepspotlight.tv
Semifinals and championships
• One Class - $9.99
• All Classes - $19.99
Complimentary tournament programs: https://www.mshsl.org/state-tournament-programs
Social media: Follow the tournament on the League’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @MSHSL and @MSHSLJohn .
Results: Final results will be posted on the Wrestling activity page.
State Tournament Apparel available at https://www.mshsl.org/2021-winter-tournament-apparel
State tournament preview
Class AAA
Undefeated and top-ranked Shakopee earned the top seed and a chance for a three-peat of team championships. The Sabers, under first-year head coach Marcus LeVesseur, are dominant at the end of the lineup with Jadon Hellerud (182 pounds), Joey Johnson (195), Tommy Johnson (220) and heavyweight Jade Trelstad. All have advanced to their respective state semifinals. Stillwater, the No. 2 seed, is seeking another berth against Shakopee in the championship match. In 2020, Shakopee recorded a 34-21 victory over the Ponies for the Class AAA crown.
Class AA
Simley is favored to win a championship for the 14th time in school history. The Spartans, one of the most tradition-rich programs in Minnesota wrestling history has won the past two Class AA crowns. Fairmont/Martin County West is the No. 2 seed and is also seeking another championship berth. In 2020, Fairmont/Martin County West advanced to the championship dual before losing 48-10 to Simley.
Class A
Kimball is making its first return trip to the state tournament since 2012 when the Cubs were the Class A runner-up. In 1997, Kimball also finished second in Class A. In the semifinals, Kimball faces Royalton/Upsala, which was a state tournament entrant in 2020. Jackson County Central, a seemingly perennial state entrant, is the No. 2 seed and seeking its first Class A championship since 2013 and eighth overall.
Individuals to watch:
Stillwater senior Reid Ballantyne, a 132-pounder, is a four-time individual state champion with an opportunity to join an elite club of five-time individual champions, which has just five members. Ballantyne finished second in Class 4AAA state preliminaries to Woodbury’s Will Bents. Forest Lake’s Derrick Cardinal, also a 132-pounder, is seeking his fourth individual championship. In Class AA, Kasson-Mantorville’s Bennett Berge, a 182-pounder, is also in pursuit of a fourth individual title.