“Every team tries to save points. Every point matters.” Sabres coach Marcus LeVesseur said. “Our motto today was to wrestle all six minutes hard. They did just that. It may not have been pretty, but they go the job done.”

All season, the Sabers have been dominant at 182 pounds and above, led by the Johnson brothers — Joey, a once-defeated 195-pounder, and Tommy, an undefeated 220 pounder. Opponents have tried, and failed, all season to build a big enough advantage to withstand Shakopee once the Sabers reach that point in their lineup.

The Johnsons were on-point in the finals. After Jaden Hellerud eked out a 5-3 victory at 182 pounds with a reversal with nine seconds left in the match, Joey Johnson followed with a pin of St. Michael-Albertville’s Marcus Mueller, the hero of the Knights’ semifinal victory over Stillwater. Tommy Johnson then matched his brother with a pin of St. Michael-Albertville’s Ethan Yantes.

In a span of two matches, the Sabers had turned a 24-15 deficit into a 27-24 lead. They capped it off with a rugged 2-0 victory by Jade Trelstad at heavyweight.

“There is a lot of stress in wrestling, let alone being back-to-back state champs, let alone being on the verge of a three-peat,” LeVesseur said. “I’m just so happy for the kids, that they were able to endure the pressure.

"We’ve said we have the best 14-wrestler team in the state. As long as this group gives it their all, when the dust settles, we’ll win every time.”

Click here for Class 3A individual meet notes and notes.