Shakopee's Aaron Cashman, top, wrestled Farmington's Trayton Anderson in the Class 3A 113 match Saturday. Photo: ANTHONY SOUFFLE * anthony.souffle@startribune.com
They weren’t able to end Apple Valley’s streak of state tournament appearances in the Section 2, Class 3A finals two weeks ago, but Saturday provided plenty of salve for the Shakopee wrestling team.
The Sabers were 5-for-5 in Class 3A championship matches, getting victories from Aaron Cashman at 113 pounds, Carson Manville at 126, Brent Jones at 132, Alex Lloyd at 145 and Alex Crowe at 152.
“These guys know how to do it,” said assistant coach Marcus LeVesseur, himself a three-time state champion. “You look at this season: [Shakopee] Invitational, six champions; Rumble on the Red, 5-for-5; then here.”
This time, Cashman was operating with a full tank. The junior, who wrestled at Mound-Westonka last year, won his first state championship, beating Trayton Anderson of Farmington 10-2 in 113-pound final.
Cashman credited a loss to St. Michael-Albertville’s Patrick McKee in the 106 pound finals last year for his victory this year.
“There were times last year when I just didn’t have enough gas in the tank,” Cashman said.
His family moved to Shakopee, where the depth of the Sabers’ roster gave him that boost he needed.
“Wrestling with Carson Manville and Brent Jones just pushed me to get better and better every day,” he said.
Last summer, Cashman wrestled for Team USA in World Cadet Championships in Tblisi, Georgia, finishing eighth at 50 kg. He said Saturday’s championship almost matched the feeling of wrestling for a national team.
“This is right up there,” he said. “Making the national team was the best feeling, but this is a close second.”
Lloyd wrestled his best friend, Owatonna’s Peyton Robb, in the 145 pound finals. Robb, a two-time state champion, entered the tournament without a loss and had defeated Lloyd in the Minnesota Christmas Tournament in December.
Robb almost pulled off another victory, but Lloyd caught Robb with a leg sweep with 15 seconds left in the third period, getting a takedown and the two points needed to turn a loss into a 5-4 victory.
“We’ve been best friends since third, fourth grade,” said Lloyd, who earned his second-consecutive 145 pound crown. “I love him as a brother, but this is something we both know this is something we have to do. We love each other, but not out on the mat.”
Like Cashman, Manville’s victory came in his first year wrestling for Shakopee. The eighth-grader lived in Virginia before this season and moved to Shakopee to improve his wrestling future. “It’s been a great experience for me,” Manville said. “All of the great wrestlers guys in the wrestling room really helped me get better.”
Jones’ victory at 132 was the fourth of his career, having won previously at 106, 120 and 126 pounds before Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Clay Carlson of Willmar in the finals. “Winning four is pretty special,” Jones said. “I think I’m only the 23rd person to do it.”
Crowe, who, like Jones will wrestle at Minnesota next year, won his first championship with a third-period reversal for a 6-4 victory.
“All these great wrestlers, it says a lot about our program,” Lloyd said.
All is right for Allar
Things are right where St. Michael-Albertville senior Jake Allar wants them to be. Allar won his second consecutive state championship, winning by technical fall of Apple Valley’s Jalen Thul at 4:17 of the match.
Allar had signed with Iowa State last fall, but asked for his release when Iowa State and coach Kevin Jackson parted ways. He announced Sunday that he would wrestle at Minnesota next year.
“I committed last week and then was just able to focus on the state tournament,” he said. “Minnesota is where I’ve wanted to go since I was a kid. Everything feels right right now. Absolutely.”
Steveson wows
Apple Valley heavyweight Gable Steveson, who has pinned all but one of his opponents this year, saved his most awe-inspiring performance for last. Steveson (42-0) won his third straight state title by pinning Anoka’s Brandon Frankfurth in 11 seconds, drawing gasps from the Xcel Center crowd.
3A
106: Reid Ballantyne, Stillwater
113: Aaron Cashman, Shakopee
120: Patrick McKee, St. Michael-Albertville
126: Carson Manville, Shakopee
132: Brent Jones, Shakopee
138: Tyler Eischens, Anoka
145: Alex Lloyd, Shakopee
152: Alex Crowe, Shakopee
160: Kenny O’Neil, Prior Lake
170: Jake Allar, St. Michael-Albertville
182: Brandon Moen, Owatonna
195: Samuel Grove, Moorhead
220: Cole Fibranz, Sartell-St. Stephen
285: Gable Steveson, Apple Valley
2A
106: Matthew Petersen, Byron
113: Charlie Pickell, Mankato West
120: Garrett Vos, Waconia
126: Jake Gliva, Simley
132: Tucker Sjomeling, Delano
138: Keaten Schorr, Kasson-Mantorville
145: Tyler Wagener, Waconia
152: Anthony Jackson, Simley
160: Brady Berge, Kasson-Mantorville
170: Patrick Kennedy, Kasson-Mantorville
182: Jared Florell, Totino-Grace
195: Daniel Kerkvliet, Simley
220: Noah Ryan, Kasson-Mantorville
285: Mitch Trigg, Foley
1A
106: Blake Legred, United South Central
113: Jeron Matson, Kenyon-Wanamingo
120: Hunter Burnett, Pipestone Area
126: Michael Suda, Pipestone Area
132: Tanner Pasvogel, Sibley East
138: Lane Heim, St. Charles
145: Jake Mandt, Chatfield
152: Tyler Ryan, Kenyon-Wanamingo
160: Bailee O’Reilly, Goodhue
170: Alex Erpelding, Staples-Motley
182: Caden Steffen, Zumbrota-Mazeppa
195: Christopher Bain, Grand Meadow/L-O/S
220: Reid Seelhammer, Dover-Eyota
285: Trent Esping, Minneota
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