Apple Valley Wrestlers 'Leave No Doubt' Winning 6th-Straight AAA State Title

Apple Valley senior Matt Kelliher said his team had one thing on its mind Thursday at the Class AAA state wrestling tournament.

“Our shirts say 'Leave No Doubt,’ ” Kelliher said. “That’s what we were trying to do.”

Mission accomplished. The Eagles ran through state at the Xcel Energy Center, winning their sixth straight championship with a 61-6 victory over St. Michael-Albertville in the finals.

Apple Valley defeated White Bear Lake 65-12 in the quarterfinals before topping Prior Lake 70-0 in its semifinal match.

The team’s journey, which included a run through some of the nation’s finest programs, ended Thursday in St. Paul. But coach Jim Jackson said it began right after last season ended.

“Our conditioning helps,” Jackson said. “We have 12 of our 14 kids that train year-round. It’s kind of a culture now in our program. It goes throughout the families, the parents that have taken them around. It’s been an incredible year for us.”

Apple Valley (36-1) showed its dominance during Thursday’s final.

Facing a hungry St. Michael-Albertville (33-5) opponent—who lost to the Eagles in the championship match a year ago—Apple Valley wasted no time separating itself from the Knights.

The Eagles picked up a quick fall in 1:09 by Seth Gross at 1:03, then got bonus points from Dakota Trom (125), Brandon Kingsley (140), Destin McCauley (152), Steven Keogh (160) and Matt Hechsel (215).

“We have five or six seniors on our team, and we wanted to show them that when they leave, Apple Valley is still going to have it,” said seventh-grader Mark Hall, who won his championship match at 130 pounds. “We’re still going to bring it every single match, and we wanted to make sure that the last couple moments are the best ones we have.”

Kelliher said he has been part of four state championships for the Eagles, and each one gets a little bit sweeter.

This team, he said, tops them all.

“I feel like this team is the best we’ve ever had,” Kelliher said. “I knew if everyone wrestled like we should, and we do things right, the outcome should be what happened today.”

Apple Valley 65, White Bear Lake 12

103: AV Seth Gross def. WBL Andrew Martin by fall (0:40). 112: WBL Jordan Durense wins by forfeit. 119: AV Cory Rathman def. WBL Alex Rod by fall (3:14). 125: AV Dakota Trom def. WBL Elijah Muedeking by fall (1:05). 130: AV Mark Hall def. WBL Cam Brandvold by tech. fall (15-0). 135: AV Matt Kelliher def. WBL Shane Shepherd by fall (0:55). 140: AV Brandon Kinsley def. WBL Duncan Potter by fall (0:23). 145: AV Daniel Woiwor def. Joe WBL Nasvik by fall (1:07). 152: AV Destin McCauley def. WBL Cody Anderson by fall (2:44). 160: AV Steven Keogh def. WBL Tom Longendyck by maj. dec. (15-2). 171: AV Jacob Waste def. WBL Beau Bibeau by maj. dec. (18-5). 189: AV Corbin Farrell def. WBL Kyle Ross by maj. dec. (16-2). 215: AV Matt Hechsel def. WBL Flynn Leider by fall (1:45). 285: AV Austin Hughson loses to WBL Donny Longendyke by fall (1:40).

Apple Valley 70, Prior Lake 0

103: AV Seth Gross def. PL Tanner Johnshoy 7-2. 112: AV Jordan Kingsley def. PL Sean O’Neil by fall (1:32). 119: AV Corey Rathman def. PL Ben Rock 6-3. 125: AV Dakota Trom def. PL Sayed Rahmani by tech. fall (21-4). 130: AV Mark Hall def. PL Brady Johnshoy 7-1. 135: AV Matt Kelliher def. PL Matt Kahnke by fall (1:25). 140: AV Brandon Kingsley def. PL Ryan Noton by fall (0:37). 145: AV Daniel Woiwor def. PL Stephen Lesko by fall (4:49). 152: AV Destin McCauley def. PL Alex Hart by fall (0:50). 160: AV Steven Keogh def. PL Max Van Arx by fall (1:41). 171: AV Jacob Waste def. PL Mike Mello by tech. fall (16-1). 189: AV Corbin Farrell def. PL Toby Schultz by fall (3:32). 215: AV Matt Hechsel def. PL James O’Brien by fall (0:50). 285: AV Zach Martens def. PL Ross Larson 3-2.

Apple Valley 61, St. Michael-Albertville 6

103: AV Seth Gross def. STMA Aaron Dick by fall (1:09). 112: AV Jordan Kingsley wins by forfeit. 119: AV Corey Rathman def. STMA Mark Voss 6-4. 125: AV Dakota Trom def. STMA Lincoln Mallinger by maj. dec. (11-1). 130: AV Mark Hall def. STMA Wayne Voss 7-1. 135: AV Matt Kelliher def. STMA Michael Lindquist 12-6. 140: AV Brandon Kingsley def. STMA Evan Gammell by fall (0:29). 145: AV Daniel Woiwor def. STMA Lucas Martin 10-3. 152: AV Destin McCauley def. STMA Jake Lillie by tech. fall (18-3). 160: AV Steven Keogh def. STMA Ricky Briggs by fall (3:01). 171: AV Jacob Waste wins by forfeit. 189: AV Corbin Farrell def. STMA Mitch Eull 9-1. 215: AV Mat Hechsel def. STMA Mitchell Kolles by fall (2:42). 285: STMA Parker Betts def. AV Zach Martens by fall (5:02).