Class A State Wrestling Recap
Posted: Thursday, March 3, 2022 - 8:11 PM
Class A championship
Top-seeded Jackson County Central returned to the winner's circle for the first time in nearly a decade following a dominating 45-23 victory over Royalton-Upsala in the Class A championship match on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The Huskies built a 33-10 lead through the 160-pound match en route to their first title since winning the final one of four in a row in 2013. The first Class A crown came in 2008. Jackson County Central (24-3), also the Class AA champion in 1999 and 2000, finished the season on an 18-match winning streak after losing three consecutive duals during the Clash Duals.
Senior William Freking punctuated the Huskies’ performance in the championship match with a pin in the 195-pound match that gave Jackson County Central a 45-13 advantage with two weights remaining.
Throughout the dual, Jackson County Central flexed its muscle with major victories in eight weight divisions. Five of those victories came via pin.
Jackson County Central advanced to the semifinals with a 41-27 victory over West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville. The Huskies had pins in three of the final four matches to gain separation from the Knights. Royalton/Upsala edged unseeded Dover-Eyota 34-33 in the other semifinal. Royalton/Upsala dashed the title-match appearance for the Eagles with victories in the two final weights.
Royalton/Upsala finished the season 25-2.
Third place
West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville bounced back from a semifinal loss to Jackson County Central with a 35-31 victory over Dover-Eyota for the third-place trophy. Junior Justin Blascyk, a 220-pounder, went up to heavyweight and sealed the dual victory with a 5-2 decision over Dover-Eyota senior Addison Honsey, another 220-pounder. The Knights (25-5) won four of the final matches to secure the dual victory. The Eagles finished the season 19-10.
Consolation
Kimball Area, the Class A champion in 2021, recorded a 41-24 victory over United North Central in the consolation final. The Cubs (22-0) scored 23 unanswered points to close out the dual. Freshman Hank Meyer started the spree with a major decision at 170. United North Central, a co-op making its first state tournament appearance, finished its historic season 19-7
