Jim Jackson, Gable Steveson, if your a wrestling fan in the state of Minnesota, you instantly think of Apple Valley, and the dominance of the Eagles and their 24 state championships from 1983-2017, but their is a new dynasty and it’s STMA! The Knights picked up their 11th state championship and it’s second straight in Class AAA at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Thursday. This was the ninth state championship since 2004 for STMA.
During the regular season the Knights went 27-0, including victories over the AA champs from Watertown Mayer and the A Champs from Staples-Motley. May people think that the 1993 Forest Lake team is the greatest of all time, winning it all and also had seven state champions at the individual level, but this year STMA might challenge that, and many think this might be the best team of all time.
The Knights opened up the state tournament with a revenge win over Hastings. It was just two years ago the Raiders mounted a miracle comeback to defeat the Knights, 33-32 and steal the state championship. Not this time, it was all STMA, 60-8. In the semifinals, it was more of the same, as the Knights took 11 of the first 12 matches and dismantled Albert Lea, 54-9. In the finals, they would take on Shakopee, who survived Stillwater in the other semifinal matchup, 27-26. Again, in the championship it was not contest. The Sabers did put up a little bit of a fight, but not enough to ever truly threaten as the Knights rolled 40-18.
Above, action from the STMA Knights state championship match vs. Shakopee.
Making the All-Tournament team from STMA for the team portion were, John Murphy, Lincoln Robideau, Landon Robideau, Eli Schultz, and Landon Thoennes. With a second state championship secured, it’s time know with the individual state tournament starting to find out, if this may be the best Minnesota High School Wrestling team of all time!
John Murphy, above, was one of five wrestlers from STMA that made the All-Tournament team at state.
