Logan’s Post-Christmas Gift: Updated Team Power Rankings
Chatfield’s Myles Mulhern looks for a takedown on the edge of the mat against Zumbrota-Mazeppa’s Tucker Buck on Day 2 of the 2024 Clash National Duals.
The Christmas season is over, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped giving. If you listened to the latest episode of JV Takes, you’ll recall Kyle demanding that I release a new edition of Logan’s Section 1 Team Power Rankings by Wednesday, January 10th. Well, guess what folks? I have once again blessed Kyle with the gift of my endless wrestling knowledge - and even a day early!
Since the last edition of my power rankings, a lot has happened on and off the wrestling mat. I shaved my mustache. Kyle got double pink eye (that he claims is from me). ON the wrestling mat, Chatfield continued to roll, several stud wrestlers got back in their lineups, and many of Section 1’s finest continued to build on their strong starts.
The Mighty Gophers of Chatfield - Who else would be my #1 team? Kyle has accused me for months now of being in love with the Chatfield wrestling team. Finally, he is starting to understand why I have such great admiration for Matt Mauseth’s Gophers. In a ludacris 3-week stretch, Chatfield knocked off Kasson-Mantorville (#2 ranked team in AA State), won the Bi-State (70+ team individual tournament), and placed second at the illustrious Clash National Duals (only behind a nationally ranked STMA team). How about we let the Gophers take a weekend to relax? They’ve earned it.
Last Ranked: #3
Notable wins: Lakeville North Individual Tournament, The FCLMC Holiday Tournament, The Bi-State Classic, #6 AA Zumbrota-Mazeppa, #4 AAA Shakopee, #2 AA Kasson-Mantorville
Notable Loses: THEY DON’T LOSE (except to St. Michael-Albertville, the #1 ranked team in AAA).
The Komets of Kasson-Mantorville - They haven’t set any school records yet, but KM has quietly had a nice start to the season. They improved off last year's finish at the MN Christmas tournament, and fared well at the Cheesehead. The lone blemish on their resume is a loss to Chatfield - but who are we kidding? A loss to Chatfield really isn’t a blemish.
Last Ranked: #1
Notable wins: 4th at the MN Christmas Tournament, 5th at the Cheesehead
Notable Loses: #1 A Chatfield
The Cougars of Zumbrota-Mazeppa - In many other sections, Link Steffen’s Cougars would make a strong case for the top spot, but not in Section 1. The Cougars had their best finish EVER at the Clash National Duals, placing 4th out of 32 teams. Like KM, they also fell to the red hot Chatfield Gophers. The only 2 loses for ZM thus far are to the title favorites in Class A and Class AAA
Last ranked: #2
Notable wins: 1st at the Don Hall Invitational, Rochester Mayo, #8 AAA Anoka, #12 AAA Park, Bemidji, 5th at the Bi-State Classic
Notable loses: #1 A Chatfield, #1 AAA St. Michael-Albertville
The Tigers of Albert Lea Area - There are many ridiculously talented wrestlers on the Albert Lea roster that have less-than-impressive records at this point. Albert Lea’s scheduling plan for the first half of the season? BRING ON THE GIANTS. They appeared in 3 behemoth individual tournaments, as well as 7 matchups with state ranked teams. Certainly noteworthy that they are the only team that has threatened STMA in a dual so far this season.
Last ranked: #4
Notable wins: 9th at the MN Christmas Tournament, 3rd at the Rumble on the Red, #11 AAA Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, #10 AAA Willmar, #8 AAA Anoka
Notable loses: #6 AAA Hastings, #1 AAA St. Michael-Albertville, #3 AAA Stillwater, #8 AA Scott West
The Knights of Kenyon-Wanamingo - Am I the only one that hears “Kenyon-Wanamingoooooooo” in my head when I read the full team name of the Knights? KW came out of the gates at a moderate pace, but have impressed as of late. Their 15th place at the Clash should NOT be scoffed at just because Chatfield and ZM blew us all away. The best wrestling is likely ahead of KW now that they’ve had their full lineup for a couple consecutive weeks.
Last Ranked: #5
Notable wins: #12 A Dover-Eyota, 1st at Delano Invitational, #8 AAA Anoka
Notable loses: Foley, #3 AAA Stillwater, #1 AA Simley, #2 AAA Mounds View
The Eagles of Dover-Eyota - They are absolutely rock solid. This program is so good at consistently putting an above average lineup on the mat, no matter the circumstances. Besides getting blown out by KW, they have had a nice start to the season and will get the chance to build on that versus Goodhue and Kasson-Mantorville this week.
Last Ranked: #6
Notable wins: 1st at the Cannon Falls Invitational, 3rd at Rogers Holiday Matness, 2nd at Ellsworth Invitational, 1st at Northfield Invite, Rochester Mayo
Notable loses: #8 A Kenyon-Wanamingo
The Huskies of Owatonna - they don’t have any PHENOMENAL wins yet, although they do have a couple quality wins against solid teams in Chaska/Chanhassen and GMLOS. They also don’t have any bad losses. I’m going to need to see more to move them up into the top 6, and they get that opportunity this weekend with ZM and KW.
Last ranked: #10
Notable wins: Chaska/Chanhassen, GMLOS
Notable loses: #3 AAA Stillwater, #8 AAA Anoka
The Raiders of Northfield - Northfield had a fine Clash. Their lineup wasn’t at 100%, and still managed to hold on and beat Caledonia. This second tier of teams in AAA (Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Mayo) will be fun to watch battle for trip(s) to the section finals.
Last Ranked: #8
Notable wins: 2nd at Northfield Invite, Rochester Mayo, Caledonia/Houston
Notable loses: #6 AAA Hastings
The Tigers of Stewartville - The Tigers shocked me in later December when they knocked off my Goodhue Wildcats. Where the heck did that come from? I’m on alert now, and Stewartville has backed up their win against Goodhue with a couple solid showings at Trinity and against other 1AA competition. Will they keep the train rolling?
Last ranked: Unranked
Notable wins: 2nd at Trinity Invitational, GMLOS, Goodhue, Plainview-Elgin-Millville
Notable loses: #6 AA Zumbrota-Mazeppa
The Wildcats of Goodhue - Rochester Mayo could’ve also made a case for this spot, but I don’t see a signature win yet for the Trojans. Despite a disappointing loss to a talented Stewartville team, Goodhue still holds a great win against Holdingford and will get the chance to add to their resume this week.
Last Ranked: #7
Notable wins: GMLOS, #4 A Holdingford, Faribault, Cannon Falls
Notable loses: Stewartville, Foley, #12 AA Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton