Section wrestling realignment gives Hastings ‘fighting chance’

Hastings wrestling coach Josh McLay admits it wasn’t fun preparing his wrestlers for the Section 3AAA tournament each season.

That’s because standing in their way of a team state tournament berth was Apple Valley — the No. 1 team in the nation by a landslide.

After the Minnesota State High School League announced Section realignments last week, McLay saw his team move from Section 3AAA into 1AAA, joining champion Albert Lea and runner-up Owatonna.

“I am very happy that we are out of Apple Valley’s section,” McLay said. “Now at least we have a fighting chance to make it to state as a team.”

Hastings spent much of the 2010-11 season ranked No. 2 or 3 in the state and lost to Apple Valley 62-3 in the Section 3AAA finals.

TheGuillotine.com’s Class AAA editor said last week that Hastings has a slight edge over Albert Lea next season as the top team in Section 1AAA. Nalan said Owatonna would likely finish third.

McLay still sees his new section as a challenge.

“Section 1AAA is very tough every single year and has been forever with the perennial powers of Albert Lea and Owatonna,” he said. “(It has) great teams with a lot of tradition and we know most of the coaches down there and have a lot of respect for them.”

McLay said he would have been more excited if the team moved to Section 4AAA but believes his team will be competitive in Section 1AAA.

“It will make for a very exciting section tournament in both team and individuals,” he said. “I believe we will be right in the mix with the other teams.”

Hastings will return five state-ranked wrestlers off last year’s team. Albert Lea will return four and Owatonna will return three.

Albert Lea or Owatonna has won each Section 1AAA team championship since 1996. Owatonna won 10 and Albert Lea six during that span.