TOM Selects Apple Valley Wrestling as 2010 High School National Wrestling Champions

After much debate the Eagles are TOM’s National Champions

First off we want to congratulate all the teams across the country. This was a long difficult decision between two exceptional teams this season. This is the first of TOM’s off season awards. Apple Valley will receive an engraved plaque. Next week we will announce the Clinch Gear All-American Team and the Clinch Gear Wrestler of the Year by TOM.

By the Numbers

2. 5. 7. 9. Simple numbers that tell an impressive story when speaking of the Apple Valley, MN wrestling program. 2 – the number of years it’s been since the Eagles lost a dual meet (to Montini Catholic, IL on January 5th 2008 34-29). 5 – the number of consecutive state titles they have earned. 7 State Champions in 2010. 9 State Finalists in 2010.

Those are just some of the numbers that pushed Valley to the top of the list. Valley faced some tough competition this year in the likes of #4 Brandon, FL, #6 Wyoming Seminary, PA, #11 Simley, MN, #15 Montini Catholic, IL, and #17 Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Valley topped them all.

“Historic – remarkable – gratifying” were the three adjectives used by Head Coach James Jackson. This coming from a coach whose program owns 18 team state titles and has produced 64 individual state champions.

When TOM staff notified Coach Jackson about the news he said “It means a great deal to the school, team, wrestlers, families and coaches. The credit goes to the families and kids; they are the ones who have put numerous hours on the mat, on the road, in gyms and in the wrestling room.”

The Great Debate

As previously stated, there was much debate and long discussions surrounding this selection. Unless you live in a cave you know that we struggled between Apple Valley and St. Paris Graham, OH. The timeline of the unfolding was thus: in December Blair Academy was ranked #1 in the country and, without a starter, won the toughest tournament in the country, the Ohio Ironman. Third ranked St. Paris Graham, without two starters of it own, finished runners-up to Blair.

In January, with Blair still #1, Apple Valley second, and SPG sitting at #3, SPG hosted Blair for a dual and knocked them off convincingly. The fire started then: Who should be #1, the incumbent #2, or the 3rd ranked team that dethroned Blair?

Both teams are exceptional and we hashed out the possible results up and down. In the end we feel Apple Valley’s depth is what would make a difference. All things being equal, Apple Valley’s ability to dictate match-ups and possibly avoid bonus points (or get them) at certain weights edged out SPG by the slimmest of margins. Of course, this can all be debated. In a perfect world, everyone would wrestle each other and there would be no need for debate or opinion. We think both teams are exceptional.

The Onus Question

This brings up a peripheral argument: whose job is it to make competition happen?

Valley Coach Jim Jackson certainly has an opinion.

We asked Coach Jackson if there is any chance of seeing them meet up with the likes of Graham or Blair in the near future. “Never, unless Blair, SPG or St. Eds. comes to The Clash/The Cheesehead or to Apple Valley.” Now that may sound crass but in reality Apple Valley is limited due to Minnesota State High School rules.

Last summer the governing body in Minnesota, the MSHSL, changed the bi-law limiting travel to a 600 mile round trip. Before that MN teams could travel anywhere in the country, if there were only four or less teams involved in the competition. We asked Jackson if there is anyway around the rule. “I did call Craig Perry of the MSHSL to ask for an appeal and to see if the bi-law would change. He informed me that the bi-law would stay the same and there is no appeal process.”

There has been a precedent for Valley seeking out competition. Coach Jackson points out “In 2000 we traveled to St. Edwards, OH for a triangular and in 2004 we attended the Final Four in Easton, PA where we faced Blair Academy, NJ, St. Paris Graham and Easton, PA. In 2002 we also traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to face Broken Arrow, El Reno, and a team from Missouri.”

Blair Academy has always traveled all over the country for competition. And recently, many perennial national powers have followed suit. Teams flock to Ohio or Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Reno, Nevada, Delaware, and Wisconsin, all to wrestle some of the best teams in the land. But is it any one particular team’s responsibility to travel to certain destinations?

This brings us back to “Never, unless”…. Coach Jackson went on to say “What bothers me is that these match ups could happen if Blair or SPG wanted it to. We have made two trips out East; and neither school (Blair or SPG) has reciprocated. I know SPG can only travel one time out of state; they will be traveling to NJ to wrestle Blair in a dual. In my opinion the onus is on Blair and SPG to come out here. For AVHS it needs to happen next season; we will not be at the same level in 2012. I have never been one to mince words so there you have it.” Jackson stated.

This is coach Jackson’s opinion and we are still left with the question of “is there an onus”? Our feeling is that many of these teams in fact wrestle some of the best teams in the country. Unfortunately thus far we have not seen these 3 teams meet up in the same competition.

The 2010 Team in Apple Valley Lore

Apple Valley has had some pretty tough teams in the past so we asked Jackson where he ranks this team. “I am a person who looks at facts and results. If you look at that, then this team would be our (AVHS) best team ever.”

Looking forward to next season we asked where he see’s Valley in 2011. Jackson explained “On paper we should be very tough; we lose three seniors this year. We return six state champions, a runner-up, a 3rd place and a 5th place finisher. We must improve at 285 and I believe we will. We won both the Team and Individual 9th Grade & under State Championships. We are excited about our future.”

Finally we asked Coached Jackson what we should know about their program. He told us we should know who his coaches are:

Bill Demaray: 2x DII National Champion and DI AA for NDSU…the man behind the scenes.
Dalen Wasmund: 1x AA for U of MN. 2x State Champion, Olympic Alt. in Greco.
Chad Erikson: 2x AA for U of M, AVHS first 4x State Champion, Member of two NCAA Championship Teams and three High School State Championship Teams
Jamell Tidwell: 3x AA, 2X runner-up for Augsburg College, Member of two National Championship Teams, 2x State Champion.
Mike Farrell: 3x AA for OSU, member of a National Championship Team, Second most wins all time at OSU. MN State Champion
Daryl Johnson: past Head at St. Paul Humbolt where he coached two state champions
Josh Barlage: Former wrestled for Augsburg College
Joe Venniwitz: Alumni
Dan Crone: Alumni

Form more information on Apple Valley Wrestling see www.avwrestling.com

Thank you to Coach Jackson for taking the time to speak with us.