Prep Blog: State Tournament Rush Starts This Week

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – They call it "March Madness" for a reason.

Even though things are technically getting started this week, March is truly the craziest month of the high school sports athletic year. In the next five weeks, champions will be decided in girls and boys hockey, girls gymnastics, wrestling, boys swimming and girls and boys basketball.

State champions have already been decided in alpine and Nordic skiing as well as dance team.

This week, it's all about girls hockey and gymnastics. We'll take a brief look at both.

Girls Hockey: Minnetonka, Breck Lead Loaded Brackets

In Class AA, arguably the top team in the state isn't playing at the Xcel Energy Center this week. Hill-Murray was upset by Roseville in the Section 4AA title game last Friday, leaving Minnetonka as the favorite to win the tournament with the top seed. Roseville is the No. 2 seed, and if both teams win out, they'll face each other in the state championship on Saturday.

Edina is the No. 3 seed and Lakeville North is the No. 4 seed. I would keep an eye on that Mounds View squad. The Mustangs beat Blaine for the Section 5AA title and have proven they can play with anybody in the most crucial of circumstances. With that said, I'll take Roseville to win it all.

In Class A, Breck got the top see and Warroad is the No. 2 seed. Maybe the most intriguing match-up in the quarterfinals will be between a pair of former conference rivals. No. 4-seeded Red Wing faces Hutchinson, who left a few years back for the Wright County Conference. Detroit Lakes might also be the surprise of the Class A bracket as they are 13-14 and beat No. 1-seeded Alexandria to earn their trip to state.

I would love nothing more than to see Breck face Warroad in the state title game. It's metro versus greater Minnesota, two hockey powerhouses and the two top seeds. Class A action starts Wednesday, while Class AA play starts Thursday.

State Gymnastics: Northfield Looks To Continue Dominant Run

The Northfield gymnastics team hasn't lost a meet in more than three years. That 35-meet streak includes beating state power Roseville for a state championship two years ago and repeating as state champions last year. The Raiders are looking to establish their tradition of dominance with a third team title this year. They all but coasted to a section title on Friday and have seven gymnasts back from their state championship team.

Northfield and Roseville will likely battle for the state crown again this year, but some other teams lurk in the shadows. Other qualifying teams include Park Cottage Grove, Cambridge-Isanti, St. Cloud Tech, Lakeville North, Stillwater and Minnetonka.

In Class A, it's Perham's tournament to lose. The eight-time defending state champions are back with six gymnasts from last year's state championship run. Melrose, New Prague and Breck are also back after competing at the state meet last year. The other qualifying teams include Austin, Jackson County Central, Rush City/Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson and Big Lake. I would keep an eye on New Prague as a dark horse in Class A.

The Class A team tournament is at 11 a.m. Friday and the Class AA meet is at 6 p.m. There is also a competition for individual state qualifiers on Saturday.

It looks to be an exciting kick off to the winter state tournament season this week. Tune into WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally Friday night at 10:20 p.m. as Mike Max, Frank Vascellaro and John Lauritsen will have all the action covered.