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Owatonna ends Apple Valley's streak
December 30, 2004
Owatonna beat Apple Valley 40-24 during the first day of competition at the Clash National Duals in Rochester, ending a streak of 183 consecutive matches against Minnesota teams without a loss.
"They are a very solid team, they are well coached, and they deserved to win today," said Apple Valley Head Coach Jim Jackson.
"We're thankful to beat Apple Valley," said Owatonna Head Coach Scot Davis, "it's been a long time since anybody's beaten them."
Apple Valley, which has won six consecutive Class AAA championships and was ranked No. 1, had not lost a dual-meet to a Minnesota team since losing to Hastings in the semifinals of the 1998 State Tournament. Including losses to teams outside of Minnesota, the Eagles have only lost seven times since the 1998 season.
Owatonna, ranked No. 2 in Class AAA, won eight of 14 matches, five by pin.
Owatonna will likely overtake Apple Valley as the No. 1 team in Class AAA rankings, putting Apple Valley in a position they haven't been in for a while - No. 2. "We'll learn from this and we'll move on," said Jackson. "This is a stepping stone to the State Tournament. Would we like to win all the time? Sure we would, but it's a stepping stone."
Owatonna doesn't mind being No. 1 this early in the season, but the end of the season is when it counts most. "I'd like to be number on in March," said Davis, "that's what it's all about."