The initial edition of the revitalized InterMat national team rankings yield a wire-to-wire No. 1. Starting the season with the mantle of best in the nation, Apple Valley, Minnesota was absolutely dominant against a rather formidable schedule. They were faced with tough tests at every turn, and at each point, the Eagles passed with flying colors.
Top 10 Teams in InterMat Fab 50:
1. Apple Valley, Minnesota
2. Blair Academy, New Jersey
3. Brandon, Florida
4. St. Paris Graham, Ohio
5. St. Edward, Ohio
6. Simley, Minnesota
7. Clovis, California
8. Bakersfield, California
9. Iowa City West, Iowa
10. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
The season started with a trip to Iowa for the Keith Young Invitational -- an event featuring all three 2010 Iowa state tournament champions (Waverly-Shell Rock, Denver-Tripoli, and Don Bosco), along with nationally ranked Bettendorf. Wrestling without two of their seven nationally-ranked wrestlers, Apple Valley still emerged with five champions, three other finalists, and had all but one wrestler place in the top six.
1. Apple Valley, Minnesota
2. Blair Academy, New Jersey
3. Brandon, Florida
4. St. Paris Graham, Ohio
5. St. Edward, Ohio
6. Simley, Minnesota
7. Clovis, California
8. Bakersfield, California
9. Iowa City West, Iowa
10. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Next in terms of big tests was the Minnesota Christmas Tournament, which features almost every major program and individual from across the three classifications in the Gopher State. There were six nationally-ranked teams from Minnesota at some point of this season (four in these final rankings), and all of them were in this field. Competing without one of the nationally-ranked wrestlers, they had eight in the finals, and five were champions.
The next two events on the Apple Valley schedule would confirm their standing on top of the rankings. At the Cheesehead Invitational in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, they would do battle with No. 2 Blair Academy, New Jersey. The field featured eight of the nation’s 28 best teams, and six of the top eleven. Even though Blair had five champions in the tournament, compared to just Destin McCauley for Apple Valley, superior depth placed the Eagles on top of the standings. Seven Apple Valley wrestlers finished as runner-up, while all but one member of the lineup finished in the top six. Then it was on to the Clash Duals, and the anticipated battle against No. 3 Brandon, Florida. Prior to that match, they absolutely dominated the other five dual meets in the event -- including matchups against No. 12 Bettendorf, Iowa; No. 26 Carl Sandburg, Illinois; and No. 6 Simley, Minnesota. Even with three of their seven nationally-ranked wrestlers losing, Apple Valley was still able to win nine of fourteen matches against Brandon to emerge with a 34-16 victory.
Apple Valley (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)As mentioned previously -- Blair Academy, New Jersey finishes the season ranked second; while Brandon, Florida ends the year in the third position. Rounding out the top five are a pair of Buckeye State super programs, St. Paris Graham and St. Edward.
In what comes as not a surprise when assessing wrestling dominance, eight Pennsylvania programs find themselves in the rankings. This is the most of any state, and all but one of the Keystone State teams are ranked inside the top thirty. Next most in the rankings is the five Illinois teams, all of which are in the top 30 as well. Four teams from Minnesota, New Jersey, and Ohio find themselves ranked. Twenty states had a program in the Fab 50 teams, and below is the breakdown of the rest.
3: Iowa, New York
2: Florida, California, Michigan, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Oregon
1: Wisconsin, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Idaho, Maryland, and Delaware
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