Soaring Eagles

With Apple Valley reaching dynasty status long ago in the world of Minnesota high school wrestling, it's almost expected that the Eagles win or challenge for the Class AAA team state championship every year. Last season, Apple Valley topped Albert Lea 57-6 in the state championship match at the Xcel Energy Center to secure its third title in a row. The Eagles also won state championships from 1999-2004 and have claimed 16 total in school history. The 2008-09 season has brought more of the same as the Eagles were undefeated as of mid-January and look primed for another run at the top spot in Minnesota large school wrestling. A recent check of national high school team rankings listed on www.hswrestling.net had Apple Valley behind only Blair (N.J.) Academy and St. Paris (Ohio). Apple Valley coach Jim Jackson certainly heads one of the most prominent wrestling programs in the nation - and has the hardware to prove it - but is quick to defer praise. "It's really a privilege for me to be a part of a program like this," Jackson said. "It's a big responsibility to keep it going, but it's a great challenge. I always stress that it's the involvement of the athletes and many different entities that makes this program go. It's parents and coaches and the booster club and the administration - it all contributes to one success." With its line-up loaded with standout wrestlers from top to bottom, Apple Valley made a case for itself as the nation's best prep team in early January at The Clash National Duals in Rochester. The Eagles beat a handful of nationally ranked teams - including Minnesota Class AA power Simley - to go 6-0 for the tournament and bring home the team championship. Eagles Destin McCauley, Tyler Lehmann, Brandon Kingsley and Craig Kelliher were named to the all-tournament team. "I believe that's the toughest dual meet tournament in the country," Jackson said. "We had 17 nationally ranked teams in the field out of 32. It gives you an opportunity to put your wrestlers on the national scene. We've only won that tournament two times in seven years." Apple Valley also took first place in the 2008 Minnesota Christmas Tournament. Out of 14 individual weight classes, the Eagles sported eight wrestlers in the top three of their respected class as of mid-January. Dakota Trom (112 pounds), Kingsley (125), Justin LaValle (130), Lehmann (171) and Kelliher (189) were all ranked No. 1 in their weight class. LaVelle and Lehmann won individual state championships in their current weight classes last season and are expected to be tough to beat again once state tournament time rolls around. McCauley is also coming off a state championship performance at 119 pounds. Along with LaValle, Jarret Hoeppner is a senior co-captain for the Eagles. Hoeppner - who said he hopes to wrestle at the Air Force Academy after high school -- is ranked among the top wrestlers at 152 pounds this season and says the expectations are always high as an Apple Valley wrestler. "We're always expected to work hard and go into matches and wrestle hard," Hoeppner said. "As far as winning, we're expected to give it our all and hopefully we come out on top." Hoeppner has been wrestling at the varsity level since seventh grade, a year after his family moved to the district from Lakeville. "It's really a family atmosphere," he said. "We're all pretty close and a lot of the alumni will come back and that just shows what a great program we have. It's a lot of fun." Jackson said winning state championships - whether it's individual or team - is not often talked about within the program. "I believe that it's always in the back of everybody's mind," Jackson said. "We don't talk about it, though. We have a philosophy that we want to get better every single day so you just go up to the room and you keep working." If anyone doubts the importance of tradition within the Apple Valley program, they need only to look at assistant coach Bill Demaray, who is Jackson's right hand man. Demaray was the head coach for the Eagles when Apple Valley High School started in 1976 and stayed at that post until Jackson took over in 1995. Since then, Demaray - a coach who has six state titles under his belt - has been involved in the program every step of the way as an assistant. "How many guys would do that," Jackson asked rhetorically. "Bill started this program and got it to where we are now and he's been my mentor and friend every step of the way. He should get a lot of credit for where we are now." Rather than worry about where Apple Valley stands on the national stage, Jackson and his troops are more worried about getting to the state tournament in March and taking care of business again. "That's where our focus is as a team," Jackson said. "We're not taking anything for granted because Minnesota has some very good high school wrestling." As coach of not only the best program in the state, but also one of the elite wrestling powerhouses in the nation, Jackson should know.