Class AAA Section Darkhorses
It isn’t often that the team that isn’t the favorite in its respective section doesn’t ultimately win it. But upsets at the high school level certainly can happen. Here are teams from each section that could surprise.
Section 1AAA: Winona
Favorite: Austin
Austin and Northfield have been the top two teams in the section for the last couple seasons and figure to be again this winter. A team we were high on last year was Winona and the Winhawks won seven games. With Jake Reeck and Brad Winter back, plus a solid core of returners, they’ve got the firepower to give the top dawgs a scare.
Section 2AAA: Worthington
Favorite: Waseca, Mankato East, Marshall
Section 2 has three of the best teams in the state so being a sleeper in this section is awfully unforgiving. Worthington won 15 games last year and the Trojans returns a double figure scorer in Karasharo Ojulu and a very good sophomore in Terbuto Ochothow.
Section 3AAA: Holy Angels
Favorite: St. Thomas Academy
St. Thomas Academy looks like the heavy favorite in what appears to be one of the lighter sections in Class AAA but with Charles Johnson transferring in, Holy Angels immediately becomes dangerous. Max Gerstner is a longtime varsity regular and the Stars have several solid returning role players in the fold too.
Section 4AAA: Totino-Grace
Favorite: Mahtomedi, Columbia Heights
Mahtomedi and Columbia Heights are the two best teams in the section but Totino-Grace always seems to be capable of beating teams late in the season. The team relied on a lot on a good senior group last year but Eric Krieger and Riley Burger are back and the Eagles should get better and better as the year goes on.
Section 5AAA: Big Lake
Favorite: Willmar
Big Lake isn’t a big sleeper given the section as a whole looks down and the Hornets have perhaps the best individual player in Logan Nagorski but Willmar will be the favorite and Monticello won’t drop off as far as one would think. Big Lake probably finishes anywhere from second to fourth in the section and with Nagorski and a number of other good returners, they’ll be a team nobody wants to see in that tournament.
Section 6AAA: Waconia
Favorite: DeLaSalle
The Islanders look like the runaway top team in Class AAA and Robbinsdale Cooper gives the section another top-notch outfit. Waconia won’t get a ton of pub going into the year but PJ Hayes is a terrific player and the Wildcats always seem to get better throughout the year.
Section 7AAA: Hermantown
Favorite: Princeton
The defending section champs went into that tournament as the No. 6 seed last year and pulled a couple of upsets on the way to the state tournament. Princeton will be a favorite in the section and among the top teams in the state but Hermantown has plenty of talent still with Peter Soumis and Connor Bich.
Section 8AAA: Alexandria
Favorite: Bemidji
Section 8 looks wide open but it seems like Bemidji and St. Cloud Apollo head into the year at least as the teams to beat. Alexandria has the talent to make noise as Trey Hoepner is one of the better guards in the section and Treyton Thompson could be the best big man.