Martin County will face a team it hasn’t met in a dual in three years to open the Section 3AA wrestling tournament.
The Red Bulls, seeded second in the South Sub-Section, will host third-seeded Luverne at 7 p.m. Thursday in Sherburn.
The teams have not squared off in a dual since the COVID-altered schedule in the 2020-2021 season when they met three times, with Martin County winning all three.
The Red Bulls, 6-8, have not competed in two weeks. Martin County won duals over Tri-City United and Windom/Mountain Lake on Feb. 1 and placed sixth in the Big South Conference tournament on Feb. 2.
The Cardinals are 14-9. They were 11th in the BSC meet.
Matches on the other side of the South Sub-Section will be held in New Ulm with Windom/Mountain Lake (7-15) facing Worthington (0-17) at 6 p.m., with the winner meeting the host Eagles (24-5) at 7 p.m.
North Sub-Section matches Thursday will be held at Madison and Marshall.
The four teams coming out of Thursday’s matches meet in Worthington on Saturday with the semifinals at 12:30 p.m. followed by the championship match.
The state team tournament is Thursday, Feb. 29 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
SECTION 3AA WRESTLING
Thursday, Feb. 15
South Sub-Section
First round
Windom/Mountain Lake (7-15) vs. Worthington (0-17) at New Ulm, 6 p.m.
Quarterfinals
WML-Worthington winner at New Ulm (24-5), 7 p.m.
Luverne (14-9) at Martin County (6-8), 7 p.m.
North Sub-Section
First round
MAHACA (3-17) vs. Hutchinson/Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (13-8) at Madison, 6 p.m.
Quarterfinals
MAHACA-Hutchinson winner at United (23-2), 7 p.m.
New London-Spicer (20-6) at Marshall (24-3), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17
At New London
Semifinals
Highest remaining South seed vs. Lowest remaining North seed, 12:30 p.m.
Highest remaining North seed vs. Lowest remaining South seed, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
Championship matches
Scores of Section 3AA championship matches in the last decade:
2014: United 42, Worthington 19
2015: Worthington 33, United 23
2016: Wabasso/Red Rock Central 28, Worthington 26
2017: Worthington 34, Martin County 25
2018: Martin County 49, Marshall 20
2019: Marshall 30, Martin County 29
2020: Martin County 41, Marshall 25
2021: Martin County 39, Tri-City United 28
2022: Martin County 32, Hutchinson 25
2023: United 37, Marshall 22
MARTIN COUNTY WRESTLING SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Sat., Dec. 2: at Dick Maher Invitational, Blue Earth, 1st of 7
Sat., Dec. 9: at JCC Invitational, 5th of 13
Sat., Dec. 16: at Redwood River Riot, Redwood Falls, 13th of 36
Tues., Dec. 19: JWP/WEM at St. James, L 41-27
Tues., Dec. 19: at St. James Area, L 42-28
Thurs., Dec. 21: at Blue Earth Area, W 58-15
Thurs., Jan. 4: Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, L 47-22
Thurs., Jan. 4: LeSueur-Henderson, L 36-36
Fri., Jan. 5: Worthington at Fulda, W 41-31
Fri., Jan. 5: at Fulda/Murray County Central, L 51-18
Sat., Jan. 6: at Tri-City United Invitational, 1st of 6
Thurs., Jan. 11: at New Ulm, L 53-13
Thurs., Jan. 11: Redwood Valley at New Ulm, W 42-33
Thurs., Jan. 18: Marshall, L 53-15
Thurs., Jan. 18: St. Peter, L 51-17
Sat., Jan. 20: at Wabasso Invitational, 6th of 12
Tues., Jan, 23: at Waseca, W 52-21
Sat., Jan. 27: at Mankato East Invitational, 4th of 6
Thurs., Feb. 1: Martin County 39, Tri-City United 30
Thurs., Feb. 1: Martin County 41, Windom/Mountain Lake 28
Fri., Feb. 2: at Big South Conference, Jackson, 6th of 13