Forest Lake sophomore Ben Morgan, who won a Class 3A state title two years ago and placed third last year, came into this week's state wrestling tournament with a plan. Falling short of a championship in 2009 made him realize that thinking too much can be a problem.
"It was kind of hard last year," he said after recording a first-period pin of Minnetonka's Andrew Sutton in Wednesday's 130-pound preliminary round. "I was so worried about winning consecutive state titles." Morgan's third-place finish at 119 a year ago put a sudden end to his streak, and this time around he carried a fresh, carefree attitude into the four-day tournament at Xcel Energy Center. "I feel great," he said after extending his season record to 41-2. "I didn't win it last year so now I have nothing to lose. I came here to kick some butt. I'm only 16. I just want to wrestle." No. 1 vs. No. 2 One of the most anticipated matches of Thursday's quarterfinals will come in 3A at 160 pounds when top-ranked Steven Keogh of Apple Valley faces second-ranked Jordan Campa of St. Michael-Albertville. Campa (37-1), now a senior, won the 2A crown at 160 last year and St. Michael-Albertville's growing enrollment moved it into 3A this year. Keogh (43-1), a junior, finished second in 2A the past two years, wrestling for Thief River Falls. Thursday's matchup will be the first time the two have ever met. Keogh said as soon as he saw the pairings, he began thinking about facing Campa. "I said, 'Let's do it,' " Keogh said after pinning Cory Busse in the first round. " 'Let's have our finals match right here.' " Campa, who beat Stillwater's Duncan Secor 12-3, said facing anyone from Apple Valley always raises the intensity level a bit. "They're dominant, of course, but we take pride in St. Michael-Albertville. We want to keep up with them; that's our goal." Another matchup of No. 1 vs. 2 wrestlers in 3A will take place at 145. Top-ranked Jordan Ness of Bloomington Kennedy will meet No. 2 Charlie Janssen of Forest Lake today. In Class 2A, top-ranked heavyweight Pat Brinkman of New Ulm will face No. 2 Derek Carlson of Mora.
