On Friday, Feb. 12, the wrestling team will start their journey to state. The Royals (seventh seed) will face Eden Prairie (second seed) in the sectional tournament. The match will be hosted in the Lindbergh Center at 5:30 PM.

Last year, the Royals lost in the first round to Minneapolis South, a match the Royals believe they should have won. The Royals will look to bounce back from last year’s results and advance to state.

“The key to being successful in the sectional tournament for us is to stay tough, and to keep wrestling. Our coaches have been teaching us moves that Eden Prairie tends to execute,” said Nate Johnson, junior.

The Royals are going to need many wrestlers to step up and win matches on Friday night to advance.

“We need our 106 and 113 to get wins,”Johnson said. “They don’t even have to be pins. As long as we win those matches, more will fall into our favor,”

If the Royals beat Eden Prairie, they will play the winner of Chaska (third seed) vs. Minneapolis Washburn (sixth seed) in the semi-finals of the sectional tournament.