He just missed the berth when he finished third in the Section 2AAA Individual Tournament.Minnetonka senior Jake McGann is fired up following his upset win over Wyatt Bice of St. Michael-Albertville in the opening round of the State Class AAA Wrestling Tournament Feb. 25 a Xcel Energy Center. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman)

Luckily, though, McGann wasn’t done for the season, and he was able to score the biggest win of his career Thursday, Feb. 25, in the State Class AAA Team Tournament at Xcel Energy Center.

McGann trailed St. Michael-Albertville’s

Section 5AAA champion, Wyatt Bice, 4-2 with under 10 seconds remaining in the third period.

Miraculously, McGann scored a reversal just before the buzzer. Then, 58 seconds into overtime, the Minnetonka wrestler pinned Bice.

“The coaches were yelling, ‘Go for the Granby roll,’ and I was able grab his wrist,” said McGann.

How did it feel to get the reversal with only a second remaining in regulation?

“I guess I cut it pretty close,” said McGann.

Going into the overtime, McGann told himself, “Put the best minute together that you can.”

He was able to take Bice to his back and apply a pinning combination called the Bill Bronski.

“It’s my favorite move, kind of a whip over,” said McGann. “I have used it lots of times.”

During the Section 6AAA Tournament, McGann scored his 100th career win in a dual match against Mound Westonka.

“I started thinking about 100 wins when I was a ninth-grader, wrestling at 106,” he said. “My coaches prepared me to reach that goal along with my teammates.”

McGann was one of only three Minnetonka winners in the 55-15 dual-meet loss to St. Michael-Albertville on Thursday.

Boyd Mumbuwa, Minnetonka’s 120-pounder, improved to 38-5 for the season with a 7-0 decision win over Zachary Nygaard.

Minnetonka heavyweight Aaron Moore improved to 23-2 with a first-period pin over Jake Ross. The time of the fall was 1:19.

As he reflected on his win over one of St. Michael-Albertville’s best wrestlers, McGann was asked if this is the biggest win of his career.

“It probably is,” he said. “I will remember this one for a long time.”

Contact John Sherman at john.sherman@ecm-inc.com