A championship match and a friendship years in the making
By Brian Jerzak
Shakopee's Alex Lloyd and Owatonna's Peyton Robb have come full circle. As the clock wound down in the 145AAA individual finals, Robb held a one-point lead over Lloyd. With under a minute to go in the third, Lloyd hit a takedown and was able to ride out Robb for the final few seconds to win the title. For both juniors, the match was bittersweet. After the referee had put Lloyd's hand in the air, both wrestlers embraced in the center of the Xcel Energy Center – possibly for the last time in competition.
The first time they wrestled each other they were in elementary school. It would become the first of many times the two would lock horns in competition and in the practice room. Shortly after their first meeting, they would become training partners and best friends.
"The first time I met him it was at an elementary school tournament," Robb said. "He won a one-point match."