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Block gets Top Honor Again

By Tom Schardin, 03/13/14, 2:45PM CDT

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Joe Block led his Prior Lake wrestling team to its best-ever team finish this past winter at the Class 3A state tournament.

And for the third time in four years, the leader of the Lakers' rising program was recognized.

Block was recently named Class 3A Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Wresting Coaches Association (MWCA). After three straight third-place finishes at state, Prior Lake got to the title match this past season.

Perennial power Apple Valley denied the Lakers the crown (56-9), winning for the ninth straight year and 16th time in 17 seasons. The Lakers finished with a dual-meet record of 26-9.

After the title match, Block said getting to the final was the goal all season long for his team. It didn't want to wrestle again for third place.

"This is another big step for our program," he said.

Block was also named Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012. He has coached the Lakers for 13 years, leading the program to six state appearances since 2006.

Prior Lake has beat rival Shakopee for the section title the last four years. Block was also honored as Section 2AAA Coach of the Year this season.

In four seasons in the South Suburban Conference, Block has has led his Lakers to a 28-4 mark (7-1 each year) with all four losses to Apple Valley.

Prior Lake also sent 10 wrestlers to the Class 3A individual state tourney this season, which tied a school record for most berths. The team also had 10 in 2008.

Prior Lake had four place-winners and two individual champions - junior Alex Hart at 220 pounds and senior Luis Pinto at heavyweight.

Block was also a tremendous high-school wrestler in his own right, graduating from LeCenter in 1989. He won two state individual titles when the tournament was just two classes.

As a senior, he won the 135-pound Class A crown and was the 126-pound champion as a sophomore. He finished third at 132 pounds as a junior and was fourth as at 119 as a ninth-grader.