T.J. Parlin and Shane Masching will have something in common when next year's wrestling season rolls around -- both will be defending champions.

Parlin of Austin and Masching from Hayfield both were crowned state champions after Saturday's finals at the 2003 State Wrestling Meet at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Parlin, a junior, who was last year's runner-up at 125, put together a solid run at this year's 130-pound title. Parlin won decisions in all four state-tournament matches to finish the season 38-2 with the championship medal.

In the finals, Parlin defeated Joe Miller of Bemidji by a 6-3 decision.

Parlin's quest to win state started long before this season, but the junior AHS wrestler was forced to refocus on his goal after falling in the Section 1AAA finals to Owatonna's Titon Erler, 3-2.

Ranked first in the state throughout the season, Parlin made a statement in the opening round by giving Danny Ruter of Buffalo, ranked No. 2, his first loss of the season.

Masching makes it two

Masching, a junior, got exactly what he wanted out of his third straight trip to state -- a rematch.

Masching met up with Shane Haag of Lewiston-Altura for the seventh bout between the Section 1A foes. Haag got his first win against Masching in last Saturday's section finals, but Masching made the most of a second chance most wrestlers never get.

The Hayfield 125-pounder pushed his way through to the finals, where after the section loss Masching said he hoped he'd find Haag. Last year Masching got a 7-5 victory for the state championship, and this year a higher-scoring finals affair finished with an 11-7 score.

Still surviving

Blooming Prairie's 215-pound sophomore Jay Salinas made his way to the final day of wrestling with a vengeful victory over Section 2A rival Tony Miller of LeCenter, 5-4, in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning.

Miller, ranked second, won two matches against No. 3 Salinas this season, but Salinas got the better of his newfound rival on Saturday. Salinas wrestled against fifth-ranked Mark Olson of Minneota in Saturday night's Class A third-place match.

GMLOK junior Adam Schlee lost his 112-pound consolation semifinals match, 4-3, to Zach Nelson of Kasson-Mantorville Saturday morning in Class AA action. Schlee, rated fourth, wrestled in Saturday's final round for fifth place against third-ranked Nate Rausch of Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis. Schlee defeated Rausch 4-2 during the championship quarterfinals.