Albert Lea wrestlers look to place 4 in the top 3 at state

Published 3:53 pm Saturday, February 28, 2015

Albert Lea's Tristan Westerlund wrestles Kieren Oksanen of Roseau at 220 pounds Saturday during the consolation semifinals of the state wrestling tournament. Westerlund won the match at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea’s Triston Westerlund wrestles Kieren Oksanen of Roseau at 220 pounds Saturday during the consolation semifinals of the state wrestling tournament. Westerlund won the match at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

ST. PAUL — The Albert Lea wrestling team has four wrestlers with a chance to place in the top three after the semifinals Saturday on Day 2 of the Class AA state wrestling tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Garrett Aldrich qualified for the championship match at 120 pounds with an 11-2 decision in the semifinals over Thomas Stageberg of New London-Spicer. Stageberg, ranked No. 3, was the second wrestler Aldrich beat who was listed in the Guillotine’s polls. In the quarterfinals, Aldrich pinned No. 4 Teddy Pierce of Chisago Lakes.

Three Tigers qualified for the match for third place: Zach Glazier at 106, Tim Christianson at 182 and Triston Westerlund at 220.

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Glazier upset No. 2 Hser Eh Pwae in the consolation semifinals with a 6-5 decision, and he will have a rematch against No. 5 Parker Huss of Scott West in the match for third place.

Christianson fell to the consolation bracket after a 2-1 overtime loss at 182 pounds against No. 1 Isaac Florell of Totino-Grace but rebounded in the first round of the consolation bracket with a 3-1 win over Austin May of Zimmerman. May was ranked No. 3 and was the defending state champion. Christianson continued with a 5-2 win over Austin Weidner of Milaca/Faith Christian and a 4-3 win over No. 10 Noah Ryan of Kasson-Mantorville in the consolation semifinals.

Westerlund followed the same road as Christianson going all the way through wrestlebacks after losing in the first round of the tournament. He beat Roseau’s Kieren Oksanen, Foley’s Saylor Schmit and No. 4 Kez Flomo of Totino-Grace to qualify for the third-place match.

More results will follow.