It wasn’t too long ago that Rochester Mayo was a doormat in Big Nine wrestling, and about all Spartans coach Dwight Gingerich could do was dream about beating his old high school team from Albert Lea.

Monday, January 14, 2002

It wasn’t too long ago that Rochester Mayo was a doormat in Big Nine wrestling, and about all Spartans coach Dwight Gingerich could do was dream about beating his old high school team from Albert Lea.

It almost became reality last year, when the Tigers needed a win from heavyweight Adam Lares in the final bout to win at Rochester.

It was close again Friday but again Albert Lea prevailed, rallying for a 31-27 triumph in the Tigers’ gym.

Not only has a Gingerich-coached team not defeated Albert Lea in his nine years as head coach, Mayo has never beaten Albert Lea in the history of its wrestling program.

&uot;We’re getting close,&uot; said Gingerich. &uot;We’re knocking at the door.&uot;

That they are.

Friday’s loss was the first in the conference for the Spartans, who fell to 4-1 in the Big Nine and 6-2 overall. It may not, however, be the last meeting for the teams this year.

&uot;We can still get them again at section, and we can do some things with the lineup,&uot; said Gingerich.

The Spartans’ lineup was without its 130-pounder Friday, though Gingerich said it probably wouldn’t have made a difference in the outcome.&uot;

&uot;It went just about as planned,&uot; said Tigers coach Larry Goodnature, whose team improved to 4-1 in the conference and 7-5 overall. &uot;It’s a game of who gets the falls.&uot;

Both teams got two, but the Tigers picked up an unexpected one at 189 pounds were Adam Lares won in 3:38.

&uot;We figured that was a toss-up match,&uot; said Goodnature.

Another key win was by the coach’s son, Nate, who prevailed 6-3 at 119 in what Coach Goodnature called another even matchup. Alex Hansen also won a critical bout at 112.

The Tigers’ other fall was by Josh Hansen in 1:31 at 103.

The Spartans opened the meet taking a 12-0 lead with falls over Nate Loberg at 145 and Dustin Eggum at 152.

Justin Krueger got the Tigers going with a 4-0 win at 160.

Derek Goodnature, a nephew of Coach Goodnature, lost 15-8 at 171. After Lares’ fall, Chris Hable was pinned in 55 seconds at heavyweight. to put Mayo up 21-9.

Josh Hansen’s fall was followed with a 5-2 decision by his brother, Alex, at 112, and Nate Goodnature’s victory tied the meet at 21.

After Brandon Klukow dropped an 8-7 overtime decision at 125, the Spartans forfeited to Neal Underdahl at 130.

Adam Elseth remained undefeated and ensured victory for the Tigers with a 15-7 major decision at 135, scoring a last-second takedown for the winning margin.

Adam Morreim lost 4-3 in the final bout at 140.

After a tough dual-meet tournament at St. Cloud Tech on Saturday, the Tigers are at Mankato East for a triangular Thursday.