It may not be the showcase event it was in previous years, but the Albert Lea Wrestling Invitational is still plenty tough.

In addition to the Tigers, rated No. 10 in the Class AAA preseason poll, the annual dual-meet tournament also includes No. 2 rated Simley and traditional powers Faribault and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva. Blaine is a newcomer to the tourney.

&uot;It’s a good tournament to open up with,&uot; said Albert Lea coach Larry Goodnature. &uot;We’ll find out where we are.&uot;

The tournament is Saturday at Albert Lea High School, with varsity and junior varsity squads each wrestling four dual meets. Here’s the schedule: 10 a.m., Albert Lea vs. Faribault, Blaine vs. NRHEG; 11:30 a.m., Albert Lea vs. Blaine, Simley vs. Faribault; 1 p.m., Albert Lea vs. NRHEG, Simley vs. Blaine; 2:30, NRHEG vs. Simley, Blaine vs. Faribault; 4 p.m., Albert Lea vs. Simley, NRHEG vs. Faribault.

Simley, coached by former Gopher Willy Short, finished third in last year’s state tournament. Eight of Simley’s wrestlers are rated.

Here’s the tentative starting lineup for Albert Lea, with grade and last year’s record: 103 pounds, Zach Hansen, soph., 19-2

JV; Josh Hansen, sr., 31-1, state champion; 119, Matt Morris, 8th, or Darrin Honneycutt, 8th; 125, Alex Hansen, soph., 10-18, or Taylor Ignaszewski, 8th; 130, Nate Goodnature, fr., 9-23, or Eric Elleby, fr.; 135, Neal Underdahl, jr., 18-15; 140, Adam Elseth, jr., 38-2, third in state; 145, Josh Wilkie, soph., 20-12 JV, or Jake Levisen, soph., 20-9 JV; 152, Dustin Eggum, soph., 9-9, or Cory Frerk, soph., 29-3 JV; 160, Jared Butler, soph.; 171, Derek Goodnature, sr., 10-12; 189, Randy Larson, jr., 26-8 JV; 215, Derek Lau, jr., 16-5 JV; heavyweight, Chris Hable, jr., 9-21.

Josh Hansen and Elseth are rated No. 2 in the state at their weight. Hable, who missed state by one place last year, is rated No. 9 at heavyweight.

Coach Goodnature said the tournament will be good preparation for their Big Nine opener Thursday, Dec. 5 at defending conference champion Owatonna.

&uot;It’s early, but we have to be ready,&uot; said Goodnature. &uot;The guys have been working hard and responding real well to the tough workouts. We’re not very deep, but I think we’re going to have a great team.&uot;