ROCHESTER &045; After coming close in recent years and starting this season 3-0 in the Big Nine, the Rochester Mayo Spartans thought this might finally be their year to beat the Albert Lea High School wrestling team.

They were wrong. Again.

The Tigers outmuscled and outhustled an upset-minded Mayo crew 39-18 in a Big Nine dual meet at Rochester Thursday night.

The Spartans &045; coached by ALHS graduate Dwight Gingerich &045; have never beaten Albert Lea in wrestling but, according to Tigers coach Larry Goodnature, they had their sights set Thursday. Mayo was 13-4 overall and in the receiving votes category of the Guillotine’s Class AAA state poll.

&uot;They were really keyed to beat us this year,&uot; said Goodnature. &uot;They thought they could do it. But we wanted it a little more.&uot;

The Tigers, rated No. 7 in Class AAA, improved to 4-1 in the conference and 9-2 overall. Their lone losses were early in the season to No. 2 Simley and No. 3 Owatonna, with several starters out of the lineup.

Goodnature expected a tough meet at Mayo and, in terms of wins and losses, it was. The Tigers won eight of 14 bouts, but four were by fall, one by tech fall and one by major decision. The Spartans won six three-point decisions.

&uot;That basically was the match right there,&uot; said Goodnature. &uot;When you go out there and win those majors, techs and falls, you’re going to win these matches. And in our losses, we kept it close. Our kids were really pumped up and we really wrestled great in a big match, in their gym, with a lot on the line.&uot;

The meet started at 103 pounds and it was one of several key wins for the Tigers as Zach Hansen turned a 4-2 third-period deficit into a 7-4 victory.

Another pivotal victory was at 119, where eighth-grader Matt Morris defeated a veteran wrestler 7-5. Jared Butler picked up an important fall at 171, and Mike Honeycutt sealed the win with a third-period fall at 189.

Brandon Klukow, who sustained a broken thumb the third day of practice, made his season debut and registered a first-period fall at 145. Chris Hable won by fall in 4:26 in a battle of state-ranked heavyweights.

Results in the other matches: 112, Josh Hansen won by major decision; 125, Taylor Ignaszewski lost 5-0; 130, Neal Underdahl lost 6-2; 135, Adam Elseth won 22-7 tech fall; 140, Adam Morreim lost 4-3; 152, Dustin Eggum lost 7-2; 161, Cory Frerk lost by takedown in overtime; 215, Randy Larson lost 10-6.

After Saturday’s St. Cloud Tech Invitational, the Tigers are off until they host Mankato East in a Big Nine dual meet Thursday.