The Albert Lea wrestling team is the envy of a lot of wrestling programs. While the Tigers may not have quite the team strength they have enjoyed the past few seasons, there is no denying the strong 1-2 punch at the front of their lineup.

That&8217;s where the brothers Hansen reside and they consistently deliver two things &8212; punishment to the opponent and a big lead for the Tigers.

Thursday was no different as freshman Cory earned an 11-0 major decision at 103 and junior Cody received a forfeit to stake the Tigers to a 10-0 lead. Albert Lea would go on for the easy win 56-12.

&8220;We definitely have a great punch with the Hansen boys to start out every dual and they are going to be solid all year long,&8221; Albert Lea head coach Larry Goodnature said. &8220;Anytime you can get the momentum going your way that is what we want. We are confident all the time with the two we have starting out.&8221;

Cory, who is ranked third in the state, put the Spartans&8217; Jake Hanson on his back a couple of times before settling for the major. Cody, the top-ranked 112-pounder in the state was not challenged as he watched nearly all the meet from a chair matside.

Kyle Kriewall, another freshman, extended the Tigers&8217; lead to 13-0 with a 6-2 decision at 119 and Adam Clark was a 14-5 winner at 125.

&8220;We have some good young kids in the lineup, and I felt we wrestled well and were aggressive the whole time,&8221; Goonature said.

After ninth-ranked Trevor Rasmussen received a forfeit at 130, Mayo picked up its first points of the night with Warren Brink downing Connor Kortan 5-0.

Third-ranked Logan Kortan was a 4-0 winner over Mike Minske at 140 and Anthony Tippett had the most impressive performance for the Tigers on the night picking up Zach Hermes and throwing him to the mat in 36 seconds.

&8220;Tippett is 7-0, Cory is 7-0, Trevor Rasmussen is 7-0, Logan Kortan is 7-0, Cody is 7-0, Ethan Reed is 7-0. They are all guys who have been on the varsity and done well,&8221; Goodnature said. &8220;Every time we step on the mat we will improve.&8221;

Logan Hansen was a 14-1 major decision winner at 171 for Albert Lea and seventh-ranked Reed earned a pin 4:55 at 215.

The Tigers will get a big test today and tomorrow as they travel to Rochester for the Christmas Tournament.

&8220;What we are getting in (today) is going to be an eye-opener for some of the younger guys because this tournament is tougher than the state tournament,&8221; Goodnature said.

Albert Lea 56, Rochester Mayo 12

103 – Cory Hansen (AL) maj. dec. Jake Hanson 11-0, 112 – Cody Hansen (AL) won by forfeit, 119 – Kyle Kriewall (AL) dec. Marcus Wolf 6-2, 125 – Adam Clark (AL) maj. dec. Aaron Martinson 14-5, 130 – Trevor Rasmussen (AL) won by forfeit, 135 – Warren Brink (M) dec. Connor Kortan 5-0, 140 – Logan Kortan (AL) dec. Mike Minske 4-0, 145 – Aaron Carlson (M) dec. Adam Kermes 4-0, 152 -Anthony Tippett (AL) pinned Zach Hermes :36, 160 – Brian Tremain (M) pinned Mitch Webb 3:15, 171 – Logan Hansen (AL) maj. dec. Zach Hanson 15-1, 189 – Jon Kluver (AL) won by forfeit, 215 – Ethan Reed (AL) pinned Charlie Hinsch 4:55, 285 -Andrew Peterson (AL) won by forfeit