Another weekend, another victory over a ranked team.

The Albert Lea wrestling continued its torrid January with a 34-24 win over Adrian, ranked No. 11 by The Guillotine in Class 2A, Saturday in Albert Lea.

J.D. Seiler helped seal the win for the No. 3-ranked Tigers (22-7) when he went from nearly being pinned twice to pinning Trent Slatter at 189 pounds.

Albert Lea held a 28-15 leading entering the match, but the six points by Seiler ended any hope for the Dragons.

“Ohh, J.D. came through big time,” said Tigers head coach Larry Goodnature. “That was a big win for us. He was in the cradle twice. He just hung in there and got a big win.”

Albert Lea quickly built a 22-3 lead after No. 9-ranked Trevor Rasmussen pinned Jordan Bullerman at 135, but Adrian picked up four wins by two points or fewer in the middle weights to get as close as 28-15 before Seiler won.

Cory Hansen, ranked No. 3 at 112, and Adam Clark at 119 each earned wins by fall to help the Tigers build a comfortable lead.

The victory made it nine consecutive dual wins for Albert Lea, five of those victories came against ranked teams.

“We’re wrestling well against good competition,” Goodnature said. “We’re wrestling great competition and we’re coming through in everyone of them.”

The Tigers faced a familiar foe in Adrian, a team the youth program has wrestled for years.

“Adrian is a good, solid team,” Goodnature said. “Year in and year out we have a great dual.”

Friday night Albert Lea knocked off No. 6-ranked Coon Rapids 42-22 at Augsburg College in a high school showcase match.

The Tigers-Cardinals dual took place prior to the Auggies and Wartburg College meeting in a matchup of the top two teams in Division III. No. 1-ranked Augsburg defeated No. 2 Wartburg for the second time this season in a 21-16 win.

“That was fun,” Goodnature said. “We were up there on a raised stage in front of 1,700 people. I think it was pretty exciting for the kids. It will be something for them to remember the rest of their lives.”

The Tigers won nine of the 14 matches, including four by fall.

An anticipated match between No. 4-ranked Logan Kortan and No. 2-ranked Carter Adams did not take place Friday as Kortan wrestled at 152 and Adams at 160. Both earned victories by fall at their weights.

It was a busy week for Albert Lea as the team also defeated Winona Thursday 63-9.

The showdown for the Big Nine Conference championship looms for the Tigers Saturday when they face Owatonna in Albert Lea at 7:30 p.m. The Huskies (43-4) bring a 6-0 conference record and the Tigers a 5-0 mark. The two teams own a combined 43 conference titles, with Albert Lea holding a 24-19 edge.

“I like the way we’re coming into the end of the season here,” Goodnature said. “We’re wrestling well, we keep improving. The kids are just gaining confidence toward the end of the season. I just think everyone is looking forward to the end of the season and the importance of it.”

Albert Lea 34, Adrian 24

103 — Ben Mulder (A) dec. Trey Hable, 7-2, 112 — Cory Hansen (AL) pinned Nate Lynn, 3:32, 119 — Adam Clark (AL) pinned Dru Strand, 1:40, 125 — Cody Hansen (AL) maj. dec. Jake Dorn, 12-1, 130 — Trevor Rasmussen (AL) pinned Jordan Bullerman, 1:20, 135 — Luke Tiesler (A) dec. Carter Kortan, 2-1, 140 — Conner Kortan (AL) dec. Tyler Sieve, 6-2, 145 — Brock Bullerman (A) dec. Adam Kermes, 6-5, 152 — Logan Kortan (AL) dec. Neal Mulder, 9-5, 160 — Dustin Polzine (A) dec. Eric Espe, 2-0, 171 — Stephen Loosbrock (A) dec. Jordan Holland, 3-1, 189 — J.D. Seiler pinned Trent Slatter, 4:39, 215 — Shea Klooster (A) dec. Ethan Reed, 6-1, 285 — Aaron Lonneman (A) pinned Alex Nieslon, :28.

Albert Lea 42, Coon Rapids 22

103 — Trey Hable (AL) dec. Darrin Gagne, 8-3, 112 — Cory Hansen (AL) maj. dec. Lucke Stocker, 14-4, 119 — Dalton Westerlund (AL) pinned Jordan Newman, 1:44, 125 — Cody Hansen (AL) maj. dec. Dan Coughlin, 17-6, 130 — Chad Mack (CR) maj. dec. Kyle Kriewall, 17-6, 135 — Trevor Rasmussen (AL) dec. Mike Murphy, 8-2, 140 — Kyle Anderson (CR) dec. Carter Kortan, 5-0, 145 — Adam Kermes (AL) maj. dec. Matt Julkowsi, 12-4, 152 — Logan Kortan (AL) pinned Austin Lubinski, 2:16, 160 — Carter Adams (CR) pinned Eric Espe, 5:31, 171 — Jordan Holland (AL) pinned Brandt Halseth, 2:56, 189 — Eric Berdahl (CR) pinned Caleb Gaudian, 1:35, 215 — Ethan Reed (AL) pinned Chris Biggerstaff, 1:21, 285 — Tanner Lowe (CR) dec. Alex Nielson, 7-3.