Tiger wrestlers show improvement at Kasson

Published 2:08 am Sunday, December 13, 2009

One of the more contentions section battles this season figures to be the Section 1AA clash between defending champion Plainview-Elgin-Millville, the third-ranked team in Class 2A, and Kasson-Mantorville, the fifth-ranked team in Class 2A and Saturday the Albert Lea wrestling team got a good glimpse at both in Kasson.

The Tigers, ranked sixth in Class 3A, fell to both teams, but showed improvement especially the second time around against the Bulldogs.

Just last weekend Albert Lea lost 54-12 to P-E-M, but the Tigers picked up some wins in spots they didn’t last time and did a better job of limiting bonus points in a 35-21 loss.

Email newsletter signup

“I was impressed with the improved we made from last week and the scores indicate that, too,” said Albert Lea assistant coach Neal Skaar. “It was also quite evident that we can still make more progress and we will.”

Garrett Wangsness lost 8-6 last time to Dylan Seim, but this time around Wangsness got a 4-2 decision against the second-ranked wrestler in Class 2A at 103. Devin Nelson moved down to 112 pounds and drew a matchup with Jordan Getschmann. Nelson won 15-8 and the Tigers (4-3) were up 6-0 early on.

Trey Hable won by forfeit at 130 and fourth-ranked Cory Hansen pinned Devin Hanson at 135 to make the match 18-8. Sixth-ranked Dalton Westerlund extended the lead to 21-8 after he won 7-3 against eighth-ranked Greg Naschansky, making up for a loss against Naschansky last weekend, but that was the beginning of the end for Albert Lea.

P-E-M went on to win the final seven weights, three by major decision and one by fall.

Against Kasson-Mantorville the lower weights didn’t pan out as well as against the Bulldogs, but the upper weights helped the Tigers keep it close in a 35-24 loss.

Hansen got Albert Lea on the board with a 6-1 decision over Miles Brannan and Westerlund followed with a fall over Hansen’s cousin Corben Hansen at 5:49. Prior to the fall, Westerlund’s match was tied at 0-0.

After third-ranked Trevor Rasmussen lost a 6-5 decision to second-ranked Jason Cirksena at 145 and Caleb Kolodge was pinned in the final seconds against Darrin Allen, the Tigers went on to win the next four matches.

Albert Lea made it a 29-24 match with one weight left, but Broc Bege was able to pin Christian Anderson to wrap up the dual.

The Tigers head to the Christmas Tournament next weekend in Rochester.

P-E-M 35, Albert Lea 21

103 — Garrett Wangsness (AL) dec. Dylan Seim 4-2. 112 — Devin Nelson (AL) dec. Jordan Getschmann 15-8. 119 — Aaron Haley (PEM) dec. Lucas Hansen 4-0. 125 — Nick Wingert (PEM) tech. fall Jake Tyler 15-0. 130 — Trey Hable (AL) won by forfeit. 135 — Cory Hansen (AL) pinned Devin Hanson 2:38. 140 — Dalton Westerlund (AL) dec. Greg Naschansky 7-3. 145 — Cody Dillinger (PEM) dec. Trevor Rasmussen 7-5. 152 — Steve Reiter (PEM) dec. Caleb Kolodge 9-5. 160 — Garret Miller (PEM) maj. dec. Carter Kortan 8-0. 171 — Blaine Miller (PEM) maj. dec. Connor Kortan 11-3. 189 — Alan Miller (PEM) maj. dec. Caleb Gaudian 9-0. 215 — Coby Makela (PEM) dec. Alex Nielsen 5-1. 285 — Nick Johnson (PEM) pinned Christian Andersen 0:54 .

Kasson-Mantorville 35, Albert Lea 24

103 — Nate Thomas (KM) dec. Garrett Wangsness 6-3. 112 — Tony Morrow (KM) dec. Lucas Hansen 4-0. 119 — Donovan Sullivan (KM) pinned Devin Nelson 3:11. 125 — Colton Laganiere (KM) tech. fall Jacob Tyler 19-3. 130 — Garret Garness (KM) dec. Trey Hable 5-1. 135 — Cory Hansen (AL) dec. Miles Brannan 6-1. 140 — Dalton Westerlund (AL) pinned Corben Hansen 5:49. 145 — Jason Cirksena (KM) dec. Trevor Rasmussen 6-5. 152 — Darrin Allen (KM) pinned Caleb Kolodge 5:54. 160 — Carter Kortan (AL) dec. Zach Schreiber 6-2. 171 — Connor Kortan (AL) dec. Ethan Damon 9-3. 189 — Caleb Gaudian (AL) dec. Tully Hovda 5-0. 215 — Alex Nielsen (AL) won by forfeit. 285 — Broc Berge (KM) pinned Christian Andersen 3:55.