Albert Lea continues streak
Published 1:03 am Friday, February 12, 2010
The Albert Lea wrestling team got bonus points in nine of a possible 14 matches, which included six falls, as Albert Lea won its eighth consecutive dual meet with a 51-24 trouncing of Austin.
The Packers (12-10, 6-2 Big Nine) and Tigers (16-10, 7-1 Big Nine) entered the dual with identical conference records and battled for sole possession of second place.
“They (Austin) had the same identical record we did in the Big Nine,” said Albert Lea head coach Larry Goodnature. “It was a big dual. They have a good, solid team. We went out and wrestled well tonight.”
With the victory, the Tigers claimed second place in the Big Nine conference, just behind Owatonna for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
Albert Lea’s Garrett Wangsness got things rolling right away as he recorded a pin at the 1 minute, 59 second mark in the first period to give Albert Lea a 6-0 lead.
With the Tigers leading 10-3, Albert Lea entered the strongest part of its lineup starting at 125 pounds.
Trey Hable recorded a technical fall for the Tigers, while both Dalton Westerlund and Cory Hansen recorded falls and Trevor Rasmussen recieved a forfeit. When the dual entered the 145 pound match, Albert Lea led 33-3.
“That’s a solid part of our lineup from 125 through 145,” Goodnature said. “That’s where our big experience is from last year. They have a lot of confidence and they know what they have to do out there.”
At 145 pounds, ninth-ranked Howie Underwood of Austin pinned Caleb Kolodge in 1:59 seconds to cut into Albert Lea lead, 33-9.
The next three weights resulted in falls as Carter Kortan at 152, Connor Kortan at 160 and Mitch Webb 171 all recorded pins to shut the door on the Packers, as the lead swelled to 51-9 for Albert Lea.
The Packers won the last three matches for the 51-24 final.
With the regular season now completed, the Tigers now turn their attention to the section team tournament, which begins next Thursday.
“Hopefully we can get another crack at Owatonna in the finals of the section. Who knows, high school wrestling anything can happen.”
Albert Lea 51, Austin 24
103—Garrett Wangsness (AL) pinned Devon Felton 1:59; 112—Lucas Hansen (AL) maj. dec. Brennen Russell 11-2; 119— Erik Power (A) dec. Devin Nelson 7-1; 125—Trey Hable (AL) tech. fall Alex Amrich 2:53; 130—Dalton Westerlund (AL) pinned Dylan Diekmann 3:03; 135—Cory Hansen (AL) pinned Jason Dulitz 1:06; 140—Trevor Rasmussen (AL) won by forfeit; 145—Howie Underwood (A) pinned Caleb Kolodge 1:59; 152—Carter Kortan (AL) pinned Michael Bednar 1:25; 160—Connor Kortan (AL) pinned Aaron Juenger 1:48; 171—Mitch Webb (AL) pinned Jerrad Ryks 3:12; 189—Michael Hirsch (A) pinned Reid Anderson 0:26; 215—Brett Kraemer (A) pinned Caleb Gaudian 3:19; 285—Thomas Herrera (A) dec. Alex Nielsen 4-2.