Albert Lea wrestling team head coach Larry Goodnature took a risk Saturday against Adrian but it paid off for the Tigers.

Albert Lea (14-10) won its eighth consecutive dual with a 28-18 victory over the Dragons, the 12th-ranked team in Class 2A, with some lineup maneuvering by Goodnature.

Goodnature decided to bump several wrestlers up a weight and forfeit the 189 pound weight class to ensure a victory in Adrian.

“We made some moves tonight that really, really paid off,” Goodnature said.

The first move involved inserting junior Brandon Ranum at 135 pounds and moving the rest of the lineup up a weight. Ranum improved his varsity record to 6-1 with a 5-0 victory over Tony Rekar and extended the Tigers’ lead to 12-6.

That lead swelled to 25-6 as Cory Hansen, Trevor Rasmussen, Connor Kortan and Mitch Webb provided victories.

Instead of sending a wrestler out to matchup with Adrian’s Stephen Loosbrock, the second ranked wrestler at 171 pounds, for the 189 match, Goodnature forfeited and bumped up Caleb Gaudian and Alex Nielsen to 215 and 285, respectively. Gaudian lost in a 9-3 decision and Nielsen won 3-1 to seal the victory.

The Tigers won nine of the matches but got bonus points in just one match. Rasmussen earned an 11-2 major decision victory over Zach Albertson at 145 pounds, but that bonus point could have been the difference if Adrian won the final three weights.

“It was a big win for us,” Goodnature said. “It gives us some confidence going into the end of the season here.”

Connor Kortan picked up a victory over ninth-ranked Brock Bullerman in overtime, earning a 3-1 decision to help keep the Tigers in the lead.

Eight matches were decided by three or fewer points and Albert Lea did not give up any bonus points.

“I told the kids we gotta try to get the bonus points, which we didn’t with just one match, but don’t give up the bonus points and that’s what we did,” Goodnature said.

Mitch Webb also picked up a pivotal victory at 171 points and Goodnature said Webb has started to turn a corner since sitting out a year because of a knee injury.

“He’s really coming into his own after sitting out that whole year,” Goodnature said. “It’s coming around for him now.”

Albert Lea 28, Adrian 18

103—Garrett Wangsness (AL) dec. Dru Strand 6-3; 112—Nate Lynn (A) dec. Lucas Hansen 5-1; 119— Ben Mulder (A) dec. Devin Nelson 4-0; 125—Trey Hable (AL) dec. Jake Dorn 3-1; 130—Dalton Westerlund (AL) dec. Tyler Sieve 4-3; 135—Brandon Ranum (AL) dec. Tony Rekar 5-0; 140—Cory Hansen (AL) dec. Jordan Bullerman 4-2; 145—Trevor Rasmussen (AL) maj. dec. Zach Albertson 11-2; 152—Mitchell Sieve (A) dec. Carter Kortan 7-4; 160—Connor Kortan (AL) dec. Brock Bullerman 3-1 OT; 171—Mitch Webb (AL) dec. Trent Slater 6-3; 189—Adrian won by forfeit; 215—Dustin Polzine (A) dec. Caleb Gaudian 9-3; 285—Alex Nielsen (AL) dec. Alex Elias 3-1.