A disappointing start to the day didn’t end that way for the Albert Lea wrestlers at the Class 3A state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Tigers senior Trevor Rasmussen provided the excitement for the day with two overtime matches and recovered from a devastating loss in the quarterfinals to get a dramatic victory in the wrestlebacks to stay in the tournament and was one of four Albert Lea wrestlers who rebounded in the wrestlebacks.

Rassmussen, ranked seventh at 140 pounds, beat St. Michael-Albertville’s fourth-ranked Jake Lillie 3-2 in triple overtime in a match he needed to win to stay in the tournament.

“I told him this last match, ‘Don’t make it the last one of your career. Go out there and wrestle your very best. Whatever happens, happens. At least give everything you got so you can at least say you left it all out on the mat,’” said Tigers head coach Larry Goodnature. “And he did.”

Rasmussen (33-10) got a reversal in overtime and allowed an escape in the extra sessions to move one match closer toward his goal of placing at the state meet.

Rasmussen’s second overtime match came after he lost to Hastings’ Zach Rohr (35-6) 2-1 in overtime. Neither Rasmussen nor Rohr landed a takedown in their match, instead Rohr’s escape in overtime was enough.

“A couple of times there I was in on a shot and I just couldn’t finish them,” Rasmussen said “He had good hips, that’s for sure.”

Rasmussen slammed his fist into the mat in frustration after the match because it was one he wanted so badly after Rohr beat him earlier and the year and the loss ended Rasmussen’s chance of advancing to the finals.

Patience pays off for NRHEG’s Lindell

USC keeps one in state tournament

Tigers battle through first round at state

USC puts two into quarterfinals

NRHEG’s top-ranked Lindell advances to quarters

Rasmussen will wrestle Irondale’s Derek Weinmann Friday.

Sixth-ranked Dalton Westerlund (32-10) lost his first match against Henry Sibley’s top-ranked Mason Young (35-3) 5-1 in the quarterfinals, but bounced back in the wrestlebacks to pin Brainerd’s Aaron Padmos in 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Westerlund will face Chaska’s Gavin Larsen Friday.

Fourth-ranked Cory Hansen (38-5) couldn’t beat Hastings’ Colton LaChance (38-5) in a second meeting and fell 6-1. Hansen recovered in the wrestlebacks and beat Northfield’s Adam Woltalla 4-0 to remain in the state tournament. Hansen will face Maple Grove’s Zach Quam.

As expected Lucas Hansen got a wrestleback match and he took advantage of it. Hansen (25-19) made up for a loss earlier in the season to Grant Dullinger (31-11) with a 10-4 decision. Hansen will face Northfield’s Carson Canedy Friday.