Albert Lea 7th and 8th-grade wrestling teams takes 12th at NYWA state tournament

Published 5:45 am Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Albert Lea seventh and eighth-grade wrestling team competed at the NYWA (Northland Youth Wrestling Association) state wrestling championships in Rochester April 8-9. Albert Lea won two duals and lost three to finish 12th out of 32 teams.

Team members include Beau Johnsrud, Parker Mullenbach, Justin Viktora, Mason Hammer, Devin Nelson, Dereck Samudio, Tristan Westerlund, Jacob Tyler, Jordan Nielsen, Bany Chan and Hunter Hoyne.

The Tigers had wrestlers who qualified for the state individual tournament.

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Tyler wrestled at 130 and Nielsen at 135, but neither placed. Johnsrud and Nelson finished sixth at 80 pounds and 110 pounds. Both wrestlers went 3-1 and were in the wrestlebacks for third place, but due to illness and injures could not continue and had to forfeit, which earned them sixth place by injury default.

Tristan Westerlund won four straight matches and was crowned the 2010 NYWA state champion at 125.