Albert Lea Area wrestling team takes 4th at state
Published 7:42 pm Thursday, February 29, 2024
The Albert Lea wrestling team and coaches pose for a photo with the fourth-place state trophy on Thursday. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
William Velazquez takes on an opponent Thursday in the team portion of the state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Triton Cox's dad tries to sign to his son to stand up Thursday during one of his matches in the team tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Triton Cox looks up at the referee to start the match because he can't hear the whistle. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Ryan Collins takes on an opponent Thursday at the state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Nick Korman wrestles Thursday in the team portion of the state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Michael Olson can often be heard cheering on his teammates and helping them with the next move. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Michael Olson takes on an opponent during the Thursday team portion of the state wrestling tournament. He was one of two on the team to win all of their matches. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Mason Attig competes Thursday at 152 pounds in the team portion of the state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Logan Davis's arm is raised in victory with his fans in the background at the state wrestling tournament Thursday. Davis was one of two Tigers to win all of their matches Thursday. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Dylan Groess takes on an opponent Thursday at the state team tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Devon Groess takes on an opponent Thursday at the state tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Brody Ignaszewski takes on an opponent Thursday in the team portion of the state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Brecken Wacholz takes on an opponent Thursday at 160 pounds in the team portion of the state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Albert Lea Area Captains Logan Davis, Nick Korman, Michael Olson and Brody Ignaszewski with the trophy. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
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The Albert Lea wrestling team took to the mat Thursday morning representing Section 1AAA in the state dual tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
After winning their quarterfinal dual, the Tigers dropped the semifinal and consolation duals to finish the tournament in fourth place.
In the first dual of the day, the Tigers took on the Raiders of Hastings. Despite dropping the opening three matches, the Tigers stormed back to win the dual by just one point, 33-32.
Picking up wins for Albert Lea were Logan Davis at 127 pounds, Michael Olson at 133 pounds, Brody Ignaszewski at 139 pounds, Nick Korman at 145 pounds, Mason Attig at 152 pounds, Brecken Wacholz at 160 pounds and Evan Schroeder at 215 pounds.
Davis, Olson, Korman and Schroeder all won their matches by pinfall to build the Tigers lead just big enough to come out on top.
The Tigers matched up with a tough Mounds View team in the semifinals and despite rattling off five straight wins in the dual, fell to the Mustangs 39-20.
Ryan Collins picked up his first win of the day in the dual and was followed by wins from Davis, Olson, Ignaszewski, and Korman. Davis and Olson were the lone two Tigers that picked up bonus-point wins, Davis winning in a second-period fall and Olson winning a 20-5 tech fall.
Albert Lea then moved into the consolation bracket where they met Shakopee and came up short, 44-11.
The Tigers three wins came from Collins in a 13-2 major decision, Davis in a 9-4 decision and Olson in a 17-6 major decision.
Davis and Olson were the only two Tigers to win all three of their matches Thursday.
The team portion of the state tournament is over, but nine of them will continue their season Friday morning when they start the individual portion of the tournament.
Stay tuned to the Tribune for results as they become available.
