An experienced starting lineup paired with a deep roster were key factors in the Albert Lea wrestling team’s perfect start.

“We have a balanced team with good quality kids at every weight,” said Albert Lea coach Larry Goodnature. “We don’t have any holes in our lineup.”

The Tigers’ depth was on display Saturday at the Rumble on the Red in Fargo, North Dakota. The varsity team finished sixth out of 62 teams, and the JV team won the 58-team tournament. Albert Lea had four varsity place winners and a tournament champion, Triston Westerlund, to go with nine JV place winners and two tournament champions, Ty Harms and Brody Nielsen.

“There is a lot of talent in the room and a lot of people pushing each other,” Goodnature said. “For a good wrestling team, you need to have good workout partners. We have good workout partners for them day in and day out.”

Albert Lea began the season with a 13-0 dual record, including wins over three ranked opponents. The Tigers started the streak on Nov. 29 by knocking off Prior Lake, the defending Class AAA runner-up, 31-25. The team followed by beating the Chatfield, the defending Class A champion, and No. 8 Class A Sibley East at a tournament on Dec. 6 at New Prague.

Despite the recognition of a No. 4 team ranking in Class AA and six individuals listed in the Guillotine’s polls, Goodnature said the team has an attitude devoid of arrogance.

“We’re confident, but we’re staying humble,” he said. “We’re undefeated, we’ve beaten a few good teams and now we’re getting to a part of our schedule that’s going to test us.”

Albert Lea will face some of its toughest competition of the season at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Cloud Tech. The Tigers will wrestle both teams that competed in the third-place match of last year’s Class AAA state dual tournament: St. Michael-Albertville and Hastings.

St. Michael-Albertville is No. 2 with a 10-2 record. Both losses were against teams from Illinois. Hastings is 9-4, and two of its losses were against teams from Illinois. The other two losses were against St. Michael-Albertville, 53-13, and No. 1 Class AA Simley, 28-24.

The Tigers’ triangular Thursday against Mankato West and Rochester Century was postponed just like every other athletic event in the Tribune’s seven-team coverage area. The date was changed to 5 p.m. Monday at Mankato West. West will wrestle Century at 5 p.m. Albert Lea will face Century at 6:30 p.m. and West at 8 p.m.

Cold temperatures and illness have played a role this season.

“That has been an issue with all the teams in the state,” Goodnature said. “We’re fortunate that we have depth, and the kids are staying focused. We’ve had great practices.”

The rest of Albert Lea’s home meets will be special events. The Tigers will have Take Down Cancer Night at a triangular against Northfield and Plainview-Elgin-Millville at 5 p.m. Jan. 15. The second Freedom Night of the season will be against Rochester John Marshall at 7 p.m. Jan. 22, and the team will have its first Alumni Wrestling Day against No. 2 Class A Adrian at 3 p.m. Jan. 31. Goodnature said the alumni will be announced and a social at Green Lea Golf Course will follow the meet against Adrian.

 

Unblemished on the mat 

The Albert Lea wrestling team is perfect  through the first 13 duals.

 

Completed schedule

Nov. 29 Stillwater 44-22 (W)

Nov. 29 No. 3 (AAA) Prior Lake 31-25 (W)

Nov. 29 Forest Lake 59-15 (W)

Dec. 5 Faribault 61-9   (W)

Dec. 5 Waterville-Elysian-M 50-14 (W)

Dec. 6 St. Peter 44-18 (W)

Dec. 6 Waseca 60-9   (W)

Dec. 6 No. 8 (A) Sibley East 44-20 (W)

Dec. 6 No. 3 (A) Chatfield 41-18 (W)

Dec. 6 New Prague 36-26 (W)

Dec. 11 Winona/Cotter 66-3   (W)

Dec. 11 Mankato East 63-12 (W)

Dec. 18 Byron 55-7   (W)

 

Remaining schedule

Jan. 10 No. 2 (AAA) St. Michael-Albertville, No. 3 (AAA) Hastings, No. 8 (AA) Foley, Elk River

Jan. 12 Mankato West, Rochester Century

Jan. 15 Northfield, Plainview-Elign-Millville

Jan. 17 No. 12 (A) Zumbrota-Mazeppa, No. 12 (AA) Caledonia, Worthington, Lewiston-Altura, Dover-Eyota, Stewartville

Jan. 22 Rochester John Marshall

Jan. 24 Owatonna

Jan. 29 Austin

Jan. 30 Lakeville North

Jan. 31 No. 2 (A) Adrian

Feb. 5 Rochester Mayo

 

The Guillotine rankings are listed as what they were at the time of the dual in the completed schedule section. The current rankings are under the remaining schedule.