The Albert Lea wrestling team entered its dual Saturday afternoon facing a tough test in No. 4-ranked St. Michael-Albertville.

Despite six ranked wrestlers competing for the Knights in the dual, the Tigers came out on top in four of those matches. Wins in two ranked-vs.-ranked matches and two big upset victories from unranked Tigers led to a momentous 30-20 win.

The meet started with a double forfeit at 106 pounds, but sophomore Joey Flores got the winning started for Albert Lea at 113 pounds with a 9-2 decision win. At 120 pounds, Albert Lea’s No. 5-ranked 126-pounder Nic Cantu took on St. Michael-Albertville’s No. 5-ranked 106-pounder Travis Smith in the day’s first key matchup. Cantu flew to a victory, picking up a pinfall win in the first period, putting Albert Lea up 12-0 through three weight classes.

Next up, at 126 pounds, eighth-grader Cole Glazier — ranked No. 9 at 120 pounds — picked up another crucial win for the Tigers by beating No. 5-ranked 120-pounder Kaden Amundson in a 5-2 decision. Freshman Cam Davis came up just short in his match against his opponent, falling in a 6-4 decision.

In likely the biggest upset of the dual, unranked eighth-grader Derrick McMillian came out the victor against No. 2-ranked Cole Becker in a close 8-6 decision. The big win gave the Tigers a 15-3 lead. Sophomore Caleb Talamantes followed the big win with one of his own when he defeated No. 10-ranked Dylan Hanson at 145 pounds. The 6-5 decision win, followed by a one-point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct by the Knights, put the Tigers on top 18-2 halfway through the dual.

Sophomores Josiah Hedensten and Griffin Studier and senior Connor Barney all fell in the next three weight classes. Hedensten lost in a 10-6 decision at 152 pounds, Studier in a 6-2 decision at 160 pounds and Barney in a 1:19 pinfall at 170 pounds.

Then after a forfeit win at 182 pounds, suddenly, St. Michael-Albertville was on top 20-18 with only three classes left.

A double forfeit at 195 pounds kept the score the same before senior Zach Glazier, No. 1-ranked at 182 pounds, earned a pinfall victory in 49 seconds at 220. At 285 pounds senior Brady Nielsen had to just hang on and not lose by anything worse than a decision. Neilsen did more than that, as he went on to win the match by pinfall in the second period, securing the win for Albert Lea.

The Tigers move up to 17-5 on the season with just two duals left until the team section tournament. Their next opponent will be Rochester Mayo on Tuesday night in the Southwest Middle School gym.