BEA’s Kale Frank applies a cradle to Albert Lea’s Adam Semple in the 220-pound weight bracket match last Tuesday evening. Frank would get the pin but the Bucs lost to the Tigers 46-27 in a non-conference meet.

The Albert Lea Tigers came to Blue Earth on Tuesday, Jan. 25, to take on the host Buccaneers in wrestling.

Albert Lea won the first eight matches before BEA countered with a five-match winning streak of their own. However, it was too little, too late and the Tigers went home with a 46-27 victory.

“I was happy with the way the guys in our upper weights wrestled,” BEA head coach Dan Eckhardt said. “I knew Albert Lea would be tough at their lower weights. I was hoping we could have picked up a win in one of those.”

Ryan Collis gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead when he earned a 17-1 technical fall over Timmy Nagel at 106 pounds.

Mike Olson earned a fall in 1:35 over Logan Schelstad of the Bucs at 113 pounds to make the score 11-0 in favor of Albert Lea.

BEA’s Cooper Peterson lost by an 11-1 major decision to Brody Ignaszewski in the 120-pound match to stake the Tigers to a 15-0 lead.

Albert Lea increased their advantage to 19-0 when Aivin Wasmoen scored a 12-1 major decision over Carson Sturtz at 126 pounds.

A 15-2 major decision by Nick Korman of the Tigers over Caleb Langager at 132 pounds made the score 23-0 with Albert Lea on top.

The Tigers then recorded two consecutive pins to take a 35-0 lead. Mavrick Attig earned a fall over Ben Anderson in 3:36 at 138 pounds and Carter Miller pinned Blair Lunz in 2:20 at 145 pounds.

Albert Lea’s Cameron Davis produced a 23-5 technical fall over Cade Gaydon in the 152-pound match to make it 40-0 with the Tigers on top.

Parker Meyers got the Bucs on the board with his 6-0 decision over Blake Braun at 160 pounds.

BEA’s Kean Hicks put Brycin Kirsch’s shoulders to the mat at the 1:00 mark in the 170-pound match to cut Albert Lea’s lead to 40-9.

In the 182-pound match, Adam Schavey pinned Mason Attig in 3:53 to make the score 40-15 with the Tigers on top.

Corey Kitchel added six more points to the BEA team score when he won by an injury default over Luke Moller at 195 pounds.

Kale Frank’s pin in 3:54 over Albert Lea’s Adam Semple at 220 pounds narrowed Albert Lea’s lead to 40-27.

The Tigers closed out the contest with a win when Ben Schwemmler, who was almost pinned in the first period, recovered to win by a fall over Zach Benson in the 285-pound match to make the final score 46-27 in favor of the Tigers.

Plum Creek Duals

Blue Earth Area went 1-2 in three contests during the Plum Creek Duals held at Tracy on Friday, Jan. 21.

They opened the day with a 42-31 loss to Tracy-Milroy-Balaton-Westbrook-Walnut Grove, then defeated Worthington 47-24. They closed out the day with a 43-36 loss to Adrian Area.

TMBWWG 42, BEA 31

The Tracy-Milroy-Balaton-Westbrook-Walnut Grove Panthers edged the Bucs 42-21.

The Panthers won eight of the 14 matches while the Bucs won the other six.

Those winning for BEA were Cooper Peterson by a decision at 113 pounds, Caleb Langager by a major decision at 126, Kade Gaydon by a fall at 152, Parker Meyers with a pin at 160, Kean Hicks by a fall at 170 and Adam Schavey by a fall at 182.

BEA 47, Worthington 24

The Bucs downed the Worthington Trojans 47-24 in their second contest of the meet.

Worthington took a 6-0 lead when they won by a fall in the 106-pound match but Cooper Peterson’s pin over Emanuel Sararia at 113 pounds tied the score at 6-6.

The Trojans regained the lead at 9-6 with a win by decision at 120 pounds.

BEA’s Caleb Langager received a forfeit at 126 pounds which put the Bucs on top 12-9.

The Bucs made it 18-9 when Ben Anderson pinned Vincent Vanderkool in the 132-pound match.

Worthington closed the gap to 18-15 when they won by a fall at 138 pounds.

Ethan Oppedal’s 9-8 decision over Moo Bleh at 145 pounds extended BEA’s lead to 21-15.

Kade Gaydon won an 8-6 decision over Chase Byrne at 152 pounds to put the Bucs on top 24-15.

Parker Meyers downed Levi Hennings 15-0 at 160 pounds to earn a technical fall and increase BEA’s lead to 29-15

The Bucs won the next three matches by pins.

Kean Hicks pinned Eh Day Htoo at 170 pounds, Adam Schavey won by a fall over Kevin Galvez-Chavez at 182 pounds and Cory Kitchel put Mu Shee’s shoulders to the mat in the 195-pound match to give the Bucs a 47-15 lead.

The Trojans won the last two matches by a decision at 220 pounds and a pin at 285 pounds to make the Bucs’ winning score 47-24.

Adrian Area 43, BEA 36

Blue Earth Area won four of the first five matches to take a 24-6 lead over the Adrian Area Dragons before the Dragons caught fire to rally and claim a 43-36 victory.

After Adrian Area won the opening match by a fall at 106 pounds, the Bucs won the next four matches to claim a 24-6 lead.

Kyren Sunken pinned Izaiah Groenwold at 113 pounds, Cale Borris received a forfeit at 120, Carson Sturtz won by a fall over Bruce Farinella at 126 and Caleb Langager won by a forfeit at 132.

Unfortunately, BEA would only win two more matches.

Parker Meyers won by a forfeit at 160 pounds and Cory Kitchel won by a forfeit at 182 pounds after which the Dragons went on to win the contest 43-36.