Determination, perseverance, teamwork, leadership, and courage are all traits that a Wrestler must possess to succeed on the mat while wrestling for Albert Lea.
This year the albert lea wrestling team accomplished a feat that has not been done by the team in over 40 years. There were three wrestlers in the championship round of the State Tournament. This has not been done since 1971 when our own coach Larry Goodnature stepped out onto the mat to claim his prize as state champion.
Although the tigers didn’t make it to state as a team they sent seven individual wrestlers to compete at state. Trevor Westerlund competed in the 106lb. bracket and placed second behind Maolu Woiwor of Apple Valley. Garret Wangsness competed in the 113lb bracket. Dakota Wangsness competed at 120lb. Lucus Hansen competed in the 126lb Bracket. Dalton Westerlund competed at 160lbs and won his match to place third. Trey Hable wrestled in the 170lb weight class and placed second behind Kyle Begin of Anoka. Bryce DeBoer of the 285lb weight class walked off the mat as the 2012 Minnesota State Champion. “It was a great way to end my high school carreer.” said Trey Hable.
After Wrestling in a few tournaments in ninth grade DeBoer began his senior year with minimal experience. Over the course of the year Bryce improved and improved. It all started at the section tournament at the Mayo civic center when Bryce made it to the section finals match. In Minnesota you have to be in the top two places at Sections to move to the state Tournament. Bryce made it to the finals and wrestled Spencer Sorenson of Owatonna. Bryce ended up losing the match but achieved the 2nd place rank to advance to state. The next week was a long one for Bryce. “It was unbelieveable.” Bryce said. “I never thought I would make it this far.”
The individual Tournament  began on Friday March 2nd, where Bryce would wrestle Jason Telin of Tartan in the preliminary round. Bryce ended up pinning Telin one minute and ten seconds into the first period.
Then came the second round of the day, quarterfinals. Bryce wrestled Stefan Sauer of Rosemount and pinned him fourty seven seconds into the second period. This would conclude the first day of wrestling. The second day began at 11:15am for Bryce as he would step onto the mat for the semifinal match of the state tournament. Bryce beat Corey Anderson of Shakopee 5-4. This would be the only match of the state tournament that Bryce didn’t pin his opponent.
Bryce then laced up his shoes for the finals. Bryce went onto the mat to take on the number 6 ranked wrestler Giulian Flemister King.  Bryce was down  3-0 in the second period when he locked up the bear hug and put King on the mat to pin him. Bryce erupted off the mat to hug coach Ryan Palmer. “It was unbelievable.” Bryce said. “I still can’t believe it.”
The tigers haven’t had a state champion since 2006 when another heavyweight wrestler Ben Berhow won the title. No matter how you look at it the tiger wrestlers had a great year.
center: Bryce Deboer hugs coach Larry Goodnature after his state championship match. Goodnature won the state title in 1971. “It was unbelieveable.” said Deboer