Wrestling: Albert Lea at Owatonna, Big Nine title on the line

Owatonna High School wrestling will host No. 3AA Albert Lea at 7 p.m. Saturday night. Radio coverage on KRFO AM 1390 and on the RadioPup. 

The Huskies have won the last two Big Nine titles. The Tigers won the two previous to that. The last time a team other than Owatonna or Albert Lea won the championship was 1994-95, when Faribault took home the Big Nine title. Albert Lea has 27 overall conference titles. Owatonna has won 22.

Entering Saturday's match, Albert Lea has six wrestlers ranked in the top 10, with one top ranked. Owatonna has four in the top 10, also with one at No. 1.

OHS coach Cliff Casteel shares these thoughts on the match-up:

Saturday action will begin with youth wrestling at 1 p.m. Junior high and junior varsity wrestling will lead up to the Main Event at about 7 p.m. Other activities include Alumni Night and a Classic Cheer Leading Team. Joe Green and Dale Benjamin will have the LIVE call on AM 1390 KRFO and on the Radiopup app.

The two teams could meet up again next Friday at the Panther Duals at Lakeville North. However, they are in different sections. Owatonna is in 1AAA, where Hastings and Farmington will provide the hurdles to state. Albert Lea, in 1AA, will have to tangle with No. #2-ranked Kasson-Mantorville next month