David Michaud

In SDSU’s final non-conference dual of the year the scoreboard may have read a tie with SIUE, but to the Jacks, it felt like a loss.

“I thought it was a dual we could win – should have won – but we had some bad breaks,” said head coach Jason Liles.

On Jan. 20 at Edwardsville, Ill., SDSU started the dual strong, as 125 Aaron Pickrel took down Dustin Young and worked for a pin in less than 1:30, giving SDSU an early 6-0 lead.

SIUE’s Brendan Murphy turned the score around as he pinned Tyler Johnson in just 1:01. The 141 match was also an upset for SDSU, as Dustin Walraven was trapped in Dillon Pousson’s headlock for 1:44, giving SIUE the pin.

“Dustin not performing up to his ability really affected the outcome,” said Liles. “That was a match he should have won.”

The Jacks got back on board by winning the next two matches, taking the team lead 13-12.

Seth Moe, a 149-pound wrestler, went up two weight classes to 165. He took on Steve Ross, but lost the match 18-7.

The closest match was between 174 Joe Rasmussen and Blake Reed. After three periods, Rasmussen overpowered Reed at 5:44, giving SDSU 6 points and the lead in the dual.

“Rasmussen’s win really helped keep us in the dual,” said Liles.

David Michaud was next for the Jacks at 184. Robert Cooney defeated him at 9-0, giving SIUE a one-point lead with only two matches remaining.

Fortunately for the Jacks, the next wrestler to compete would be last year’s national qualifier Tyler Sorenson. Sorenson started the match as he finished it: on top. He crushed A.J. Smith 17-5, which gave SDSU a three-point lead over SIUE going into the final match of the day.

At heavyweight, Kevin Kelly was a new face in the lineup.

“Kelly wrestled really well for his first match of the season; he just came up short,” said Liles.

Kelly lost to David Devine 4-0, and gave SIUE three points to tie the dual at 23-23.

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