Ariy-El Boynton

The SDSU grapplers were denied their first dual meet victory in Western Wrestling Conference Play as the North Dakota State University Bison beat the Jacks 35-10 at the Bison Sports Arena in Fargo, N.D.

Early on, the Jacks got off to a hot start as NCAA qualifier Ryan Meyer, Justin Retallic and Tyler Sorenson won the first three duals to earn a 10-0 lead for SDSU. Meyer, a sophomore from Parkston, won the only major decision of the night when he beat Mike Quamme at 165 pounds. Retallic earned a tough decision against Shannon Fettig, 4-2. In the third period Retallic was twice given a blood timeout, but the Atlantic, Iowa, native kept an advantage he earned in the third period.

Jacks (0-6 in duals overall, 0-3 in WWC duals) sophomore Tyler Sorenson earned his fourth win and the Jacks’ third in a row when he out-dueled Bison wrestler Kenny Moenkedick 7-5 in overtime at 184 pounds. With 37 seconds left to go in the sudden death overtime, Sorenson earned the one point he needed plus an extra point for good measure as he helped the Jacks earn a 10-0 lead over the Bison.

From there it was all Bison wins by either forfeits, fall or by a decision.

NDSU (7-7 in duals, 1-0 in WWC) earned falls by junior Jacob Bryce at the 197-weight class and senior Eric Hoffman at the 125-weight class. Bryce pinned Jackrabbit Jeremy Swier at the 4:06 mark, while Hoffman took Alan Marvin down at the 4:36 mark to give NDSU the lead one that the Jacks would not get back.

The NDSU victory by way of forfeit at the heavyweight position was the second straight match SDSU did not put out a heavyweight wrestler. Senior Mitch Pontrelli has not been involved with the team, since wrestling against Nothern State University on Jan.18.

Up next for the Jackrabbits is a home double header against Dakota Wesleyan at 4 p.m. and Wyoming at 7 p.m on Feb. 2. After that the Jacks will travel to Northern Iowa Panthers on Feb.10 at noon.