Nick Hartley

It was a cold day Nov. 3 outside Frost Arena. Inside, however, more than 160 wrestlers from 14 schools wrestling on six mats heated things up when they kicked off the season in the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open.

Team scores were not kept, but schools from all over the region were represented. Those schools included: Augustana (S.D.); Briar Cliff (Iowa); Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.); Dakota Wesleyan; Iowa Central CC; University of Mary (N.D.); University of Minnesota; Minnesota State, Moorhead; Minnesota West CC; Nebraska-Omaha; Northern State University; Ridgewater CC; University of Sioux Falls; and SDSU. The Jackrabbits had three wrestlers place runner up in their respective weight classes.

Derek Pirner, a senior from Elk Point, finished second in the 133-pound weight class. Pirner also had the quickest pin of the tournament, 28 seconds into his first match of the season, against Cody Schmidt of the University of Mary. Ryan Meyer, a sophomore from Parkston, South Dakota, came in second in the 174-pound weight class. Jason Stripling, senior from Minneota, Minn., wrapped up a second place effort in the heavyweight class, losing to former Jackrabbit Jon Madsen in overtime 7-5.

The Jacks also had Alan Marvin, a junior from Adrian, Minnesota, finish third in the 125-pound weight class. Stratton Havlik, a freshman from Mitchell, S.D., came in third in the 157 pound weight class.

#1.883021:3908228942.jpg:wrestling.jpg::Stephen Brua