Mike Schaefer

ith the Daktronics/Warren Williamson Open on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Frost Arena.

The meet is an individual meet. Schools will not wrestle against each other, but individuals from each registered school will compete in weight-class tournaments.

This season the Jacks hope to reclaim some of last year’s success. The Jacks were led by sophomore heavyweight Jason Stripling, who led the team with 26 victories.

Experience will help the Jacks as the trio of middleweights, Andy Everson, Nate Althoff, and Travis Gottschalk return with a combined 224 duals between them. Althoff has previously won at the Daktronics open.

This is the first season SDSU has an opportunity to send qualifiers to the NCAA postseason.

“I like the fact that we are competing in the Western Wrestling Conference and have a chance to advance to the NCAA Division-I National Championships come March,” Coach Jason Liles said.

Liles enjoys being able to compete for the postseason.

“We hope to have a couple (wrestlers). I’m not really sure, because I don’t know how the other teams stack up. We have some kids that should have an opportunity to qualify out of the Western Regional, March 3, at Northern Iowa,” said Liles.

Liles felt that SDSU’s move to the Western Wrestling Conference this year allows the team to feel more like it belongs.

“With a conference, we get things like dual meets that decide dual champions, conference wrestler of the week, conference wrestler of the season and other things normally associated with conferences,” he said.

The Jackrabbits held an intrasquad meet Oct. 28. Transfer student Jeff Cooley set the tone with an 11-3 win against Alan Marvin in the 125-pound class.

Dan Bonte added a 7-1 decision versus Nick Kulseth. Dustin Kavitz won at the 141-pound class, taking down Tyler Cuka, 21-9, in the third match of the night.

Brad Gregory posted a second period takedown to secure a 7-3 win against Nick Herrboldt. Sean Flynn downed Marc Wermersen, 14-5, at 149 pounds.

In an exciting win, Chris Moran scored a late one-point escape to upend Ryan Meyer, 2-1, in the 174-pound match.

At 157 pounds, Andy Everson won, 17-6, against Justin Retallic, after landing a three-point near fall late in the second period. Tyler Sorenson recorded two takedowns to defeat Levi Krehmeyer at 184.

Stripling pinned Seth Fischer in 2 minutes, 58 seconds, in a heavyweight battle. Heavyweight Thomas Strubel followed by pinning Jake Temple in 3 minutes, 24 seconds.

Five home dual matches and matches against Nebraska, Pacific University and Portland State highlight the 2006-07 schedule. Included in the schedule are matchups against Western Wrestling Conference members Utah Valley State, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Air Force, Northern Iowa and North Dakota State. SDSU will be tested early in the year at the Harold Nichols Open, Ashland Open, Northern Iowa Open and North Carolina State and Virginia duals.