Adam Zobel

The Jackrabbit wrestling squad dropped a non-conference duel to Minnesota State, Moorhead 19-17 Friday night in Frost Arena.

The Dragons started out strong in the first three weights and gained a 10-0 lead against the shorthanded Jacks.

Joe Kenton at 157 and Andy Everson at 165 started the SDSU rally with a pair of 5-2 decisions.

Nathan Althoff, ranked fifth at 165 but wrestling at 174, earned an 11-3 major decision to even the duel score at 10-10.

After a Moorhead pin at 184, Cody Nehl, wrestling in place of All-American Tim Boldt at 197, earned a 12-2 major decision to place the Jacks within striking distance.

Heavyweight Craig Martinmaas won a hard-fought 5-4 decision in the next match to give SDSU a 17-16 lead.

The final match of the evening took place at 133 with freshman Chris Werth facing Desmond Radunz, the eighth-ranked Division II wrestler in the class. Werth made the match-up competitive, but was defeated 10-7, giving the duel victory to the Dragons.

SDSU wrestling coach Jason Liles was pleased with his young team’s effort for the evening. The Jacks had wrestled an atypical lineup due to the absence of team stars Boldt and Jeremy Roe. In addition to Althoff jumping a weight, Everson jumped two weights as he went from 149 to 165.

The Jacks are now 4-9 in duel action for the season; the final duel of the season will be on Thursday when the Jacks host Augustana. The action begins at 7 p.m. in Frost Arena.