Adam Zobel

The SDSU wrestling squad placed eighth at the Cliff Keen/National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals that were held this past weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

While the team suffered three losses, Tyler Jones at 184 and Tim Boldt at 197 both went a perfect 5-0 for the weekend.

The Jackrabbit wrestlers began their weekend with a 48-6 domination of Western State (Colo.). After forfeiting the first match at 125, SDSU swept the remaining nine matches with pins being recorded by Shawn Vanhove at 157, Bryan Cowdin at 174, Jones, and Boldt.

SDSU then fell to #1 ranked Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinal round by the score of 22-13.

Central Oklahoma jumped out to a 13-0 lead before SDSU fought back with victories by Jared Barnes at 149 and Joe Kenton at 157.

The match at 165 featured two of the division’s best wrestlers as first-ranked Shawn Silvis of UCO defeated SDSU’s second-ranked Tyler Bryant with a 3-1 margin in sudden victory. Bryant missed the remainder of the tournament due to injury.

Jones, who is ranked second at 184, defeated UCO’s third-ranked Jeff Henning 5-1 and Boldt added a major decision victory to close the gap to 16-13. Cody Nehl was pinned in the heavyweight match ending the meet.

The wrestling squad then bounced back in the consolation with a 34-15 triumph over NCC foe St. Cloud State. The Jacks were led by another pin by Cowdin, major decision victories by Barnes and Boldt, and a technical fall win by Jeremy Roe at 141. Both sides forfeited two matches in the dual.

The Jacks were stopped in the next match-their fourth of the day- by archrival Augustana in a 24-19 decision. SDSU fell behind 21-7 after seven matches before Boldt and Jones recorded pins to move the Jacks to 21-19 before losing a 3-0 decision in the heavyweight match.

SDSU then wrestled North Dakota State on Sunday in the dual for seventh place, but lost by the score of 26-16.

Roe and Barnes won decisions for the Jacks to bring them within 9-6 after four matches, but the Bison ran off three victories to build a 20-6 lead before an injury default victory by Jones and a major decision by Boldt to set them behind by 20-16. A Bison pin in the heavyweight match secured the victory.

Despite having a 2-3 dual record for the weekend, SDSU wrestling coach Jason Liles was quit pleased with his wrestlers for their performances this weekend.

“I thought we wrestled aggressively the whole time,” Liles said. “I’m very proud of our kids.”

The undefeated weekends for Jones and Boldt also earned the coach’s praise.

“Boldt beat two ranked kids,” Liles said. “Tyler Jones just dominated.”

SDSU’s dual record for the season now stands at 5-5.

The wrestling squad returns to action this weekend on the road with a dual against Minnesota State-Moorhead on Thursday and a rematch against North Dakota State on Friday.