Adam Zobel

The SDSU Jackrabbit wrestling team traveled west last week to defeat the University of Northern Colorado in dual action and take part in the Las Vegas Invitational over the weekend.

The Jacks began their trip with a 20-13 victory over UNC in Greeley, Colo., last Wednesday.

SDSU did not record any pins, but they won six matches by decision en route to their first team win of the season.

After UNC jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 7-5 sudden victory decision by Brody Olson over Joe Kenton at 157, SDSU responded with a string of four victories, including two major decisions, to give themselves a 14-3 lead.

This sequence included a victory by 184-lb. junior Scott King, who moved up a weight class (from 174) for the dual.

“Scott King’s performance gave us a lot of momentum,” SDSU wrestling coach Jason Liles said.

UNC cut the SDSU lead to 17-10 with two matches to go, but 141-lb. Jeremy Roe clinched the dual for the Jacks when he defeated #2 ranked Ronnie Stafford in a 5-0 decision.

The victory was impressive as the Jacks fielded five freshmen in the dual and UNC had a better lineup, Liles said.

“We were more aggressive than them. We had them out-conditioned,” Liles said.

The SDSU squad also participated in the Las Vegas Invitational over the weekend, as the wrestlers combined for a 10-18 record.

Forty-six schools participated in the competition, many of them Division I teams.

The University of Minnesota, the defending NCAA Division I champions, won the overall team title.

SDSU placed 34th.

“This is the toughest tournament in the fall,” Liles said.

The SDSU wrestling squad was led at the tourney by Kris Dorzak at 133, Jared Barnes at 149 and Tim Boldt at 197, with each wrestler going 2-2.

Tyler Bryant, Division II’s second-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, withdrew from the tournament due to injury after winning his match.

King, Roe, Charley Senne, Shawn Vanhove, Bryan Cowdin, and Cody Nehl also participated in the tournament.

“We wrestled hard. It gives us a direction on what we need to work on,” Liles said.

The SDSU wrestling squad returns to action this Thursday when they host the University of Mary in dual action.

The Mary wrestling squad is coached by Josh Kerbaugh.

Kerbaugh served as a graduate assistant coach under Liles for two years.

“It’ll be a fun dual,” Liles said.

The action starts in Frost Arena at 7 p.m.