Sarah Passick

The South Dakota State wrestling team proved to be unstoppable Friday.

After three weeks on the road, the Jacks felt right home in Frost Arena pinning four Northern State opponents, Friday. SDSU left the mat 31-19 over NSU.

SDSU had an open weight at 149. NSU took a 16-15 lead after the jacks forfeited at 149.

Todd Paszek, 197-pounder, opened the meet with the first pin of the day, setting the tone. He pinned NSU’s Jared Campten in 1.07.

Following Paszek’s lead, heavyweight Jon Madsen pinned Baron Blanchord in 2:37.

Aaron Veskrna and Tyler Bryant had back-to-back pins to put the Jacks back on top 27-16. Veskrna pinned NSU’s Ron Reszel 4:59 in the 157 weight class. Bryant, 165-pounder, kept the momentum going by pinning his opponent Spencer Dockey in 4:11.

Tyler Jones at 184 and Nathan Smrekar at 133 also had wins in their weight classes.

Second-ranked North Dakota State won a 27-13 dual victory over No. 12 SDSU Saturday night.

NDSU had two pins at 133, 174 and a forfeit at 149 aided the Bison.

The Jacks stepped out on to the mats on the right foot. SDSU won the first two matches.

Tyler Jones defeated NDSU’s Thad Pike 7-0 in the 184 weight class.

“I would have liked to put a little more pressure on my feet and score a few more takedowns,” he said.

Jones is back on the mat after a few weeks of due to a knee injury.

“I am taking everything week by week,” he said. “I am working on conditioning and getting my lungs in shape.”

Todd Paszek defeated Anthony Vittetoe 8-0 in the 197 weight class. Currently Paszek is ranked No. 7 in Division II.

NSDU’s Nick Severson and Jon Madsen faced off again in the heavyweight class. Severson and Madsen faced each other last year at the National Championships, which was won my Severson.

Severson and Madsen rallied into overtime. Madsen was leading 3-2 before Severson scored a takedown with 23 seconds remaining. Madsen escaped with six seconds left, making it 4-4. Five seconds into the extra period, Severson scored a takedown. Severson won the match in overtime 6-4.

SDSU remains at home this weekend as they host Augsburg College in Frost Area, Sunday at 7:30 p.m in a non-conference dual.

Augsburg is last year’s Division III national champion. They have held on to the title for the last four years.

“Even though they are a Division III school, they are as good as NDSU,” Jones said. “They are in a league all there own.”

Augsburg has not weak weight classes, Jones said.