The South Dakota State wrestling team closed out the dual season with a win over NDSU, keeping the Border Bell at home.
This dual would be the final one wrestled in Frost Arena and it was an emotional time for fans and especially the wrestlers. Head coach Damion Hahn noticed this in his seniors specifically before, during and after their matches.
“It was a little emotional, you saw a copy of guys after their wins. Tanner Cook goes out there and gets a huge pin, in Tanner Cook fashion and he’s getting emotional because this will be the last time he steps foot in Frost Arena and wrestles for this crowd,” said Hahn.
In front of a crowd of 2,241, Tanner Jordan started the Jacks out with a major decision (13-0) over Ryan Henningson.
Starting his scoring run with a takedown and four near-fall points, Jordan went up early 7-0 at the end of the first period. He would then earn a reversal in the second and takedown in the final period to round out his 13-point win.
The Bison answered right back as Fernando Barreto upset Derrick Cardinal 7-2 at 133 pounds. This would be the last win for NDSU until the end of the dual.
At 141 pounds, SDSU’s Clay Carlson earned a late takedown in the final period of the match to beat NDSU’s Gavin Drexler 4-1. Carlson and Drexler were tied at one point apiece throughout the match until Carlson’s takedown at around 15 seconds left in the third.
In another close match, the Jacks’ 149-pounder Alek Martin and Max Peterson for the Bison gave the crowd their money’s worth.
Martin led the match 7-2 heading into the third period where Petersen would bring himself back into the match. Petersen earned a point for stalling, a point for an escape and a takedown tying the match at seven.
After SDSU head coach Damion Hahn was successful in challenging a two-point near-fall given to Petersen, Martin would earn an escape to win the 149-pound match 8-7.
Back-to-back bonus-point victories at 157 and 165 pounds would extend SDSU’s lead. At 157 pounds, Cael Swenson won by a major decision over Landen Johnson of NDSU, 10-1.
Starting the second half of the dual strong for SDSU, Tanner Cook earned a fall over Brendan Howes in one minute and 16 seconds. The match started with a takedown by Howes but Cook made his own in which he put Howes to his back for the pin.
At 174 pounds, Cade DeVos added to the Rabbits’ lead as he won by decision (5-2) over Gaven Sax. DeVos, ranked fourth, got up early leading 5-0 after two periods before Sax earned a reversal making it 5-2 where the score would remain for the rest of the match.
Bennett Berge kept things rolling for the Jacks as he earned his second pin in three matches. Berge pinned Adam Cherne in one minute and 23 seconds to take the win at 184 pounds.
Tanner Sloan continued his dominance in Frost as he finished with a record of 25-0 on the Frost Arena mat.
Sloan put a clinic on in his match against Spencer Mooberry with a takedown in the first period, a takedown with back points in the second period and one more takedown in the third to win by technical fall 15-0.
The second and final win for the Bison came at heavyweight where Devon Dawson defeated SDSU’s Bowen McConville by decision (4-2).
With a strong performance by the Rabbits, they would win the dual 34-6. The 11th-ranked Jacks finish the dual season with a 13-4 overall record (7-2 conference).
SDSU will be on the mat next at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The tournament is March 9-10 at the BOK Center.
With a week in between the last dual and the Big 12 Championship, the wrestling team is tuning up their techniques in preparation.
“Right now, I don’t want to say it’s on cruise control by any means. But obviously, we have got to be very intentional with our individuals that are going to the Big 12 tournament, and we need to be focused on what they need to be able to compete at the highest level,” said Hahn.
Seeding for the Big 12 Championship is being worked on and will be set around Monday.