The South Dakota State University wrestling team heads to the mountains to open the Western Wrestling Conference portion of its dual season this week.
The Jackrabbits, 0-1 in duals this season, open their WWC slate with a
dual Thursday at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. UVSC is 2-3
in duals so far this season, but has yet to wrestle a Western Wrestling
Conference opponent.
On Saturday, SDSU will travel to Greeley, Colo., to take on Northern
Colorado. The Bears, who host Nebraska on Wednesday, enter the week
with an 0-3 mark in duals, with their losses against North Dakota
State, Northern Illinois and Minnesota.
Both duals are scheduled for 7 p.m. Mountain Time starts.
SERIES RECORDS: South Dakota State will attempt to gain the
upper hand in the series against Utah Valley State as the two squads
meet for the third time, with each team owning a home victory.
UVSC won the initial meeting during the 2005-06 season, taking a 25-16
victory in Orem. The Jackrabbits returned the favor last season,
earning a 34-6 victory at Frost Arena on Jan. 20, 2007, for their lone
dual win over a WWC opponent.
South Dakota State has dominated the all-time series against Northern
Colorado, holding an 18-7 advantage in the series that dates back to
the 1967-68 school year. However, UNC has held the upper hand since the
two squads moved to the Division I level, winning each of the last
three meetings. During the 2006-07 season, the Bears posted a 23-15
victory in Brookings.
LONG LAYOFF: When the Jackrabbits take to the mat on Thursday, it
will be their first competition in nearly a month. SDSU last wrestled
on Dec. 7, dropping a home dual to nationally ranked Nebraska, 37-12.
NEBRASKA 37, SDSU 12: Nebraska won eight of 10 weight classes
against a short-handed Jackrabbit squad en route to a 37-12 victory
over South Dakota State on Dec. 7 at Frost Arena.
Ryan Meyer and Alan Marvin picked up the only wins for the Jackrabbits.
Meyer won by fall over Nebraska’s Frank Jonas in 4 minutes, 3 seconds
to improve to 14-5 overall.
Marvin won by forfeit in the 125-pound weight class.
Adam Everson lost a close match to Curtis Salazar. Everson battled back
from a 4-2 deficit to take a 5-4 lead, but Salazar earned a point for
riding time to extend the match to overtime. Salazar won the match 7-5
after scoring a takedown in overtime.
SDSU was open in 184-pound and 197-pound weight classes.
Complete Results
125: Alan Marvin, SDSU, won by forfeit
133: Austin Baier, Nebraska, dec. Nick Kulseth, 7-1
141: Curtis Salazar, Nebraska, dec. Adam Everson, 7-5 (OT)
149: Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska, def. Sean Flynn, by fall 3:44
157: Rob Plambeck, Nebraska, dec. Martin Konechne, 8-3
165: Ryan Meyer, SDSU, def. Frank Jonas, by fall 4:03
174: Andy Johnson, Nebraska, major dec. Justin Retallic, 20-7
184: Vince Jones, Nebraska, won by forfeit
197: Craig Brester, Nebraska, won by forfeit
HWT: Jon May, Nebraska, def. Brady Punt, by fall 3:17
ROSTER CHANGES: The Jackrabbits have had a couple roster changes since their last competition.
Joining the team recently was Jeremy Swier, who is expected to fill the
197-pound weight class for this week’s duals. He is a sophomore from
Colton, S.D., and a graduate of Tri-Valley High School.
Coach Jason Liles also announced that 141-pounder D.W. Bradshaw and 149-pounder Nick Herrboldt have left the team.
SORENSON RETURNS: The Jackrabbits are expected to regain the services of sophomore 184-pounder Tyler Sorenson this weekend.
A Garretson native, Sorenson ranked among the team leaders in victories
with an 18-6 record during the 2006-07 campaign before suffering a
season-ending injury in January 2007.
STRIPLING LIKELY TO REDSHIRT: South Dakota State heavyweight Jason Stripling is a candidate to redshirt this season.
A regular in the Jackrabbit lineup since his true freshman season in
2004-05, Stripling has wrestled only in open tournaments during the
2007-08 campaign. During his first three seasons, the Minneota, Minn.,
native has posted a 51-30 record with 16 pins. He led the team in
victories during the 2005-06 season with a 26-13 record, then was
second on the squad with a 22-6 overall record during the 2006-07
campaign while earning second-team all-Western Wrestling Conference
honors.
MEYER IMPRESSIVE AGAIN: Sophomore Ryan Meyer has picked up where
he left off following an impressive redshirt freshman season in which
he became the first Jackrabbit wrestler in the Division I era to
qualify for the national championships.
Meyer, who began the season ranked 20th at 165 pounds by WIN Magazine,
has compiled a 14-5 record, good for second on the team in victories.
He opened the season by placing second in the 174-pound division at the
season-opening Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open on Nov. 3, and won the
165-pound division a week later at the DWU Open in Mitchell.
Meyer ended the 2006-07 season with a 23-13 mark.
EVERSON LEADS TEAM: Redshirt freshman Adam Everson has been the
team’s top wrestler in terms of the number of victories this season.
The Mitchell native has posted a 17-7 record while wrestling at 141
pounds. Everson opened the season with a fifth-place finish at the
Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open, following that performance with a
third-place effort before a hometown crowd at the DWU Open on Nov. 10.