No. 16 St. Cloud State Drops Match To No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha, 25-16
January 26, 2008
St. Cloud, Minn. – The No. 16 nationally ranked St. Cloud State University wrestling
team (8-1, 1-1 NCC) dropped its first dual match of the season by a
score of 25-16 to No. 2 ranked Nebraska-Omaha in North Central
Conference action today, Jan. 26, in SCSU’s Halenbeck Hall.
The Huskies were led by Westy Hanson (Crookston), Gabe Suarez (Las
Vegas, Nev.), John Sundgren (Coon Rapids) and Derek Skala (Owatonna),
who each garnered match victories on the day.
St. Cloud State also honored the wrestling alumni today during the
intermission of the match. The Huskies had 19 alumni return for the
day, and each was announced during the intermission. A social event was
to follow at St. Cloud’s Kelly Inn for the alumni and their families.
Leading off the match and wrestling at 149 was SCSU’s red-shirt
freshman Chad Kubasch (New Germany). Kubasch faced UNO’s Todd Meneely,
who is ranked No. 1 in Division II wrestling. Meneely went up 10-4
after the first period and controlled the match to gain the 17-8 major
decision for the Mavericks and give UNO a 4-0 team lead. SCSU’s
Sundgren knotted the team score at 4-4 for the Huskies after the
red-shirt freshman out-scored UNO’s Marcus Hilario 12-4 for the major
decision at 157. Sundgren is now 14-5 overall in dual matches this
season.
The Mavericks went up 7-4 when Aaron Denson defeated SCSU’s Tom
Anderson at the 165 weight. The score was tied at 4-4 heading into the
third period, but UNO’s Denson rallied for the 7-4 decision. St.
Cloud gained its only lead of the afternoon with a forfeit win for
Skala at 174. UNO’s forfeit gave the Huskies the 10-7 team advantage.
Shortly after, UNO went back on top when No. 3 ranked Brent Pankoke
pinned SCSU’s No. 7 Brad Padgett (Buckley, Wash.) just 27 seconds into
the first period in the 184 weight class. After five bouts, UNO
had a 13-10 lead over SCSU heading into the intermission.
Following the break, UNO rattled off two victories in the 197 weight
class and the Heavy Weight class to go up 22-10 in the team standings.
The Mavericks No. 2 ranked Jacob Marrs defeated SCSU’s Nick Wilkes
(Onamia) in a 5-3 decision at 197, and No. 8 ranked Tony Lewis pinned
the Huskies Chris Schiewe with just 24 seconds remaining in the third
period in the Heavy Weight class.
SCSU’s Hanson sparked the Huskies in the 125 weight class with an
overtime win over UNO’s Matt Rein. The two headed into overtime tied at
4-4, and Hanson used a go-behind move to gain the 6-4 decision and give
the Huskies 13 team points. Although the Huskies Josh Williams
(Banks, Ore.) would fall to UNO’s Mario Morgan in the 133 division by a
5-2 decision, SCSU’s red-shirt freshman Gabe Suarez completed the NCC
match with a 12-6 decision win over UNO’s Tait Weatherbee at 141 to
boost his season record to 24-3 overall.
The No. 16 Huskies, who were 8-0 overall this season heading into
today’s match against UNO, are now 8-1 overall and 1-1 in the North
Central Conference. Coached by second-year head coach Steve Costanzo,
SCSU’s 8-0 season dual start marks the best start since the 1959-60
season when those Huskies finished 11-1-1 overall.
With the win, No. 2 ranked Nebraska-Omaha improves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the NCC.
St. Cloud State returns to action on Friday, Feb. 1, when the Huskies
head to Minnesota State, Moorhead for a 7 p.m. dual match in Moorhead,
Minn.
#2 UN-Omaha, 25, #16 St. Cloud State 16
149: UNO #1 Todd Meneely-17 def. SCSU Chad Kubasch- 8, 4-0 UNO
157: SCSU John Sundgren – 12 def. UNO Marcus Hilario- 4, 4-4 Tied
165: UNO #3 Aaron Denson – 7 def. SCSU Tom Anderson – 4, 7-4 UNO
174: SCSU Derek Skala wins by forfeit, 10-7 SCSU
184: UNO #3 Brent Pankoke pins SCSU #7 Brad Padgett, 13-10 UNO
197: UNO #2 Jacob Marrs – 5 def. SCSU Nick Wilkes – 3, 16-10 UNO
HWT: UNO #8 Tony Lewis pins SCSU Chris Schiewe, 22-10 UNO
125: SCSU Westy Hanson- 6 def. UNO Matt Rein- 4 (OT), 22-13 UNO
133: UNO Mario Morgan- 5 def. SCSU Josh Williams – 2, 25-13 UNO
141: SCSU Gabe Suarez – 12 def. UNO Tait Weatherbee – 6, 25-16 UNO