2008-09 College Results
Mavericks down Huskies 24-14
February 19, 2009
St. Cloud, Minn. – The match-up between #10 St. Cloud State (8-5, 5-2 NSIC) and #3 Minnesota State
(11-4, 7-0 NSIC) was just as good as the rankings advertised it could
be. Brady Wilson of MSU pinned SCSU’s Bobby Ross (St. Peter) in the
last match to clinch an NSIC title and 24-15 victory over SCSU Thursday
evening at Halenbeck Hall.
“A couple different things go our way and it’s a whole different
match,” said assistant coach Matt Lowers. “With that being said, our
guys wrestled great against a top-notch opponent and it will only help
come the North Regional and in March,” he added.
The biggest win for SCSU came at 149 lbs., courtesy of Jake Roberts
(Jordan). Following a 6-1 first period for #2 Tommy Abbott, Roberts
rallied to make it a 6-4 match after two. Roberts completed the
comeback with an escape and takedown in the third to score the 7-6 win.
The Huskies had to wrestle from behind the entire match after a forfeit
at 125 lbs. Josh Williams (Banks, Ore.) got the Huskies on the board
with a wire-to-wire 6-1 victory at 133 lbs to cut the Maverick lead to
6-3.
Gabe Suarez (Las Vegas) put up a battle against #2 John Putman at 141
lbs., nearly scoring the first Husky upset of the evening. Putman took
the early lead and held it throughout the match, but Suarez made it a
one-point deficit early in the third. Putman turned away Suarez
offensive advances for the last minute, including a near-reversal as
time expired to take a 9-7 win.
A pair of nationally ranked opponents met at 157 lbs. in #7 John
Sundgren (Blaine) and #6 Travis Elg of MSU. In a 2-2 match at the end
of the first, Elg scored a reversal and three-point near fall with less
than 10 seconds remaining to take a 7-2 lead. That score held until the
5:30 mark when Elg stuck Sundgren for the pin and 15-6 MSU lead heading
into intermission.
#7 Tad Merritt (Canby) grabbed momentum back for SCSU, as he posted a
12-5 win over Tim Matheson at 165 lbs. Merritt nearly picked up the pin
in the second period and as the horn sounded in the third, and had to
settle for the three point decision.
Derek Skala (Owatonna) got the Huskies within a match at 15-12, with a
6-3 win at 174 lbs. Ben Becker took the early lead over Skala, but the
Owatonna native took the lead in the third, holding on for the final
minute for the Huskies.
Brad Padgett (Buckley, Wash.) tied the match at 15 for the Huskies
after a 8-7 win over Aaron Norgren at 184 lbs. Norgren took a 4-1 lead
after the first, but Padgett came back to make it 6-5 after two periods
with two takedowns and an escape. With the score at sixes in the third,
Padgett recorded a takedown with 38 seconds left to score the 8-7 win.
Yet another narrow victory for MSU could have easily swayed the match
in SCSU’s favor at 197 lbs. Luke Munkelwitz (Forest Lake) took a 2-0
first period lead over #6 Pat Mahan, but Mahan came back to make it 5-2
after two. Munkelwitz pulled within one with an escape and a penalty
point with 10 seconds left, but could not connect with the final
takedown, falling 5-4.
SCSU also celebrated Senior Night, as Nick Wasche (Cedar), Matt Jackson
(Oakdale), Padgett and Williams were honored during the intermission of
the dual.
The win gave the Mavericks the outright NSIC title heading into the
North Region Tournament in March. Both teams will be in action there,
March 1 in Marshall, Minn.
February 19, 2009 at St. Cloud, MN
#3 MSU-Mankato 24, #10 St. Cloud State 15
125: Andy Fornster (MSU) wins by forfeit - 6-0 MSU
133: Josh Williams (SCSU) over Tim Haneberg (MSU), 6-3 – 6-3 MSU
141: #2 John Putman (MSU) over Gabe Suarez (SCSU), 9-7 – 9-3 MSU
149: Jake Roberts (SCSU) over #2 Tommy Abbott (MSU), 7-6 – 9-6 MSU
157: #6 Travis Elg (MSU) over #7 John Sundgren (SCSU), Fall-5:30 – 15-6 MSU
165: #7 Tad Merritt (SCSU) over Tim Matheson (MSU), 12-5 – 15-9 MSU
174: Derek Skala (SCSU) over Ben Becker (MSU), 6-3 – 15-12 MSU
184: #2 Brad Padgett (SCSU) over Aaron Norgren (MSU), 8-7 – 15-15
197: #6 Pat Mahan (MSU) over Luke Munkelwitz (SCSU), 5-4 – 18-15
285: #2 Brady Wilson (MSU) over Bobby Ross (SCSU), Fall-4:32 – 24-15 MSU
