MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State wrestling team downed Saint John's in non-conference dual action Thursday night at Taylor Center by a score of 36-9.
With the result the Mavericks improved their overall record to 1-0 after wrestling in only open tournaments to begin the season.
Zach Johnston (So., 174) and
Dylan Herman (Sr., 165) provided Minnesota State with first-period pins to bookend the Mavericks victory over the Johnnies. With the match beginning at the 174 pound weight class, Johnston started the Mavericks off with a pin in 0:25, while Herman's fall in 1:24 capped their victory.
With Minnesota State leading the match 6-0,
Corey Abernathy (Sr., 184) and
Matthew Blome (So., 197) gained technical falls to extend the Maverick lead to 16-0. Abernathy defeated the eight-ranked wrestler from NCAA DIII, Luke Dodd, by a 15-0 margin. Blome racked up 16 nearfall points in just 1:41 on his way to an 18-0 first-period technical fall.
Logan Linderbaum (So., 285) gained an 11-5 decision victory, taking the score of the dual to 19-0 through the first four matches. The Mavericks would drop points in the next two matches before a 20-3 technical fall by
Louie Sanders (So., 141) brought Minnesota State back on track.
Kyle Rathman (Fr., 149), wrestling in his first dual for the program, and
Daniel Close (Jr., 147) added decision victories for the Mavericks late in the match.
Minnesota State will next travel to Storm Lake, Iowa to compete in the Buena Vista Open Saturday, December 2nd, before returning to dual action with matches away to Minot State and U-Mary on December 9th, and 10th respectively. To follow Minnesota State at the Buena Vista Open, click
HERE.
Watch head coach Jim Makovsky's post-match interview below.
#19 Minnesota State 36, Saint John's 9 (Full Match Results)
174: Zach Johnston (MSU) Fall over Gainer (SJU) 0:25 | MSU 6 – SJU 0
184: Corey Abernathy (MSU) Tech. Fall over Dodd (SJU) 15-0, 3:11 | MSU 11 – SJU 0
197: Matt Blome (MSU) Tech. Fall over Pegelow (SJU) 18-0, 1:41 | MSU 16 – SJU 0
HWT: Logan Linderbaum (MSU) Dec. over Skawiniak (SJU) 11-5 | MSU 19 – SJU 0
125: Noah Becker (SJU) Dec. over McFall (MSU) 11-6 | MSU 19 – SJU 3
133: Andrew Smith (SJU) Forfeit | MSU 19 – SJU 9
141: Louie Sanders (MSU) Tech. Fall over Hennen (SJU) 20-3 4:43 | MSU 24 – SJU 9
149: Kyle Rathman (MSU) Dec. over Ortman (SJU) 10-4 | MSU 27 – SJU 9
157: Daniel Close (MSU) Dec. over Novak (SJU) 6-4 | MSU 30 – SJU 9
165: Dylan Herman (MSU) Fall over Lefebvre (SJU) 1:24 | MSU 36 – SJU 9
