MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State wrestling team dropped its final Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference home dual to No. 3 St. Cloud State, 36-6, Thursday night at Taylor Center. With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 2-9 overall and 2-5 in NSIC play, while the third-rated Huskies improve to 18-1 overall and 7-0 in the NSIC.
 
St. Cloud State opened up the dual with two straight pinfalls as Joel Saloman defeated Trevor Schultz (Fr., 125 lbs.) at 2:07 of the match and Zach Stewart defeated Tanner Mills (Fr., 133 lbs.) at 2:20 of the match, respectively. Next up was lightweight Alphonso Vruno (So., 141 lbs.) losing by a 8-1 decision to No. 5 Matt Nelson. Weston Droegemueller (Fr., 149 lbs.) lost to Jay Hildreth by pinfall at 2:23. Next on the ballot was freshman Adam Cooling (Fr., 157 lbs.) who was unable to keep his seven-match winning streak alive when he lost a 3-1 decision to No. 6 Clint Porter.
 
St. Cloud State jumped out to a 24-0 lead at the half-way point of the dual, but after the break, Darick Vancura (Fr., 165 lbs.) got the Mavericks on the board with a 5-4 win over Gabe Fogarty. Vancura came out firing, getting a takedown just eight seconds into the match. Fogarty tied the match momentarily but gave up the winning points after Vancura got his second takedown of the match. Brendan Eichmann (Sr. 174 lbs.), on senior night, defeated Clayton Jennissen with a 6-4 decision. Scott VanDeLoo (So., 184 lbs.) lost to Dylon Braun with a 7-2 decision. Chris Zimmer (Fr., 197 lbs.), in his first home match, lost a 2-0 decision to Chris Brassel, and Corby Running (Sr., 285 lbs.) lost by pinfall at the 4:21 mark to third-ranked Austin Goergen.
 
The Mavericks will return to action Thursday Feb. 20 when they travel to Aberdeen S.D., to compete against Northern State (4-10, 0-6 in the NSIC) in their final dual meet of the regular season.