Mankato, Minn. – The Mavericks went to work this afternoon in Bresnan Arena in their second conference dual against a ranked opponent, getting a 26-18 win over #24 Southwest Minnesota State.
With the win, MSU wrestling head coach
Jim Makovsky also earned his 300th career win at Minnesota State, making him the all-time most winningest coach in MSU wrestling history, passing the legendary former head coach
Rummy Macias.
Freshman
Kole Marko, at 165 lbs., started the afternoon off strong for MSU against SMSU's
Lucas Hodges. After a slow first period, Marko gained a substantial lead after a takedown and a five-point nearfall in the second period. Marko ended the match with an 11-1 major decision, putting the Mavericks on the board. Following in Marko's footsteps was junior
Mike Smith, of MSU, at 174 lbs., up against
Elijah Sterner, of SMSU. Smith had a quick takedown at four seconds into the first period, followed by another takedown and two nearfalls. Winning by a 13-1 major decision, Smith brought the MSU team total to 8-0.
At 184 lbs., MSU sophomore
Nic Leo faced SMSU junior
#2 Caden Steffen. Steffen had two takedowns in the match, and finished with the win over Leo by a 6-1 decision, finally putting SMSU on the board at 8-3.
Tommy Johnson, of MSU, wrestled at 197 lbs. against
Carter Marx, of SMSU. After a scoreless first period and a stalling call in the second, Johnson found an escape but was taken down and pinned in the third round at 5:29, giving SMSU the team lead at 9-8. Next up at 285 lbs. was MSU senior
Darrell Mason and SMSU's
Jacob Dykes. Dykes got a takedown in the first period, helping give him a 3-1 decision win in the end, putting SMSU up 12-8 in the team score.
Dropping back down to the lower weights, SMSU's
Ben Emrich won by forfeit at 125 lbs., moving team score to 18-8 for SMSU. Next at 133 lbs., MSU sophomore
Isaiah Mlsna wrestled against
Hunter Pfantz, of SMSU. Mlsna capitalized in the first period with two takedowns, an escape and a four-point nearfall to put him up 9-2 at the end of the first. Mlsna went on to win the match by a 9-6 decision, bringing the team score to 18-11 with SMSU still on top.
Sophomore
Max Schwabe, of MSU, received a forfeit at 141 lbs., narrowing the team score gap to 18-17 SMSU. MSU's
Caleb Meunier came in hot at 149 lbs., against SMSU's
Tyler Soltau. After a quick takedown, Meunier got the pin at 1:14, boosting MSU to the top in the team score to 23-18. To finish the dual, sophomore
Drake Hayward, of MSU, had a hard fought match at 157 lbs. with
Sean Howk, of SMSU. A scoreless first period led to Hayward receiving two points in the second period from an escape and a stalling call on SMSU. Hayward also got an escape in the third, giving him the 3-2 decision win and finalizing the team score at 26-18 MSU.
To finish the night, MSU's
Shane Gibson at 184 lbs. wrestled an exhibition match against SMSU's
Kevin Bostwick. Gibson claimed the win with a 9-5 decision.
The Minnesota State wrestling team is back on the mat on January 21st against St. Cloud State at 2:00 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn.
Minnesota State 26, Southwest Minnesota State 18
165:
Kole Marko (MSU) wins via 11-1 major decision vs. Lucas Hodges (SMSU) | 4-0 MSU
174: Mike Smith (MSU) wins via 13-1 major decision vs. Elijah Sterner (SMSU) | 8-0 MSU
184: Caden Steffen (SMSU) wins via 6-1 decision vs. Nic Leo (MSU) | 8-3 MSU
197: Carter Marx (SMSU) wins via fall at 5:29 vs.
Tommy Johnson (MSU) | 9-8 SMSU
285: Jacob Dykes (SMSU) wins via 3-1 decision vs. Darrell Mason (MSU) | 12-8 SMSU
125: Ben Emrich (SMSU) wins via forfeit | 18-8 SMSU
133: Isaiah Mlsna (MSU) wins via 9-6 decision vs. Hunter Pfantz (SMSU) | 18-11 SMSU
141: Max Schwabe (MSU) wins forfeit | 18-17 SMSU
149: Caleb Meunier (MSU) wins fall at 1:14 vs. Tyler Soltau (SMSU) | 23-18 MSU
157: Drake Hayward (MSU) wins via 3-2 decision vs. Sean Howk (SMSU) | 26-18 MSU
Exhibition Match #1: Kevin Bostwick (SMSU) vs.
Shane Gibson (MSU) | Gibson wins 9-5 decision
