Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State men's wrestling team traveled down to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete in the Desert Duals, hosted by Wartburg College. The Mavericks went 3-0 in duals today, beating CSU-Pueblo 32-10, Vanguard University 46-5, and Menlo College (Calif.) 30-11.
 
At 165-lb. junior Kole Marko had an outstanding performance with two wins by fall and an 18-0 tech fall win. Against CSU-Pueblo, Marko faced Aaron Concepcion, finding a pin at 1:25 in the first period. In the dual with Vanguard, Marko got a quick win by fall at 0:19 in the first period against Vanguard's Mason Hernandez. In their last dual of the day against Menlo College, Marko wrestled Devin Shimabukuro and won by a 18-0 tech fall to secure 17 team points for the Mavericks.
 
Redshirt-junior Drake Hayward wrestled at 174-lb., also maintaining a 3-0 record for the day and scoring 15 team points. Hayward had a major decision win against CSU Pueblo, followed with a 19-1 tech fall win against Vanguard's Marquize Brown. In the dual against Menlo College, Hayward won by a fall at 1:08 in the first period against Carson Howell.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Walker Bents, 149-lb., and junior Caleb Meunier, at 157-lb., both scored 14 points throughout the three duals. Bents started the day with a win by fall at 1:37 against CSU-Pueblo's Cole Bennett. In the dual with Vanguard, Bents tech falled Malikhi Espiritu 17-0, and finished the day with a 8-4 decision win against Menlo College. In Meunier's first match against Cyruss Meeks (CSU-Pueblo), Meunier won by a 21-4 tech fall. Against Vanguard, Meunier pinned Rafael Marquez at 3:39, followed by a decision win against Menlo College.
 
At 133-lb., redshirt-sophomore Chase Beckett had two major decision wins against CSU-Pueblo and Vanguard, and finished the day with an 8-0 decision win over Menlo College to score 11 team points throughout the duals. Scoring 9 team points and going 2-1 for the day were redshirt-freshman Brayden Sonnentag, 141-lb., and redshirt-freshman Evan Farley, at 184-lb. Sonnentag posted a decision win over CSU-Pueblo and a win by fall at 1:30 over Menlo College's Roberto Lopez. Against CSU-Pueblo, Farley had a major decision win, followed by a 19-1 tech fall win against Keagen Kroeger of Vanguard.
 
Also wrestling at the Desert Duals were freshman Jacob Fitzpatrick (125-lb.), freshman Jesus Gonzalez (197-lb.), and sophomore Tanner Gaffey (285-lb.). Together, the trio scored 12 team points throughout the day, including Gaffey's win by fall over Vanguard's Roman Torres at 6:33.
 
The Mavericks continue their NSIC dual schedule after the holiday break at the University of Mary on Jan. 5^th. The dual will begin at 7 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D.
 
 
Minnesota State Results at Desert Duals
Match #1 Round 2
Minnesota State defeated CSU-Pueblo 32-10

• 133 - Chase Beckett (Minnesota State) over Eddie Bowman (CSU-Pueblo) Maj 17-5
• 141 - Brayden Sonnentag (Minnesota State) over Hayden Tuma (CSU-Pueblo) Dec 5-4
• 149 - Walker Bents (Minnesota State) over Cole Bennett (CSU-Pueblo) Fall 1:37
• 157 - Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) over Cyruss Meeks (CSU-Pueblo) TF 21-4
• 165 - Kole Marko (Minnesota State) over Aaron Concepcion (CSU-Pueblo) Fall 1:25
• 174 - Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) over Solomon Arnds-Volcin (CSU-Pueblo) Maj 19-6
• 184 - Evan Farley (Minnesota State) over Donn Greer (CSU-Pueblo) Maj 16-3
• 197 - Remington Winmill (CSU-Pueblo) over Jesus Gonzalez (Minnesota State) Dec 7-3
• 285 - Henry Sturn (CSU-Pueblo) over Tanner Gaffey (Minnesota State) Dec 9-6
• 125 - Rhys Sellers (CSU-Pueblo) over Jacob Fitzpatrick (Minnesota State) Maj 15-2

 
Match #2 Round 5
Minnesota State defeated Vanguard 46-5

• 157 - Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) over Rafael Marquez (Vanguard) Fall 3:39
• 165 - Kole Marko (Minnesota State) over Mason Hernandez (Vanguard) Fall 0:19
• 174 - Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) over Marquize Brown (Vanguard) TF 19-1
• 184 - Evan Farley (Minnesota State) over Keagen Kroeger (Vanguard) TF 19-1
• 197 - Jesus Gonzalez (Minnesota State) over Isaiah Hernandez (Vanguard) Dec 6-5
• 285 - Tanner Gaffey (Minnesota State) over Roman Torres (Vanguard) Fall 6:33
• 125 - Jacob Fitzpatrick (Minnesota State) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
• 133 - Chase Beckett (Minnesota State) over Robert Villegas (Vanguard) Maj 10-0
• 141 - Fernando Barreto (Vanguard) over Brayden Sonnentag (Minnesota State) TF 21-6
• 149 - Walker Bents (Minnesota State) over Malikhi Espiritu (Vanguard) TF 17-0

 
Match #3 Round 7
Minnesota State defeated Menlo (Calif.) 30-11

• 165 - Kole Marko (Minnesota State) over Devin Shimabukuro (Menlo (Calif.)) TF 18-0
• 174 - Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) over Carson Howell (Menlo (Calif.)) Fall 1:08
• 184 - Maximus Zamora (Menlo (Calif.)) over Evan Farley (Minnesota State) Maj 19-6
• 197 - Juan Carlos Escutia (Menlo (Calif.)) over Jesus Gonzalez (Minnesota State) Maj 14-5
• 285 - Cole Steketee (Menlo (Calif.)) over Tanner Gaffey (Minnesota State) Dec 4-2
• 125 - Jacob Fitzpatrick (Minnesota State) over Elijah Valencia (Menlo (Calif.)) Dec 7-2
• 133 - Chase Beckett (Minnesota State) over Noah Messman (Menlo (Calif.)) Maj 8-0
• 141 - Brayden Sonnentag (Minnesota State) over Roberto Lopez (Menlo (Calif.)) Fall 1:30
• 149 - Walker Bents (Minnesota State) over Noah Elliott (Menlo (Calif.)) Dec 8-4
• 157 - Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) over Ezekiel Lara (Menlo (Calif.)) Dec 5-0