Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State started their weekend at home stretch today with a dual against No. 8 Augustana, finishing with a close 17-19 loss.
 
Starting at 125-lb. for the Mavericks was freshman Jacob Fitzpatrick, facing Augustana's No. 3 Jaxson Rohman, ending with a 20-4 tech fall with for Rohman.
 
R-So. Chase Beckett was next at 133-lb. against Owen Hansen. Beckett was first on the board with a takedown halfway through the first period, followed by a 2-pt nearfall to lead 5-0 going into the second period. Hansen found a quick reversal in the second after choosing down to start the period, which was answered with a reversal by Beckett. After two stalling points were awarded to MSU, Beckett found two back-to-back 4-pt nearfalls in the third to win by an 18-2 tech fall and tying the team score 5-5.
 
141-lb. was a close match between the Mavericks' freshman Colton Hush and the Vikings' Alex Mentzer, ending in a 3-1 decision win for Hush, with the only takedown of the match in the first period.
 
Senior Isaiah Mlsna faced No. 2 Cael Larson at 149-lb. After no scoring in the first, Larson had a takedown in the second and third period, along with an escape to win by a 7-0 decision.
 
At 157-lb., junior Caleb Meunier found a huge win over No. 6 Connor Simmonds. Meunier snagged the first takedown 43 seconds into the first period, followed quickly by an escape by Simmonds. To start the second, Simmonds chose down and escaped after 10 seconds, allowing Meunier to get another takedown later in the period to lead 6-2 going into the third. Augustana was awarded a stalling point for the only scoring in the third period, giving Meunier the 6-3 decision win and bringing the team score to 11-8 MSU.
 
Junior No. 15 Kole Marko wrestled Payton Handevidt at 165-lb. The score was tied 4-4 after the second period, with Handevidt choosing down to start the second and finding a quick escape. With a minute left, Handevidt found the takedown and was able to lead the rest of the period, resulting in a 11-5 decision win for Handevidt.
 
In the 174-lb. match, R-Jr. No. 6 Drake Hayward was up against Augustana's Josh Wagener. Hayward had a takedown and received a stalling point in the first and second periods to lead 8-0. After Wagener found a late takedown in the third, Hayward received a point for riding time to win by a 9-3 decision.
 
R-Fr. Evan Farley was next at 184-lb. facing Gavin Gulbranson. Farley gained the momentum for the match with a takedown at 1:40 in the first, and finding an escape in the second to lead 4-0. Gulbranson chose down to start the third, allowing Farley to find a 2pt nearfall. After an escape and late takedown by Gulbranson, Farley received a point for riding time and won by a 7-4 decision, increasing the Mavericks' team score lead to 17-11 MSU.
 
Freshman Jesus Gonzalez and No. 4 Max Ramberg wrestled at 197-lb., ending with a 17-0 tech fall win for Ramberg, closing the team score gap 17-16 MSU.
 
In the final match of the night, freshman Callen Smithpeter and Augustana's Max Balow battled it out at 285-lb. After no scoring in the first, Balow chose down and found an escape in the second, along with being awarded a stalling point. Smithpeter chose down to start the third and gained an escape 10 seconds into the period. With less than a minute left, Balow scored a takedown to finish the match, winning by a 5-1 decision and giving Augustana the conference win, 19-17 AUG.
 
Minnesota State turns around tomorrow and host Minnesota State – Moorhead for senior night in the last home dual of the season. Join the Mavericks to celebrate senior night tomorrow in Taylor Center, with the dual starting at 1pm.

Minnesota State 17, Augustana 19
125: No. 3 Jaxson Rohman (AUG) wins via 20-4 tech fall at 6:48 vs. Jacob Fitzpatrick (MSU) | 5-0 AUG
133: Chase Beckett (MSU) wins via 18-2 tech-fall at 6:11 vs. Owen Hansen (AUG) | Tied 5-5
141: Colton Hush (MSU) wins via 3-1 decision vs. Alex Mentzer (AUG) | 8-3 MSU
149: No. 2 Cael Larson (AUG) wins via a 7-0 decision vs. Isaiah Mlsna (MSU) | 8-8 Tied
157: Caleb Meunier (MSU) wins via 6-3 decision vs. No. 6 Connor Simmonds (AUG) | 11-8 MSU
165: Payton Handevidt (AUG) wins via 11-5 decision vs. No. 15 Kole Marko (MSU) | 11-11 Tied
174: No. 6 Drake Hayward (MSU) wins via 9-3 decision vs. Josh Wagener (AUG) | 14-11 MSU
184: Evan Farley (MSU) wins via 7-4 decision vs. Gavin Gulbranson (AUG) | 17-11 MSU
197: No. 4 Max Ramberg (AUG) wins via 17-0 tech fall at 3:40 vs. Jesus Gonzales (MSU) | 17-16 MSU
285: Max Balow (AUG) wins via 5-1 decision vs. Callen Smithpeter (MSU) | 19-17 AUG