MANKATO, Minn. – In the first Purple/Gold Wrestling Classic, the Purple Team battled back from an early deficit for a 23-19 victory Thursday evening at The Taylor Center in the first on mat action of the season for the Minnesota State wrestling program.
 
"I thought tonight was a great opportunity for our guys to get out and compete in front of our fans," first-year MSU head coach Brady Wilson said. "We have a great group of young men who have been working extremely hard and it was exciting to see them showcase that work.  We're building something special here at Minnesota State and I really like the direction this program is heading.  We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm excited about this team and the season in front of us."
 
Wilson had honorary coaches for the classic which featured former All-Americans in Andy Forster and Travis Elg who led the Gold and Purple squads, respectively. 
 
Forstner, a native of Madelia, Minn., earned NCAA Division II All-America honors three times during his Minnesota State career (2009, 2010, 2011). Wrestling at 125 pounds, he posted a sixth-place national finish in 2009 and a fourth-place finish in 2010. Prior to joining the Mavericks, Forstner captured a Minnesota high school state championship for Madelia/Truman, completing an undefeated 40-0 season in 2006.

Now residing in Lake Crystal, Minn., with his wife, Brandi, and son, Zev, Forstner returns to his alma mater to serve as the honorary head coach of the Gold Team.
 
Elg, a native of Mountain Lake, Minn., was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American for the Mavericks, earning national honors in 2008 and 2010. During his Minnesota State career, he claimed three NCAA North Region championships and was named the region's Outstanding Wrestler in 2009. Known for his aggressive style and ability to secure falls, Elg established himself as one of the program's top competitors.

Before arriving in Mankato, Elg won three Minnesota high school state championships while competing for Windom/Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin and compiled an impressive 193-11 career record.

Elg currently resides in St. James, Minn., with his wife, Allison, and their children, Lincoln and Madison. He returns to Minnesota State as the honorary head coach of the Purple Team.
 
"One of my biggest priorities since taking over this program has been reconnecting our alumni and bringing them back into Maverick wrestling," Wilson added.  "Having two former All-Americans like Andy Forstner and Travis Elg serve as honorary coaches tonight was really special.  These guys helped build the tradition and success of this program and it's important that our current wrestlers understand the legacy there're representing.  We want our alumni to know that this will always be their program and they're always welcome back."
 
The match began with junior Jacob Fitzpatrick winning 2-1 over freshman Ian Lessard at 125 in a tight match throughout for the early lead for Gold. 
 
Top-ranked Dominic Ducato, a junior, won by fall just 1:41 into his match over freshman Tas Storer for a 6-3 lead for the Purple Team in a lead it would never relinquish.  The momentum of the Ducato match carried over as Purple won the next three matches for an 18-3 lead with a tech fall at 149 and a major decision at 157.  In addition, sophomore Kaiden Dietzenbach upset top-ranked junior Colton Hush, 3-2 following the Ducato match. 
 
The Gold Team found its footing winning four of the final five bouts, but No. 3 junior Cole Glazier of the Purple Team helped seal the victory with a 15-1 tech fall over junior Damarion Ross at 184, before Gold won the final two matches, including an overtime 4-1 victory by senior Joshua Gaye at 285.
 
The No. 6-ranked Mavericks open the season at the Yellowjacket Open on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m., in Rochester, Minn., followed by the Luther Open in Decorah, Iowa, Nov. 14 and then return home for their first dual of the season versus RCTC and Upper Iowa on Nov. 20.
 
Final Results
Minnesota State Purple 23, Minnesota State Gold 19
125: Jacob Fitzpatrick (Gold) wins 2-1 via decision vs. Ian Lessard (Purple) | 3-0 Gold
133: #1 Dominic Ducato (Purple) wins via fall (1:41) vs. Tas Storer (Gold) | 6-3 Purple
141: Kaiden Dietzenbach (Purple) wins 3-2 via decision vs. #1 Colton Hush (Gold) | 9-3 Purple
149: Walker Bents (Purple) wins 21-4 via tech fall 6:39 vs. Roman Clouse (Gold) | 14-3 Purple
157: Grady Mortensen (Purple) | wins 12-0 via major decision vs.  Kain Sanders (Gold) | Purple 18-3
165: Luke Swanson (Gold) wins 20-5 via tech fall vs. Paolo Salminen (Purple) | Purple 18-8
174: Derek Johnson (Gold) | win 11-1 via major decision vs. Evan Farley (Purple) | Purple 18-12
184: Result: #3 Cole Glazier (Purple) wins 15-1 via tech fall vs. Damarion Ross (Gold) | Purple 23-12
197: Macray Klohs (Gold) wins18-6 via major decision vs. Joe Kruse (Purple) | Purple 23-16
285: Joshua Gaye (Gold) wins 4-1 overtime decision vs. Samuel Winkels (Purple) | Purple 23-19