By: NSU Sports Information
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State strung together four straight decisions through the upper weight divisions and combined those with an open weight class win at 141 pounds to start the night to withstand a late Minnesota State rally and pick up the Wolves’ first win over the Mavericks since moving to Division II.
The win moves NSU to 5-7 overall in dual meet action and marked the Wolves’ first win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action.
NSU started off the night with a win by default at 141 pounds. The Mavericks were open at that weight class and the Wolves took advantage, sending out true freshman Tyler Frost to take the win.
MSU, which had been ranked in the Top 20 national poll up until Wednesday and was still receiving votes in the most recent poll, responded with a decision at 149 pounds followed by back-to-back major decisions to take an 11-6 lead.
The Wolves, however, swung the momentum back in their favor with four straight decisions through the upper weight divisions. Senior Donnie Bowden sparked the rally with a 4-1 win at 174 pounds, followed by a 3-1 win at 184 pounds from junior Chad Gibson that put the Wolves up 12-11.
Baker Haar then earned a big overtime win at 197 pounds, getting a takedown early in the first overtime victory to secure his own 3-1 win over Derek Hahn. Returning national champion and second-ranked Matt Meuleners then gave the Wolves some breathing room on the scoreboard with his 10-3 win over Nathan Haynes in the heavyweight match. Meuleners used a flurry of activity in the third period to nearly pick up a major decision win, but ran out of time in the match to pull it off.
The 18-11 cushion, however, gave the Wolves enough of an advantage to withstand a pair of late decisions by the Mavericks at 125 and 133 pounds.
The Wolves remain at home for one final home match-up, hosting MSU Moorhead on Friday night in another NSIC match-up. NSU will honor seniors Donnie Bowden and Benton Crow prior to the match, which begins at 7 p.m. in Wachs Arena.
Dual Results
141 Tyler Frost (NSU) won by forfeit.
149 Jesse Westphal (MSU) win by decision over Gavin Larsen (NSU), 7-2
157 Tel Todd (MSU) won by major decision over Neil Sell (NSU), 10-2
165 Cody Quinn (MSU) won by major decision over Blake Lundgren (NSU), 13-1
174 Donnie Bowden (NSU) won by decision over Brendan Eichmann (MSU), 4-1
184 Chad Gibson (NSU) won by decision over Brandon Pederson (MSU), 3-1
197 Baker Haar (NSU) won in overtime over Derek Hahn (MSU), 3-1
285 Matt Meuleners (NSU) won by decision over Nathan Haynes (MSU), 10-3
125 David Demo (MSU) won by decision over Anthony Bruno (NSU), 5-3
133 Brian Reisenauer (MSU) won in overtime over Ian Muirhead (NSU), 8-6