The South Dakota State wrestlers host the no. 43 (Intermat) Northern Iowa Panthers Saturday in the Jackrabbits’ first Western Wrestling Conference matchup of the season. Action is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Frost Arena.
Aaron Pickrel leads the Jackrabbits with a 5-2 duals record and an 18-7 overall record. Five of Pickrel’s wins were by fall with the fastest in one minute three seconds. Four other Jacks have three dual wins this season in Nick Flynn (3-3 duals, 8-11 overall), Kevin Kelly (3-6 duals, 8-12 overall), David Michaud (3-4 duals, 7-4 overall) and Tony Vaske (3-1 duals, 12-7 overall). Five of Michaud’s seven wins on the season were by fall, with the remaining wins by decsion.
The probable lineup for the Jacks includes: Pickrel (125 pounds), open at 133 pounds, Tyler Johnson (141 pounds), Jimmy Hamilton (149 pounds), Flynn (157 pounds), Seth Moe (157 pounds), John Nething II (165 pounds), Joe Rasmussen (165 pounds), Michaud (174 pounds), Scott Elliott (184 pounds), Cord Willers (197 pounds) and Kelly (285 pounds).
This week’s Competition
Northern Iowa Panthers – Northern Iowa enters the week’s WWC matchups with a 5-7 record on the season. The Panthers face the North Dakota State Bison Friday before heading to Frost Arena Saturday.
No. 13 (Intermat) Ryan Loder, a 184-pound redshirt freshman, claimed his second WWC weekly honor this week after a 3-0 record over ranked oppenents at the 2011 National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals last weekend. Loder upset Missouri’s no. 13 Mike Larson 3-1 before defeating no. 20 Cody Magrum (Ohio State) and no. 11 Chris Perry (Oklahoma State). Loder is 16-8 on the season and has won nine of his last 11 matches.
The Panthers also boast ranked-wrestler no. 15 Christian Brantley, a 285-pound junior. Brantley finished the National Duals last week with a 2-1 record. At the Duals, Brantley dropped a 5-2 decision against no. six Dom Bradley (Missouri). He went on to top Dom Jontony (Ohio State) and Tyson Yoder (Oklahoma State). Brantley is 18-5 on the season, including 10-2 in duals.
Wrestlers on Facebook – Fans can show their support for the Jackrabbit wrestlers on Facebook. Log onto Facebook.com/JackrabbitWrestling to keep up with the Jackrabbit grapplers.
Fans can also follow Jackrabbit Athletics on the all new Facebook page by logging onto Facebook.com/SDSU.Jackrabbit.Nation. If the new page reaches 5,000 fans or “likes” by Wednesday, Jan. 19, SDSU will send a promo code to every fan of the page that allows them to purchase $10 general admission tickets to the Jan. 22, basketball doubleheader vs. IPFW.
Jackrabbit Extra – Subscribers to the Jackrabbit Extra on GoJacks.com can view select SDSU wrestling matches live on the internet. To subscribe to the Jackrabbit Extra, log onto GoJacks.com, select Jackrabbit Extra on the Audio/Video tab and click “sign up.”
Jackrabbit Insider on FOX and FSN – “Jackrabbit Insider” airs at 10:30 p.m. Sundays on KTTW FOX 7. The show can also be seen on FOX Sports North Tuesdays at 6 p.m. CT. FOX College Sports Central will air the program Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. “Jackrabbit Insider” is also available through the Jackrabbit Extra video on-demand service at GoJacks.com.
Hosted by Tyler Merrium, “Jackrabbit Insider” is a weekly half-hour program that provides Jackrabbit fans with a behind-the-scenes look at South Dakota State University Athletics.
Last week – The Jacks added the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals to the schedule last week with duals agaisnt no. four Wisconsin and no. 29 Oregon State.
Nick Flynn led the Jacks at the Duals with a 2-0 record and scored the only points for the Jacks as the team dropped the dual to Wisconsin 42-3 and Oregon State 45-3. Flynn defeated Charles York (Wisconsin) by a 5-2 decision and Alex Elder (Oregon State) by a 6-4 decision.
Next Up – The Jacks host Northern Colorado at Frost Arena Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. The wrestlers wrap up January with a road trip to Wyoming and Air Force Jan. 28 and 29.