MINOT, N.D. – The No. 20 ranked Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons wrestling team took on their final road opponent of the 2010-11 season against future NSIC opponent Minot State (N.D.). The Beavers received a free pass at 125 pounds but gained little else as the Dragons stole the show, winning 30-9.
Redshirt junior Corey Ulmer was inactive against the Beavers, which gave the home team a 6-0 lead. The Dragons opened up their night at 133 pounds with redshirt senior Evan Forde who took on Robert Herrera. Herrera chose the bottom position to start the second and Forde nearly made him pay for it, gaining a three-point nearfall.
Forde denied Herrera any points in the third, choosing to go neutral and taking the two minutes of riding time to a 4-0 win. After a loss at 141 pounds toConnor MacGregor who was in the lineup for Brady Schneeberger, Tyler Steinwand continued his hot streak with a 15-5 major decision win over Jon Wilson at 149 pounds.
Steinwand worked Wilson over for points from the start, gaining a takedown then releasing Wilson three times in the first to lead 6-3. In the third, Steinwand racked up more points, escaping 32 seconds into the final period. Steinwand took down Wilson twice in the final minute, gaining a three-point nearfall to work his way up to the 10-point win.
Much like Steinwand, redshirt senior Tallen Wald gained majority of his points in the final period of the 157-pound match against Marcus Wilson. Wald led 4-0 after two periods as a result of a takedown and reversal in the first and second periods, respectively.
In the third, Wald reversed Wilson 19 seconds into the period, but Wilson escaped 11 seconds later. A little over half way through the period, Wald took down Wilson and nearly pinned him 18 seconds later. Riding time finished off Wilson for an 11-1 major decision win for Wald.
The most impressive win of the night belonged to Tyler Kivel at 165 pounds against Coby Carson. Carson gained a takedown half way into the opening period but would have no more success as Kivel escaped to trail 2-1. Kivel took down Carson and followed it up with a three-point nearfall to lead 6-2.
In the third period, Kivel chose the top position and nearly pinned Carson three separate times, twice for two points and a three-point nearfall. A total of 2:34 of riding time gave Kivel a 14-2 major decision win, the third in a row for the Dragons.
Trent Sovde got back on the winning track at 174 pounds against Cristian Molina. Sovde took Molina down 53 seconds into the match but Molina managed to escape 17 seconds later. Sovde gained another point in the second by escaping to lead 3-1 after the second. Sovde’s two takedowns sealed the win for Sovde by a final of 7-2.
Freshman Kody Kalkbrenner also had a bounce back win of his own at 184 pounds when he faced Luke Michaelson. Kalkbrenner and Michaelson battled in the first period as Kalkbrenner gained a mid-period takedown but Michaelson countered with an escape and a quick takedown of his own. Not to be out done, Kalkbrenner reversed Michaelson to end the period, up 4-3.
In the second, Kalkbrenner forged ahead with a takedown and a three-point nearfall to end the period on his way to a 9-5 win. With the nearly secured,Brian Woelfel showed how tough on top he could be against Wade Weppler. Woelfel gained a takedown, scoring two more points to open up a 4-0 lead.
In the period, Weppler chose the bottom position in an effort to gain points but Woelfel refused to yield, finishing with over four minutes of riding time for a 5-0 win.
In the final match, redshirt senior Jon Swart proved it was a matter of time for Sean Small at heavyweight. Swart took down Small 1:17 into the period, nearly pinning Small a minute later. As the period was closing to an end, Swart finished off Small with a pin at 2:46.
The Dragons won eight of the nine matches on the night, most of them in convincing fashion for the 30-9 win. The win brings the Dragons record to 5-8 on the season. The Dragons return home for the remainder of the regular season, starting with a conference dual against Northern State (S.D.) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The dual is the annual John Sterner Endowment Dual, which benefits the Dragons wrestling program. The entire cost of admission goes toward the fund, which helps MSU-Moorhead wrestling scholarships.
Coach Sterner was the Dragons’ head coach from 1988 until 2003. During that time Coach Sterner had a coaching record of 137-92-1 and was inducted into the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in April of 2010.
MSU-Moorhead 30 Minot State 9
125: Kellan Zietz (Minot) For Forfeit (Moor)
133: Evan Forde (Moor) DEC Herrera, Robert (Minot) 4-0
141: Deon Buhl (Minot) DEC Connor MacGregor (Moor) 11-7
149: Tyler Steinwand (Moor) MD Jon Wilson (Minot) 15-5
157: Tallen Wald (Moor) MD Marcus Wilson (Minot) 11-1
165: Tyler Kivel (Moor) MD Carson, Coby (Minot) 14-2
174: Trent Sovde (Moor) DEC Cristian Molina (Minot) 7-2
184: Kody Kalkbrenner (Moor) DEC Luke Michaelson (Minot) 9-5
197: Brian Woelfel (Moor) DEC Wade Weppler (Minot) 5-0
285: Jon Swart (Moor) FALL Sean Small (Minot) 2:46