The #1 St. Cloud State University wrestling ventured to the 2011 Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa on Nov. 13. This meet featured many of the nation’s top wrestlers from all levels of college wrestling.
The Huskies showed very well at the tournament with 14 top six performances and three runner-up finishes at 141, 184 and 285. No teams scores were kept at this Open tournament.
At 285-pounds, junior Jake Kahnke moved his record to 7-1 on the season at the Nichols Open. He went 3-1 in tournament action and lost in the finals by a 5-0 margin to Matt Gibson of Iowa State. On the way to the finals, Kahnke earned wins over three Division I opponents.
At 184-pounds, senior Derek Skala continued his impressive return to the mats after being a medical redshirt in 2010-11. Skala placed second at the Nichols Open with a 2-1 record. His lone loss at Ames came against Ryan Loder of Northern Iowa (4-1) in the championship bout at 184-pounds. Skala now owns a 7-1 record this season.
In action at 133-pounds, SCSU’s Zach Stewart and Dylan both made it to the bout for fifth place with 3-2 record. At 141-pounds, SCSU saw one of its unattached wrestlers place second, one place third and one place sixth.
At 149-pounds, freshman Josh Howk placed fourth in the tournament with a 4-2 record. Howk now owns a 7-4 record this season for SCSU. At 157-pounds, one of SCSU’s unattached wrestlers placed third and at 165-pounds two of SCSU’s unattached wrestlers advanced to the bout for 5th place at the Open.
At 174-pounds, junior Kurt Salmen enjoyed a big weekend at the Nichols Open with a fourth place ending in the bracket. Salmen carded a 3-2 record in the tournament and lost a close 8-6 match in the bout for third place against Northern Iowa’s Cody Caldwell. Salmen is 7-4 this season for the Huskies.
Senior Luke Munkelwitz was another placewinner for the Huskies at the Nichols Open. At 197-pounds, Munkelwitz scored a third place ending that included a 5-3 win over Davion Willis of UW-Parkside in the consolation bracket finals. Munkelwitz was 4-1 in Open action and he now owns a 5-3 record this winter.
The Huskies will continue their 2011-12 season on Nov. 19 with a trip to the Finn Grineker Open in Moorhead, Minn.
Harold Nichols Cyclone Open Results/Brackets at trackwrestling.com