Dragons Host Comeback Thriller Wednesday Night
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team hosted the University of Mary Wednesday night in what would come down to the last match. The Marauders (4-3, 1-3 NSIC) edged out the Dragons (1-5, 0-2 NSIC), 24-19, in Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.
Tyler Steinwand (8-7) gave the Dragons an early lead in the 149-class by defeating Tanner Beaman. Scoring would not come fast in the first period but when it did, the points came quickly for Steinwand. Within the final 20 seconds of the first period, Steinwand was able to earn seven points on two takedowns and a near-fall. Another takedown in the second period and a reversal in the third period from the Dragon all but sealed his 12-3 major decision over Beaman and a 4-0 lead for the Dragons.
The Marauders were able to take the next two matches by a combined three points. Trent Sovde (8-6) was able to even the match victories up by defeating John Devito in the 174-class. Sovde opened the match with a takedown, 1 minute and 36 seconds in. The takedown would be the only points for the senior until the third period. Starting the period on the bottom, Sovde earned an escape point and followed it up with a takedown with 50 seconds to go. Sovde held his position for the rest of the time and finished with a 5-3 decision that gave the Dragons a 7-6 lead.
The Dragons dropped the next match between Kody Kalkbrenner (4-7) and Brady Anderson but rebounded by winning the next three. 197-pound Eric Lehmann (7-8) gave up an early takedown to Kriss McCleary but would not trail to the Marauder after a reversal with five seconds left in the first. An escape early in the third put Lehmann in great position as he finished up the match with an 8-5 decision.
Heavyweight Gerad Fugleberg (8-10) won the second of the three matches over Martin Patron. The two big men began the match evenly, taking two minutes for either to score the first points. Fugleberg would strike first in the form of a takedown, followed by an escape from Patron. With just one second left in the first period, Fugleberg again took Patron to the mat and finished the period with a 4-1 lead. The sophomore Dragon finished scoring in the second period with a near-fall to set a score of 6-1 that would end as a 6-2 decision in favor of Fugleberg.
Earning for the Dragons was the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the 125-class, Corey Ulmer (16-2). Ulmer proved his ranking by taking a short amount of time to pin Hunter Menendez. The redshirt senior was able to put Menendez on his back and pin him in 1 minute and 32 seconds to give the Dragons a 19-12 lead with two matches remaining.
Kyle Larson of Mary was able to pin junior Graelin Garlington (0-7) to bring the Dragons lead down to one, 19-18. The final match of the night featured the No. 4 ranked in the 141-class, Trevor Johnson, and the Dragons’ Connor MacGregor (3-12). Johnson was able to secure the Marauders24-19 victory on the night by pinning MacGregor with 43 seconds left in the first period.
The Dragons take the mat again at home on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. against the Beavers of Minot State.
Mary 24 MSU-Moorhead 21
149 Tyler Steinwand, MSM, pinned Tanner Beaman, MARY, 5:00
157 Collin Engelhardt, MARY, dec. OT Kerron Williams, MSM, 3-1
165 Taylor Nagel, MARY, dec. Jacob Bennett, MSM, 3-2
174 Trent Sovde, MSM, dec. John Devito, MARY, 5-3
184 Brady Anderson, MARY, pinned Kody Kalkbrenner, MSM, 0:33
197 Eric Lehmann, MSM, dec. Kriss McCleary, MARY, 8-5
285 Gerad Fugleberg, MSM, dec. Martin Patron, MARY, 6-2
125 Corey Ulmer, MSM, pinned Hunter Menendez, MARY, 1:31
133 Kyle Larson, MARY, pinned Graelin Garlington, MSM, 5:44
141 Trevor Johnson, MARY, pinned Connor MacGregor, MSM, 2:16