ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team concluded its season on Sunday competing in the NCAA Super Region Three Tournament hosted by St. Cloud State University. SMSU finished 12th out of 12 teams finishing with 44 team points while host St. Cloud State earned 164 points to earn the region championship for the second straight season.
The season will continue for SMSU’s Justin Reinsma, who finished in fourth-place at 133 pounds, qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Reinsma earned a bye in the first round this afternoon before earning a 9-3 decision over Ethan Harris (Indianapolis) in a quarterfinal match.
Reinsma then matched up against Upper Iowa’s Trevor Franklin, who went on to win the region championship at 133 pounds, and lost a 9-1 major decision. The sophomore rebounded with an 8-7 decision over Terrel McKinney (Maryville University) before dropping the third-place match in a 15-6 major decision to Andy Pokorny (St. Cloud State). The trip to the national tournament will be first for Reinsma.
Jacob Begin, who had won 13 consecutive matches heading into the regional tournament, went 0-2 on the day dropping a 7-4 decision to Matt Morris (Augustana) and a 9-6 decision to Taylor Nagel (U-Mary).
Senior heavyweight Brian Rodas picked up a fifth-place finish at the regional tournament. Rodas was pinned in his quarterfinal match at 4:05 by SCSU’s Jake Kahnke. Rodas turned around and pinned Evan Wooding (Indianapolis) just 21 seconds in to the consolation bout. The senior then avenged a regular-season loss to Nate Haynes of Minnesota State earning a 10-4 decision.
Rodas had a chance to advance to the NCAA Championships but lost a 14-2 major decision to Zach Rosol (Upper Iowa) before defeating U-Mary’s Martin Patron in an 8-6 decision in the fifth-place match.
Senior Martin Hagen finished in sixth-place at 197 pounds going 1-3 on the day. After a first-round bye, Hagen pinned Steven Cooksley (Newman University) in 24 seconds. Hagen was pinned in the semifinals before dropping two straight decisions and landing in sixth place.
Upper Iowa finished second at the Regional tournament with 155.5 team points while Augustana placed third with 129.5 points and Wisconsin-Parkside finished fourth with 110.5 points.
Reinsma will compete at the NCAA Championships on March 9-10 in Pueblo, Colo. The championships will be hosted by Colorado State University-Pueblo.