PUEBLO, Colo. – The top-ranked St. Cloud State University wrestling team ended the first day of competition at the NCAA Chapionships in second place overall as a team with 41 total points from seven Husky wrestlers scoring in the tournament.
The University of Nebraska-Kearney leads the championships with 56.5 points after the first day of the tournament, while the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is in third place with 34 points.
Junior heavyweight Jake Kahnke (Shakopee) won both of his matches Friday to improve to 35-2 overall this season and will move on to wrestle James Malechek 35-14 out of Wisconsin-Parkside to get to the national championship match Saturday night.
Senior Derek Skala (Owatonna) also won both of his matches at 184 pounds Friday and is now 29-4 this season. He will now take on Ross Brunkhardt out of the UNK in a crucial match for team points and to get to the national championship round.
Junior Andy Pokorny (Bennington, Neb.) was the third Husky to win both of his matches and will wrestle Augustana College’s Jason Jeremiason in the 133-pound division to get into the national championship match. Pokorny is now 29-11 overall this season for the Huskies.
Saturday morning’s semifinal and consolation matches will begin at 11 a.m. (Central Time).
The Championship matches will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening after all other competition is finished.
Division II Brackets/Results on trackwrestling.com
NCAA Division II National Championships Results for St. Cloud State
133 – Andrew Pokorny
Champ. Round 1 – Andrew Pokorny (St. Cloud State) 21-6 won by decision over Jesse Hillhouse (Colorado State University – Pueblo) 32-8 (Dec 11-5)
Quarterfinal – Andrew Pokorny (St. Cloud State) 21-6 won by pin over Michael Magaha (Limestone) 17-7 (Pin 6:22)
149 – Jacob Horn
Champ. Round 1 – Marc Hoff (Ashland) 19-6 won by decision over Jacob Horn (St. Cloud State) 18-9 (Dec 8-3)
Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Horn (St. Cloud State) 18-9 won by decision over Kenny Stank (Shippensburg) 12-13 (Dec 3-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Josh Hensley (Adams State) 20-10 won by decision over Jacob Horn (St. Cloud State) 18-9 (Dec 12-10)
165 – Tad Merritt
Champ. Round 1 – Tad Merritt (St. Cloud State) 35-3 won by decision over Robert Blotzer (Gannon) 7-11 (Dec 7-2)
Quarterfinal – Joey Wilson (Nebraska-Kearney) 28-8 won by decision over Tad Merritt (St. Cloud State) 35-3 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Tad Merritt (St. Cloud State) 35-3 won in overtime over Isaiah Jimenez (San Francisco State) 24-10 (OT 2-1)
174 – Shamus O`Grady
Champ. Round 1 – Shamus O`Grady (St. Cloud State) 14-2 won by decision over Jacob Cramer (Tiffin University) 22-8 (Dec 6-4)
Quarterfinal – Victor Carazo (Grand Canyon) 27-1 won by decision over Shamus O`Grady (St. Cloud State) 14-2 (Dec 8-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Shamus O`Grady (St. Cloud State) 14-2 won by major decision over Brendan McKeown (East Stroudsburg) 12-8 (Maj 11-2)
184 – Derek Skala
Champ. Round 1 – Derek Skala (St. Cloud State) 29-3 won by decision over Walker Clarke (Fort Hays State) 19-5 (Dec 7-5)
Quarterfinal – Derek Skala (St. Cloud State) 29-3 won by decision over Dallas Smith (Ouachita Baptist University) 32-9 (Dec 4-1)
197 – Lucas Munkelwitz
Champ. Round 1 – Lucas Munkelwitz (St. Cloud State) 27-6 won by decision over Zach Anderson (Newberry) 29-10 (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinal – Daniel Scanlan (Limestone) 21-0 won by decision over Lucas Munkelwitz (St. Cloud State) 27-6 (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Lucas Munkelwitz (St. Cloud State) 27-6 won by decision over Jarrett Edison (Central Oklahoma) 31-12 (Dec 4-3)
285 – Jake Kahnke
Champ. Round 1 – Jake Kahnke (St. Cloud State) 35-2 won by decision over Andrew Tumlin (Findlay) 23-13 (Dec 8-5)
Quarterfinal – Jake Kahnke (St. Cloud State) 35-2 won by decision over Jake Elkins (Newberry) 25-6 (Dec 6-4)
1. Nebraska-Kearney 56.5
2. St. Cloud State 41.0
3. Wisconsin-Parkside 34.0
4. Grand Canyon 31.5
5. Central Oklahoma 30.5
6. Augustana (SD) 30.0
7. Findlay 30.0
8. Newberry 29.0
9. Ashland 27.0
10. Upper Iowa 25.5