LARAMIE, Wyo. – South Dakota State (8-7, 1-1 WWC) dropped its first Western Wrestling Conference dual of the year, as the Jacks fell 32-10 to #18 Wyoming (7-2, 3-0 WWC) in front of 741 fans at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
“We knew we were coming into a hostile environment and had to bring the fight,” head coach Chris Bono said. “We focused on each guy doing their job going into tonight, but let it get out of hand late.”
Following opening losses at 125 and 133, SDSU won three in a row to take a 10-7 lead, but would be held winless for the remainder of the dual.
Redshirt freshman Luke Zilverberg got SDSU on the board at 141 with a 7-5 decision over Cole Mendenhall. Zilverberg came out on the offensive and struck first with a takedown at 1:11. Zilverberg took a 5-1 advantage into the third with an escape and another takedown. Zilverberg and Mendenhall exchanged takedowns in the third for a 7-5 final.
Alex Kocer rode the momentum and worked his way to a 7-1 decision over Jake Elliot. Kocer picked up nearfall early in the second and added a reversal and two more back points in the third for the decision.
Following a scoreless first at 157, #7 Cody Pack imposed his will and dominated Archie Colgan in the final two periods.
Pack worked his way to a 12-2 major decision, picking up his first takedown at 1:41 in the second and added three more in the third, to go along with two nearfall.
The Pokes’ would win all five bouts following intermission, including three falls and a major to remain unbeaten in conference action.
SDSU returns to action for another WWC dual on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Air Force.
#18 Wyoming 32, South Dakota State 10
125: Tyler Cox (WYOM) over Isaac Andrade (SDS) (MD 8-0)
133: Drew Templeman (WYOM) over Brance Simms (SDS) (Dec 4-1)
141: Lucas Zilverberg (SDS) over Cole Mendenhall (WYOM) (Dec 7-5)
149: Alex Kocer (SDS) over Jake Elliott (WYOM) (Dec 7-1)
157: Cody Pack (SDS) over Archie Colgan (WYOM) (MD 12-2)
165: Dakota Friesth (WYOM) over John Nething II (SDS) (Fall 4:23)
174: Andy McCulley (WYOM) over David Kocer (SDS) (Dec 5-3)
184: Ben Stroh (WYOM) over Brady Ayers (SDS) (MD 14-3)
197: Shane Woods (WYOM) over Hunter Weddington (SDS) (Fall 1:50)
285: Tanner Harms (WYOM) over J.J. Everard (SDS) (Fall 2:18)