Mavericks Upset #24 Peacocks 25-13
MANKATO, Minn- The Minnesota State Maverick Wrestling Team (7-3, 4-0 NSIC) stayed unbeaten in conference match-ups Thursday night while delivering Upper Iowa (9-3, 5-1 NSIC) their first conference loss. Minnesota State won six matches and defeated the Peacocks 25-13.
The Mavericks were quick to start in the dual. Andrew McFall (R-Fr., 125 lbs.) was wrestling in just his second match of the year for Minnesota State when he scored a takedown late in the first period. McFall never trailed during the match and posted an 11-5 decision after scoring six points in the third period. Paul Selman (So., 133 lbs.) added a bonus point victory to put the Mavericks up 7-0 after two matches. Selman surrendered the first points of the match but was able to regain control and wrestle confidently to win by a 16-4 major decision.
At the 141 pound weight class, riding time was the deciding factor as Louie Sanders (R-Fr., 141 lbs.) dropped a narrow 8-7 decision. The 149 match pitted Daniel Close (So. 149 lbs.) against #11 ranked Damian Penichet. Close kept the match within reach and was aggressive well into the third period. Penichet came away with a 5-1 decision.
Holding a slight 7-6 advantage in the dual, Dylan Herman (Jr., 157 lbs.) gave the Mavericks some separation with a fall in 5:30. Herman was trailing 6-2 in his match when he was able to secure the pinfall in the third period, taking the Maverick lead to 13-6. Max Bullock (Sr., 165 lbs.) lost by major decision to #10 ranked Colbey Vance with the Mavericks and Peacocks splitting victories in the first six matches of the dual.
Minnesota State would go on to win three of the next four to defeat Upper Iowa. #3 ranked Adam Cooling (Sr., 174 lbs.) won his 25th match of the year against Dalton Westerlund. Cooling was patient throughout the match and scored two takedowns in the final thirty seconds to win by an 8-2 decision. Corey Abernathy (Jr., 184 lbs.) scored all of his points in the second period where an escape and takedown would prove to be the difference in his 3-0 decision.
Matthew Blome (Fr., 184 lbs.) wrestled up a weight class to face Upper Iowa’s Ryan Parmely. Blome took a 6-2 advantage into the second period where he was caught in a very dangerous scramble. Blome fought off of his back to catch Parmley for a pin in 3:29 taking the team score to 25-10 and putting the match out of reach for Upper Iowa. At the 285 pound weight class Chris Zimmer (Jr., 285 lbs.) wrestled #5 Logan Hopp closely, losing by decision.
With the victory the Mavericks have now won four straight dual meets and improved to 4-0 in the NSIC, unbeaten at Taylor Center this season. They will next wrestle Southwest Minnesota State at Taylor Center on Thursday February 2 before traveling to St. Cloud to take on the #1 Huskies Saturday February 4.
Minnesota State 25 Upper Iowa 13
125 Andrew McFall (MSU) dec. Maleek Williams 11-5
133 Paul Selman (MSU) major Josh Walker 16-4
141 Jordan Roth (Upper Iowa) dec. Louie Sanders 8-7
149 Damian Penichet (Upper Iowa) dec. Daniel Close 5-1
157 Dylan Herman (MSU) fall. Zak Benitz 5:30
165 Colbey Vance (Upper Iowa) major. Max Bullock 14-1
174 Adam Cooling (MSU) dec. Dalton Westerlund 8-2
184 Corey Abernathy (MSU) dec. Nick Baumler 3-0
197 Matthew Blome (MSU) fall. Ryan Parmely 3:29
285 Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa) dec. Chris Zimmer 11-6