WORTHINGTON, Minn. – Three South Dakota State wrestlers claimed titles and two others posted top-three finishes during competition Saturday at the Worthington Open.
Josh Portillo at 125 pounds and 165-pounder Kasey Klapprodt each won their second consecutive tournaments after winning or sharing titles the previous week at the Ridgewater Open in Willmar, Minnesota.
Portillo, a freshman from Clarion, Iowa, cruised into the 125-pound finals after pinning Esteban Teigen of Rochester Community and Technical College in his first match, followed by a 19-3 technical fall over Brian Maas of Iowa Lakes Community College. In the championship match, Portillo recorded an 8-3 decision over St. Cloud State’s Jordan Aquino.
Fellow 165-pounder Garrett Jordan took third for the Jackrabbits. A freshman from St. Paris, Ohio, Jordan lost by fall to Vogel, but came back with a pin of Daniel in the third-place match.
Also coming home victorious for the Jackrabbits was 184-pounder Brady Ayers. A senior from Waterville, Minnesota, Ayers claimed a 15-2 major decision over Caleb Deemer of Morningside in the quarterfinals, followed by a first-period pin over Chance Yanzick of Iowa Lakes. In the championship match, Ayers notched an 8-3 decision over Minnesota’s Dylan Anders.
Heavyweight Blake Wolters also advanced to the championship match in his weight class, falling in a 4-2 decision to Iowa Central’s Thomas Peterson. Wolters won his first match of the day by fall, then outscored his next two opponents by a combined 18-2 to advance to the finals.
Other placewinners for the Jackrabbits included Michael Prieto, fifth at 141 pounds; Justin Portillo, sixth at 125 pounds; Nolan Funk, sixth at 197 pounds, and Colten Carlson, eighth in the 157-pound weight class. SDSU’s 10 wrestlers in the tournament combined for a 34-9 record.