Connell’s Win Helps Dragon Wrestlers Edge Minot State, 18-17
MINOT, N.D. — A victory by sophomore Dylan Connell at 149 pounds clinched an 18-17 win for the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team over Minot State Thursday night in Minot, N.D.
MSUM improved to 6-9 and 3-5 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while Minot State fell to 4-15 overall and 0-7 in the league.
The dual started at 157, meaning Connell’s match was the final one of the dual. He battled Cody Haugen to a 0-0 tie through two periods but scored an escape to take a 1-0 lead. With riding time Connell earned a 2-0 win, helping MSUM erase a 17-15 deficit.
Minot won by tech fall at 165 to take a 5-3 lead but sophomore Adam Blees prevailed by a 3-2 decision at 174 to give MSUM a 6-5 lead. Blees beat Carlos Toledano to improve to 15-9 on the year.
The Beavers won the next two matches by decision to take an 11-6 lead. Senior Nader Abdullatif turned the momentum back to the Dragons with a 4-2 win over Jacob Belland at 285 to make it 11-9.
The Dragons lost at 125 to see the deficit grow to 14-9. That is when senior Blake Bosch — ranked No. 2 in the nation at 133 — scored a win by fall over Dean Arevalo to push the Dragons in front 15-14.
Minot State won at 141 to take a 17-15 lead, setting help Connell’s heroics at 149.
MSUM will host the Super Region 3 tournament on Feb. 24-25 at Nemzek Fieldhouse.
Dual started at 157:
MSU-Moorhead 18, Minot State 17
157-Isaac Novacek (MSUM) dec. Shane Sheppard, 5-3 (OT)
165-Parker Osterman (Minot) tech. fall Brayden Kuntz, 16-1
174-Adam Blees (MSUM) dec. Carlos Toledano, 3-2
184-Keegan Berry (Minot) dec. Logan Rhode, 7-2
197-Briley Crissler (Minot) dec. Cody Anderson, 6-1
285-Nader Abdullatif (MSUM) dec. Jacob Belland, 4-2
125-Michael Rangel (Minot) dec. Jared Goldsmith, 5-3
133-Blake Bosch (MSUM) pinned Dean Arevalo, 1:43
141-Jered Sublet (Minot) dec. Kristian Vazquez, 8-4
149-Dylan Connell (MSUM) dec. Cody Haugen, 2-0