The St. Cloud State University wrestling rallied in the wrestlebacks to claim a second place finish at the 2017 NCAA Division II wrestling championships at the Crossplex in Birmingham, Ala. on March 10-11.
The Huskies earned their second place status with a total of 67.0 points, while Notre Dame (Ohio) won the team title with 103.5 points. California Baptist was third with 56.5 points and Nebraska-Kearney was fourth at 55.5.
SCSU athletes gained four All-America awards, which included three third-place finishes and a fourth place finish at 149-pounds.
This marked the second season that Velasquez has gained All-America honors for the Huskies and he finished his season with a 25-3 overall record and placed first in the 125-pound bracket at the 2017 NCAA Division II Super 3 Region tournament.
Freshman James Pleski completed his first trip to the NCAA finals with a fourth place finish at 149-pounds. In the consolation rounds on Mar. 11, Pleski opened his day with a 9-3 win over Tyler Stenberg of NSIC rival Northern State. In the consolation semi’s, Pleski added a 4-3 win over Mike Screptock of Tiffin.
In the match up for third place at 149, Pleski lost a 7-3 decision to Nic Goebel of Findlay. Pleski finished his year with a 28-10 record for SCSU.
Larry Bomstad added a second All-America award to his resume with a third place ending at 157-pounds for the Huskies. In the consolation bracket, Bomstad opened his day on Mar. 11 with a 1:41 pin against Eric Lewandowski of Gannon.
In the consolation semi’s at 157, Bomstad rolled with an 8-4 decision over Ryan Strope of McKendree. He then gain the third place designation with an injury default win against Cody Law of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Bomstad ended his season with a 24-4 record for the Huskies.
At 285-pounds, Austin Goergen placed third with a 5-1 record in tournament action. On Mar. 11, Goergen charted a 2:28 pin against Caleb Cotter of Central Oklahoma in his first match of the day. He followed that with a pin of Logan Hopp of Upper Iowa at :47 and then capped the day with a pin at 2:09 against Augustana’s Michael Lowman in the bout for third place.
Goergen ended his 2016-17 season with a 32-2 overall record that included a team-record 20 falls this year. In his career, he also set a team record with 71 falls.
The Huskies sent a total of nine wrestlers to the 2017 NCAA Division II championships this season. At 133-pounds, Mike Rhone posted a 0-2 record for the Huskies at the championships and ended his senior season with a 19-8 record. Rhone is a two-time NCAA qualifier.
At 141-pounds, Jarred Oftedahl was 0-2 in NCAA action and he completed his year with a 20-7 record. This was Oftedahl’s first trip to the NCAA finals. At 165-pounds, SCSU’s Gabe Fogarty was 1-2 in action at the NCAA tournament. He finished his season with a 23-10 overall record. A three-time All-American, Fogarty was making his fourth trip to the NCAA finals.
At 174-pounds, Clayton Jennissen made his third trip to the NCAA championships for the Huskies. He was 0-2 this season and he completed his season with a 27-10 overall record. The group was completed by Uthman Rabiu, who posted a 0-2 record at 184-pounds at the NCAA championships. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Rabiu was 17-8 in 2017.
This marked the ninth consecutive season that SCSU has placed among the nation’s top 10 teams at the NCAA championships and the third consecutive season that SCSU has placed among the nation’s top two teams.
In recent years SCSU has placed first in 2016 and 2015 and second in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2017 under the leadership of head coach Steve Costanzo.
2017 NCAA Division II Championships Results for St. Cloud State:
125 – Brett Velasquez (25-3) placed 3rd and scored 14.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 25-3 won by decision over Joshua Lindsey (Central Okla.) 24-9 (Dec 7-5)
Quarterfinal – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 25-3 won by major decision over Alan Diltz (Seton Hill) 22-8 (MD 12-3)
Semifinal – Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) 38-2 won by decision over Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 25-3 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Semi – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 25-3 won by decision over Trung Duong (Newberry) 24-5 (Dec 7-1)
3rd Place Match – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 25-3 won by major decision over Austin Petril (Kutztown) 23-9 (MD 12-2)
133 – Mike Rhone (19-8) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Carmine Ciotti (Gannon) 23-4 won by decision over Mike Rhone (St. Cloud St.) 19-8 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 – Paul Garcia (Colorado St.-Pueblo) 17-6 won by major decision over Mike Rhone (St. Cloud St.) 19-8 (MD 17-7)
141 – Jarred Oftedahl (20-7) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Bryce Killian (King (TN)) 9-7 won by major decision over Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 20-7 (MD 13-5)
Cons. Round 1 – Chris Eddins (Pitt.-Johnstown) 28-11 won by decision over Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 20-7 (Dec 5-0)
149 – James Pleski (28-10) placed 4th and scored 13.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 28-10 won by fall over Jacob Gerken (Colorado Mines) 22-9 (Fall 5:29)
Quarterfinal – Nic Goebel (Findlay) 23-1 won by decision over James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 28-10 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 2 – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 28-10 won by decision over Tyler Stenberg (Northern St.) 27-7 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 3 – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 28-10 won by decision over James Krischke (Maryville (MO)) 22-8 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 28-10 won by decision over Michael Screptock (Tiffin) 28-13 (Dec 8-2)
3rd Place Match – Nic Goebel (Findlay) 23-1 won by decision over James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 28-10 (Dec 7-3)
157 – Larry Bomstad (24-4) placed 3rd and scored 17.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 won by major decision over Zach Voytek (Seton Hill) 15-6 (MD 14-2)
Quarterfinal – Joey White (Findlay) 16-6 won by decision over Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 won by decision over Bryan Dutton (Central Okla.) 34-12 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 3 – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 won by fall over Eric Lewandowski (Gannon) 17-6 (Fall 1:41)
Cons. Semi – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 won by decision over Ryan Strope (McKendree) 41-9 (Dec 8-4)
3rd Place Match – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 won by medical forfeit over Cody Law (Pitt.-Johnstown) 30-2 (M. For.)
165 – Gabe Fogarty (23-10) place is unknown and scored 1.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Gabe Fogarty (St. Cloud St.) 23-10 won by decision over Kade Kitchens (Shorter) 22-10 (Dec 10-4)
Quarterfinal – Isaiah White (Notre Dame (OH)) 23-2 won by major decision over Gabe Fogarty (St. Cloud St.) 23-10 (MD 15-4)
Cons. Round 2 – Tyler Reinhart (Pitt.-Johnstown) 24-6 won by major decision over Gabe Fogarty (St. Cloud St.) 23-10 (MD 13-5)
174 – Clayton Jennissen (27-10) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Chance Helmick (Chadron State) 32-6 won by decision over Clayton Jennissen (St. Cloud St.) 27-10 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Huston Evans (Newberry) 21-9 won by decision over Clayton Jennissen (St. Cloud St.) 27-10 (Dec 13-11)
184 – Uthman Rabiu (17-8) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Garrett Lineberger (Notre Dame (OH)) 21-2 won by decision over Uthman Rabiu (St. Cloud St.) 17-8 (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 1 – Tyler Hughes (Lake Erie) 32-9 won by decision over Uthman Rabiu (St. Cloud St.) 17-8 (Dec 9-3)
285 – Austin Goergen (32-2) placed 3rd and scored 20.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Austin Goergen (St. Cloud St.) 32-2 won by injury default over Kevin Barrett (Neb.-Kearney) 32-8 (Inj. 3:00)
Quarterfinal – Garrett Gray (Tiffin) 39-2 won by decision over Austin Goergen (St. Cloud St.) 32-2 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Austin Goergen (St. Cloud St.) 32-2 won by decision over Christian Lance (Fort Hays St.) 44-10 (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 3 – Austin Goergen (St. Cloud St.) 32-2 won by fall over Caleb Cotter (Central Okla.) 33-5 (Fall 2:28)
Cons. Semi – Austin Goergen (St. Cloud St.) 32-2 won by fall over Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa ) 23-10 (Fall 0:47)
3rd Place Match – Austin Goergen (St. Cloud St.) 32-2 won by fall over Michael Lowman (Augustana (SD)) 29-11 (Fall 2:09)
Visit The Guillotine College Tournament Time Page for brackets, results, and live video links.