The St. Cloud State University wrestling team (19-0, 8-0 NSIC) completed a perfect season by capturing its third NCAA Division II national championship on Saturday, March 10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Huskies finished the two-day tournament at the U.S. Cellular Center with a team total of 92.5 points, which edged runner-up and defending national champ Notre Dame (Ohio), which had 84.0 points.
This marks SCSU’s third national title in the past four seasons as the Huskies also won NCAA DII titles in 2015 and 2016. SCSU has placed in first or second place six times since 2011.
At 125-pounds, Brett Velasquez finished his junior season with a 2-1 record on Saturday. He opened the day with a 4-0 win over Nick Daggett of UNC-Pembroke in the consolation bracket and then captured a 12-2 major decision victory over Carlos Jacquez of Lindenwood in the semi’s of the consolation bracket. In the bout for third place, Velasquez lost a tight 3-2 match against Ivan McLay of Notre Dame (OH).
In action at 141-pounds, Jarred Oftedahl opened his second day of action with a 7-0 loss to Chris Eddins of Pitt-Johnstown in the semi’s. In the consolation semifinals, Oftedahl added a 3:44 fall against Bryce Killian of King before losing a 10-3 decision against Drew Walker of Notre Dame (OH) in the match for third place.
At 149-pounds, James Pleski punched his ticket to the championship match with fall at 4:19 against Frank Yattoni of UW-Parkside. In the championship match, Pleski battled into overtime before losing to Daxton Gordon of California Baptist by a 5-1 margin. A two-time All-American, Pleski completed his 2017-18 season with a 29-2 overall record.
The Huskies added another pin in the semifinals at 157-pounds as Larry Bomstad charted an important fall over Fernie Silva of Notre Dame (OH) at 5:42. In the title bout, Bomstad lost a tough 6-3 match against Cody Law of Pitt-Johnstown. This marked Bomstad’s third All-American award and he completes his senior season at SCSU with a 29-5 overall record.
Kolton Eischens finished his first trip to the NCAA championships with a fall at 2:39 against Zach Johnston of Minnesota State in the consolation bracket at 174. He stayed alive in the next round with an 8-6 OT win over Brandon Supernaw of Western State before dropping a 10-1 decision against Bruno Nicolleti of Colorado Mesa in the bout for fifth place.
At 197-pounds, Dietz also gained entry to the title match with a pin against Evan Ramos of Shippensburg at 2:38. In the final bout at 197, Dietz lost a 5-1 decision against Luke Kramer of Ashland. On the season, Dietz was 34-3 on the way to his first All-America award.
CELEBRATE SCSU! #D2Wrestle Champions! @SCSUHUSKIES_WR captures 3rd NCAA title since 2015. #NSICWres #unleashSCSU #StCloudState #StCloudMN pic.twitter.com/neG4Rbkny6
— SCSU Wrestling (@SCSUHUSKIES_WR) March 11, 2018
WATCH NCAA REPLAY OF SATURDAY NIGHT MATCHES AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
2018 NCAA Division II National Championships Results
SCSU Results at the NCAA Division II Championships:
125-pounds – Brett Velasquez placed 4th
Champ. Round 1 – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 30-4 won by tech fall over Majid Corbit (Limestone) 13-10 (TF-1.5 6:25 (17-0))
Quarterfinal – Josh Portillo (Neb.-Kearney) 13-7 won by decision over Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 30-4 (Dec 9-5)
Cons. Round 2 – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 30-4 won by decision over Brandon Vu (San Francisco) 22-12 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 3 – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 30-4 won by decision over Nick Daggett (UNC Pembroke) 33-15 (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Semi – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 30-4 won by major decision over Carlos Jacquez (Lindenwood (MO)) 29-5 (MD 12-2)
3rd Place Match – Ivan McClay (Notre Dame (OH)) 32-7 won by decision over Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) 30-4 (Dec 3-2)
133 – Adam Hedin
Champ. Round 1 – Nathan Cervantez (San Francisco) 25-7 won by decision over Adam Hedin (St. Cloud St.) 19-9 (Dec 9-7)
Cons. Round 1 – Anthony Sparacio (LIU Post) 14-4 won by major decision over Adam Hedin (St. Cloud St.) 19-9 (MD 10-2)
141 – Jarred Oftedahl placed 4th
Champ. Round 1 – Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 30-5 won by decision over Tyler Warner (Wheeling Jesuit) 29-9 (Dec 3-1)
Quarterfinal – Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 30-5 won by decision over Nick Crume (UIndy) 22-6 (Dec 8-6)
Semifinal – Chris Eddins (Pitt.-Johnstown) 23-2 won by decision over Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 30-5 (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Semi – Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 30-5 won by fall over Bryce Killian (King (TN)) 14-6 (Fall 3:44)
3rd Place Match – Drew Walker (Notre Dame (OH)) 26-8 won by decision over Jarred Oftedahl (St. Cloud St.) 30-5 (Dec 10-3)
149 – James Pleski placed 2nd
Champ. Round 1 – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 29-1 won by decision over Tyler Makosy (UNC Pembroke) 31-16 (Dec 10-4)
Quarterfinal – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 29-1 won by decision over Efe Osaghae (Fort Hays St.) 31-14 (Dec 3-1)
Semifinal – James Pleski (St. Cloud St.) 29-1 won by fall over Frank Yattoni (Wis.-Parkside) 28-8 (Fall 4:19)
157 – Larry Bomstad placed 2nd
Champ. Round 1 – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 29-4 won by decision over Tyler Mies (Newman) 22-6 (Dec 7-6)
Quarterfinal – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 29-4 won by decision over Pernevlon Shepperd (Wis.-Parkside) 23-8 (Dec 9-5)
Semifinal – Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 29-4 won by fall over Fernie Silva (Notre Dame (OH)) 22-4 (Fall 5:42)
165 – Devin FitzPatrick
Champ. Round 1 – Devin Austin (Pitt.-Johnstown) 19-8 won by decision over Devin FitzPatrick (St. Cloud St.) 23-6 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 1 – Greg Hilliard (Belmont Abbey) 21-12 won by fall over Devin FitzPatrick (St. Cloud St.) 23-6 (Fall 1:28)
174 – Kolton Eischens placed 6th
Champ. Round 1 – Kolton Eischens (St. Cloud St.) 32-7 won by decision over Christian Price (Ashland) 27-11 (Dec 5-1)
Quarterfinal – Bruno Nicoletti (Colorado Mesa) 26-11 won by decision over Kolton Eischens (St. Cloud St.) 32-7 (Dec 10-4)
Cons. Round 2 – Kolton Eischens (St. Cloud St.) 32-7 won by decision over Dalton George (Ohio Valley) 14-5 (Dec 9-7)
Cons. Round 3 – Kolton Eischens (St. Cloud St.) 32-7 won by fall over Zach Johnston (Minnesota St.) 24-8 (Fall 2:39)
Cons. Semi – Brandon Supernaw (Western St.) 33-5 won in sudden victory – 1 over Kolton Eischens (St. Cloud St.) 32-7 (SV-1 8-6)
5th Place Match – Bruno Nicoletti (Colorado Mesa) 26-11 won by major decision over Kolton Eischens (St. Cloud St.) 32-7 (MD 10-1)
184 – Tyree Overton
Champ. Round 1 – Noel Torres (Newman) 39-4 won by decision over Tyree Overton (St. Cloud St.) 14-9 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 – Tyree Overton (St. Cloud St.) 14-9 won by fall over Brody Conner (UIndy) 27-14 (Fall 3:00)
Cons. Round 2 – Bradley Metz (Findlay) 33-7 won by decision over Tyree Overton (St. Cloud St.) 14-9 (Dec 1-0)
197 – Vince Dietz placed 2nd
Champ. Round 1 – Vince Dietz (St. Cloud St.) 34-2 won by decision over Logan Kemp (West Liberty) 19-13 (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal – Vince Dietz (St. Cloud St.) 34-2 won by major decision over Rakim Dean (Fort Hays St.) 33-12 (MD 13-1)
Semifinal – Vince Dietz (St. Cloud St.) 34-2 won by fall over Evan Ramos (Shippensburg) 29-3 (Fall 2:38)
285 – Lawrence Phillips
Champ. Round 1 – Mimmo Lytle (Findlay) 28-11 won by decision over Lawrence Phillips (St. Cloud St.) 30-7 (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 1 – Lawrence Phillips (St. Cloud St.) 30-7 won by decision over Ciaran Ball (Simon Fraser) 35-11 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Mitchell Eull (Minot St.) 32-6 won by decision over Lawrence Phillips (St. Cloud St.) 30-7 (Dec 2-0)
