The #1 St. Cloud State University wrestling team (18-0, 6-0 NSIC) remained undefeated thanks to a 33-4 victory over #15/22 Upper Iowa University (7-6, 4-3 NSIC) on Thursday, Feb. 7 in Fayette, Iowa.
The victory helped the Huskies maintain a share of first place in the NSIC standings and it sets up a major showdown between the Huskies and Minnesota State, Mankato on Saturday, Feb. 9. The #10 Mavericks will also enter the match at Halenbeck Hall with a 6-0 record in NSIC competition in 2018-19. Action in St. Cloud will get underway at 2 p.m. on Feb. 9 and all youth up to grade 12 will be admitted to the match for just $1.00. Tickets for this NSIC dual will be available at the gate.
In the match at UIU, the Huskies set the tempo early and gained the upper hand by winning the first five matches of the dual against the Peacocks. The night began with a 12-4 major decision by SCSU’s #11 Devin FitzPatrick against UIU’s Cody Nelson at 165-pounds.
#2 Kolton Eischens continued the SCSU run with an 8-5 victory over UIU’s Jordan Gundrum at 174-pounds. #4 Chance Helmick then added an 8-2 victory over Upper Iowa’s #11 Dalton Hahn at 184. At 197-pounds, #1 Vince Dietz improved to 23-0 on the season with a thrilling 2-1 decision over UIU’s #10 Nick Baumler. To cap the opening run, Noah Ryan provided bonus points for the Huskies with a 12-3 major decision over UIU’s Bodie Garnier at 285.
The lone loss for the Huskies was suffered at 125-pounds as #2 Brett Velasquez lost a 14-6 major decision against UIU’s Maleek Williams.
The Huskies quickly got back into the win column at 133-pounds as #11 Garrett Vos charted a fall over UIU’s Jared Hensley at 5:52. The wins continued at 141-pounds with an 8-5 decision win by #7 Garrett Aldrich over UIU’s Ryan Schmalen. At 149-pounds, #2 James Pleski scored an 14-5 major decision over UIU’s Ryan Steffen and the night was capped by a 7-4 victory by #6 Jake Barzowski over Mac Spotts of UIU at 157-pounds.
The Huskies have now won 46 consecutive dual matches dating back to Jan. 14, 2017. The Huskies have also won 59 consecutive NSIC dual matches dating back to an 18-13 loss to Augustana on Jan. 27, 2011. Since that loss, SCSU has won seven consecutive NSIC titles in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
St. Cloud State 33 Upper Iowa 4
165: #11 Devin Fitzpatrick (SCS) over Cody Nelson (UPIO) (MD 12-4)
174: #2 Kolton Eischens (SCS) over Jordan Gundrum (UPIO) (Dec 8-5)
184: #4 Chance Helmick (SCS) over Dalton Hahn (UPIO) (Dec 8-2)
197: #1 Vince Dietz (SCS) over Nick Baumler (UPIO) (Dec 2-1)
285: Noah Ryan (SCS) over Bodie Garnier (UPIO) (MD 12-3)
125: Maleek Williams (UPIO) over #2 Brett Velasquez (SCS) (MD 14-6)
133: #11 Garrett Vos (SCS) over Jared Hensley (UPIO) (Fall 5:52)
141: #7 Garrett Aldrich (SCS) over Ryan Schmalen (UPIO) (Dec 8-5)
149: #2 James Pleski (SCS) over Ryan Steffen (UPIO) (MD 14-5)
157: #6 Jake Barzowski (SCS) over Mac Spotts (UPIO) (Dec 7-4)
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