CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – South Dakota State wrestlers Bennett Berge and Bowen McConville each recorded second-place finishes to lead a small contingent of Jackrabbits during competition Saturday at the UNI Open.
A freshman from Mantorville, Minnesota, Berge posted a 3-1 record in round-robin competition in the 184-pound weight class. He opened the day with a 7-2 decision over Minnesota’s Sam Skillings, followed by a 5-4 victory over Colton Hawks of Missouri. After dropping a 3-2 decision to another Missouri wrestler, Clayton Whiting, Berge closed the day by winning a 6-4 decision against Fernando Villaescusa of Iowa State.
McConville, a senior from Renton, Washington, reached the finals of the heavyweight division at the UNI Open for the second year in a row. After receiving a first-round bye, McConville claimed a 4-1 decision over Eric Boersma of Missouri in quarterfinal action. He advanced to the finals with a 6-0 decision against Iowa’s Easton Fleshman, but was upended by major decision, 11-0, by Missouri’s Seth Nitzel in the championship bout.
Freshman and Brookings native Luke Rasmussen placed fourth at heavyweight after turning in a 2-2 record on the day.
Alek Martin (149 pounds) and Brock Fettig (174 pounds) also competed for the Jackrabbits, but did not place.
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The 19th-ranked Jackrabbits return to dual competition Dec. 18 by hosting No. 16 Nebraska in a matchup between the squads that placed third and first, respectively, at last week’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Start time for the Sunday matinee is 2 p.m. at Frost Arena.
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