Mavericks Place Eighth at NCAA Regional; Mason Advances to Nationals

Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State wrestling team qualified one individual to the NCAA Division II National Championships as the Mavericks finished in eighth place in the team standings at the 2023 NCAA Division II Super Region V Tournament held in Aberdeen, S.D. today.

Earning a trip to the national meet today was returning national champion Darrell Mason.

Mason, rated 11th in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll coming into today, is now 12-3 for the season, going 3-0 today. The senior from Chicago, Ill., started the day with a bye, followed by a 3-0 decision win over UW-Parkside’s Lloyd Reynolds. Mason battled in the semifinals to come out with a sudden victory win of 5-1 against Andre Baguma of MSU Moorhead. To claim the regional championship, Mason got a 1-0 decision win over UMary’s Luke Tweeton.

Senior Brock Luthens placed fifth at 141 pounds, freshman Caleb Meunier placed fourth at 149 pounds, and freshman Kole Marko finished fourth at 165 pounds.

As a team, Minnesota State finished the tournament with 50.5 points, finishing eighth. No. 3-rated St. Cloud totaled 130.5 points finishing on top in the team race across the ten teams competing.

The Mavericks will be in action once more at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 10-11.

NCAA Division II Super Region 5 Qualifier Results

Minnesota State Individual Results:

Isaiah Mlsna (133)
Champ. Round 1 – Isaiah Mlsna (Minnesota State) 12-13 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Reece Barnhardt (Mary) 28-6 won by major decision over Isaiah Mlsna (Minnesota State) 12-13 (MD 13-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Isaiah Mlsna (Minnesota State) 12-13 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Troy Dolphin (Wisconsin-Parkside) 12-5 won by fall over Isaiah Mlsna (Minnesota State) 12-13 (Fall 1:56)

#12 Brock Luthens (141) – 5th Place
Champ. Round 1 – Brock Luthens (Minnesota State) 22-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Brock Luthens (Minnesota State) 22-8 won by decision over Laken Boese (Mary) 17-15 (Dec 6-4)
Semifinal – Cayden Henschel (Wisconsin-Parkside) 25-3 won by decision over Brock Luthens (Minnesota State) 22-8 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Semi – Alyeus Craig (St. Cloud State) 24-5 won by decision over Brock Luthens (Minnesota State) 22-8 (Dec 5-2)
5th Place Match – Brock Luthens (Minnesota State) 22-8 won by medical forfeit over Laken Boese (Mary) 17-15 (M. For.)

Caleb Meunier (149) – 4th Place
Champ. Round 1 – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 won by fall over Gunnar Mogen (Minnesota State Moorhead) 18-12 (Fall 5:37)
Quarterfinal – Jalen Spuhler (Wisconsin-Parkside) 27-7 won by decision over Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 won by decision over Ethen Doty (Upper Iowa) 13-15 (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Semi – Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 won by fall over Connor Simmonds (Augustana (SD)) 14-11 (Fall 1:50)
3rd Place Match – Wyatt Turnquist (Northern State) 3-1 won by decision over Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 (Dec 4-3)

Drake Hayward (157)
Champ. Round 1 – Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) 26-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Miles Fitzgerald (Augustana (SD)) 19-14 won by decision over Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) 26-9 (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Sean Howk (Southwest Minnesota State) 15-13 won in tie breaker – 1 over Drake Hayward (Minnesota State) 26-9 (TB-1 4-2)

Kole Marko (165) – 4th Place
Champ. Round 1 – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) 29-7 won by fall over Lucas Hodges (Southwest Minnesota State) 10-14 (Fall 4:48)
Quarterfinal – Tyler Wagener (Augustana (SD)) 2-2 won by decision over Kole Marko (Minnesota State) 29-7 (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) 29-7 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) 29-7 won by decision over Brendan Barnes (Minot State (N.D.)) 1-2 (Dec 7-4)
Cons. Semi – Kole Marko (Minnesota State) 29-7 won in sudden victory – 1 over Riley Noble (Mary) 15-15 (SV-1 3-1)
3rd Place Match – Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) 28-3 won by decision over Kole Marko (Minnesota State) 29-7 (Dec 5-2)

Mike Smith (174)
Champ. Round 1 – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) 25-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Kolby Kost (Augustana (SD)) 18-7 won by fall over Michael Smith (Minnesota State) 25-11 (Fall 6:14)
Cons. Round 2 – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) 25-11 won by decision over Kelby Hawkins (Northern State) 0-2 (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 3 – Cannon Potts (Minot State (N.D.)) 2-1 won by decision over Michael Smith (Minnesota State) 25-11 (Dec 7-4)

Brody Nielsen (184)
Champ. Round 1 – Bryce Fitzpatrick (St. Cloud State) 10-7 won by fall over Brody Nielsen (Minnesota State) 7-3 (Fall 2:18)
Cons. Round 1 – Brody Nielsen (Minnesota State) 7-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Wyatt Lidberg (Mary) 26-8 won by major decision over Brody Nielsen (Minnesota State) 7-3 (MD 18-5)

Max Villnow (197)
Champ. Round 1 – Max Villnow (Minnesota State) 5-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud State) 25-3 won by decision over Max Villnow (Minnesota State) 5-6 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Max Villnow (Minnesota State) 5-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Max Ramberg (Augustana (SD)) 21-11 won by fall over Max Villnow (Minnesota State) 5-6 (Fall 5:00)

#11 Darrell Mason (285) – 1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) 3-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) 3-0 won by decision over Lloyd Reynolds (Wisconsin-Parkside) 24-9 (Dec 3-0)
Semifinal – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) 3-0 won in sudden victory – 1 over Andre Baguma (Minnesota State Moorhead) 9-7 (SV-1 5-1)
1st Place Match – Darrell Mason (Minnesota State) 3-0 won by decision over Luke Tweeton (Mary) 23-11 (Dec 1-0)

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