South Dakota State Jackrabbits

South Dakota State Schedule Finalized For 2022-23

The South Dakota State wrestling team will host eight home events, including duals against three programs that finished in the top 15 at last season’s NCAA Championships, during the upcoming 2022-23 season.

“This is one of the best home schedules we’ve ever had,” said SDSU head coach Damion Hahn, who is entering his fifth season with the Jackrabbits. “I’m really excited for the season and can’t wait to see our guys compete.”

The first two months of the season will consist of a mix of tournaments and dual meets, starting with a trip to the Bison Open in Fargo, North Dakota, on Nov. 12. The Jackrabbits are scheduled to host the Daktronics Open Nov. 20 before traveling to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 2-3) and the Soldier Salute tournament in Coralville, Iowa (Dec. 29-30) to close out the calendar year.

SDSU, 13-4 in duals a season ago with five returning NCAA qualifiers, kicks off the dual slate Nov. 18 versus Augustana. The Jackrabbits will then host a pair of regional Big Ten Conference opponents to wrap up the first half of the season, welcoming Minnesota to Frost Arena on Nov. 27 and Nebraska on Dec. 18. Nebraska finished fifth at the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, while Minnesota placed 11th.

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Berge earns silver at U20 World Championships

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Incoming South Dakota State wrestler Bennett Berge earned a silver medal in the 86-kilogram weight class Wednesday at the 2022 U20 World Championships.

A native of Mantorville, Minnesota, and a member of the Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Berge posted a 4-1 record over two days of competition. He won his first three matches all by technical fall Tuesday, outscoring his opponents by a 32-2 margin. In Tuesday night’s semifinals, Berge recorded a come-from-behind, 9-7 victory over Ismail Kucuksolak of Turkey.

In Wednesday’s championship bout against Rakhim Magamadov of France, Berge lost a 10-5 decision.

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Men’s freestyle ends U20 Worlds with four medals and second-place team finish

Kasson-Mantorville’s Bennett Berge earns a World Silver Medal

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Team USA wrapped up its men’s freestyle competition at the U20 World Championships with four medals and a second-place team finish on Wednesday in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Medalists for the Red, White and Blue were champions Jore Volk (57 kg) and Ben Kueter (97 kg) and silver medalists Mitchell Mesenbrink (70 kg) and Bennett Berge (86 kg).

The U.S. scored 132 team points behind team champions Iran with 159 points. India finished third with 112 points.

Tonight, Team USA fell in all three of its medal matches today.

In an impressive international debut, Bennett Berge earned a silver medal at 86 kg, falling to 2021 U20 World silver medalist Rakhim Magamadov from France. The American led 4-1 at the break, but Magamadov put together a strong comeback bid, which included a four-point takedown near the edge for an eventual 10-5 win over Berge. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Berge rallies from five-point deficit to earn spot in U20 World Finals

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Bennett Berge put together a big comeback win in the semifinals of the 2022 U20 World Championships and will wrestle for gold on Wednesday in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Tomorrow’s medal matches begin at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. U.S. ET) live on FloWrestling. Continue reading at teamusa.org →

Berge heads off to U20 World Championships

Incoming South Dakota State wrestler Bennett Berge will compete next week in the 2022 U20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

A native of Mantorville, Minnesota, Berge is entered in the 86-kilogram weight class of the men’s freestyle division. The competition gets underway Tuesday morning (Aug. 16) with qualification rounds, followed by semifinal matches later that afternoon. The championship bout is set for the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Video coverage of the U20 World Championships is available through FloWrestling.org (subscription required).

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Bennett Berge Set to Compete at U20 World Championships

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Bennett Berge doesn’t spend much time away from the mat.

“Right when schools over I got out here and started training. Right after world team titles it was another two weeks off the mat,” Bennett Berge said.

That two weeks enough time for him to refocus.

“Reset then got focused again to go get ready and win a world title,” Berge said. View/continue reading at kttc.com →

Sloan Qualifies For Second World Team

Bennett Berge wins U20 86kg World Team spot

GENEVA, Ohio — South Dakota State wrestler Tanner Sloan earned a spot on the U.S. World Team by winning the 97-kilogram title in the senior freestyle division and incoming Jackrabbit Bennett Berge claimed the 86-kilogram championship in the under-20 class during weekend competition at the UWW World Team Trials.

A native of Alburnett, Iowa, Sloan advanced to the championship round by winning his first three matches by a combined 37-4, including shutouts of Matt Micale, Pennsylvania, in the quarterfinals, 13-0, and Tyler Bagody of the Clarion Regional Training Center in the semifinals, 10-0.

That set up a best-of-three series with Nick Stemmet of the California RTC and Stanford. Wrestling as a member of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club, Sloan punched his ticket by winning by scores of 10-0 and 10-3.

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