South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Berge Joins Jackrabbits Coaching Staff

Two-time NCAA qualifier Brady Berge will join the South Dakota State wrestling coaching staff as a volunteer assistant, head coach Damion Hahn announced Saturday.

“We are ecstatic to announce the addition of Brady Berge to our coaching staff,” Hahn said. “Brady brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having competed on some of the biggest stages. His wrestling mind and strong work ethic will most definitely elevate our program.”

A native of Mantorville, Minnesota, Berge competed at Penn State for four seasons, 2017-18 through 2020-21, compiling a 31-9 career record. He wrestled at 149 pounds for the Nittany Lions during the 2018-19 season, earning his first trip to the NCAA Championships and finishing with a 20-5 overall record.

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Hahn signs new five-year contract

South Dakota State University Director of Athletics Justin Sell announced Thursday that head wrestling coach Damion Hahn has signed a new five-year contract that will run through the 2025-26 season.

“Damion has our wrestling program poised to accomplish great things in the years ahead,” Sell said. “He not only is a tremendous teacher of the sport, but he has shown an unwavering commitment to providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes.”

Hahn has coached the Jackrabbits for three seasons, leading SDSU to a 20-22 dual record and mentoring 10 NCAA qualifiers, including 2021 All-American Clay Carlson. SDSU has placed as high as fourth in the Big 12 Conference tournament standings during Hahn’s tenure.

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Devos Dominates at Junior Pan Am Qualifier

OAXTEPEC, Mexico – South Dakota State University wrestler Cade DeVos won gold in the 74-kilogram weight class of the junior men’s freestyle division at the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships over the weekend.

DeVos, who will return to the Jackrabbit wrestling program for his sophomore season this fall, won all four of his matches by double-digit margins. He opened with a 16-5 victory over Wilfredo Lopez of Panama, followed by 12-2 quarterfinal victory against Orislandy Perdomo Brooks of Cuba. In both his semifinal win over Guatemala’s Malhcon Pineda Cunil and Patrik Leder of Canada, DeVos posted 12-1 victories.

The Junior Pan Am Championships serve as a qualifier for the Junior Pan American Games. The top eight wrestlers in each of the six Olympic weights earn bids to the Junior Pan Am Games in Cali, Colombia, in December.

Carlson Fares Well at U23 Nationals

LINCOLN, Neb. – For the second time in three months, South Dakota State’s Clay Carlson earned All-America honors at a major wrestling competition. This past weekend, Carlson recorded a fourth-place finish in the 65-kilogram weight class of the freestyle division at the 2021 UWW U23 Nationals.

A native of Willmar, Minnesota, Carlson posted a 7-2 record as a member of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club. He opened with a 10-2 (VPO-1) victory over Chris Sandoval of the Northern Colorado Wrestling Club, followed by a 5-4 (VFA 1:54) win against Timothy Levine of the New England Regional Training Center.

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2021 NWCA Division I Scholar All-America Awards

Manheim, PA – On Thursday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the 2021 Scholar All-American Team and Individual honorees for NCAA Division I with awards going to 191 individuals representing 59 institutions.

“It’s my honor on behalf of the NWCA and our Board of Directors to recognize this outstanding list of team and individual award winners,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “These athletes had to navigate a season full of unknowns and the fact they were able to continue to excel in the classroom is a testament to the attack mentality that wrestlers bring to every aspect of their lives.”

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