Photo by Ryan Norenberg/SMSU Athletic Communications: Southwest Minnesota State University’s Elijah Sterner (left) wrestles with Briar Cliffe’s Erik Lessear’s during a wrestling dual at SMSU’s PE Gym in Marshall on Wednesday. Sterner defeated Lessear by 21-8 major decision as the Mustangs defeated the Chargers 28-16.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team defeated the Briar Cliff (Iowa) University Chargers on Wednesday evening by a final score of 28-16. The match was SMSU’s first dual of the year, bringing them to 1-0 on the season.

The dual began with a forfeit at 125 pounds by SMSU, resulting in a win for Dante Rigal.

The next bout was the 133-pound match between Chase Hanson and Dariuz Black.

Hanson quickly jumped for the advantage, scoring a takedown with 52 seconds remaining in the first period to take a 3-1 lead. Black began period two in the down position, allowing for an escape to knot the match up at 3-3 going into the final period. A clutch takedown with only 22 seconds remaining would seal the deal for Hanson, ending the match in a 6-4 decision.

141 pounds saw Dylan Louwagie move to an early 3-0 lead in the first period before nabbing a pin with just six seconds remaining in the first frame to give SMSU a 9-0 lead in the dual.

149 pounds featured Jake Messner for the Mustangs. Tyler Fuchs battled to move to a 4-1 lead after one period, before building on the lead through the next two frames to claim an 8-3 win via decision and cut the deficit to six points.

Sean Howk got the momentum going again for SMSU, defeating Bradon Harris at 157 pounds by an 8-2 decision to expand the lead back to 12-3.

Caden Young represented SMSU at 165 pounds versus Jackson Balmer. Young began the bout with a takedown to take a 3-1 lead before Balmer scored back-to-back takedowns to lead 7-4 with six seconds left in the first period. Balmer would pick up another pair of takedowns to hold a six-point lead into the final frame, and held the lead through the remainder of the match, picking up a 17-8 major decision win.

The Mustangs got back into stride starting at 174, with Elijah Sterner using a big first and second period to earn a 21-8 major decision victory and increase the lead back to nine points.

At 184, Adam Sylvester dominated for the Mustangs on his way to a pin in the first period to give SMSU a 22-7 lead

Kody Marschner kept the ball rolling with a pin of his own just 40 seconds into the 197-pound match. Marschner got Adras on his right hip and hooked and flipped Adras flat on his back for the pin.

At 285 pounds, Jackson Esping trailed after the first period to No. 9/11 (NAIA) Alton Allen. Allen used another takedown in the second period and a pair of escapes in the third period to claim an 8-1 victory.

The win marks the first time SMSU has won its first dual of the year since the 18-16 win over MSU Moorhead in the 2020-21 season.

“Tonight was phenomenal. The team wrestled with heart and continued to look to score in every position and every match,” said SMSU head coach Chayse Jackson. “Although we didn’t win every match, we proved that everyone in our lineup can score points and be dangerous. These guys left it all on the mat and put on a show in the home opener. I hope tonight creates excitement about our program and what we are doing here at SMSU. It’s the start we needed, but it is still just a start. A lot more wrestling to come!”

SMSU returns to the mat this Saturday with a dual versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at 7 p.m.

RESULTS

133 pounds: Chase Hanson (SMSU) over Dariuz Black (BCU) (Dec 6-4)

125 pounds: Dante Rigal (BCU) over (SMSU) (For.)