Completed Event: Wrestling versus NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships - Day 2 on March 20, 2026 ,
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FINAL
Wrestling
vs NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships - Day 2
South Dakota State University Athletics
Wrestlers host No. 12 Nebraska on Saturday
12/9/2009 5:00:00 PM | Wrestling
BROOKINGS, S.D. — The South Dakota State wrestling team opens its home dual schedule against the 12th-ranked University of Nebraska on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Swiftel Center.
The Jackrabbits (1-5), who have seven underclassmen in the probable line-up, have their hands full with another ranked opponent — their third of the season. The Cornhuskers (4-1) have four individuals ranked in the top-7, including three in the top-3, by Intermat.
The 197-pound match features a pair of ranked wrestlers in South Dakota State's Tyler Sorenson (No. 9) and Nebraska's Craig Brester (No. 2). Sorenson has a 17-2 record (5-1 duals) on the season, while Brester is 11-0 (5-0 duals).
Aaron Pickrel (125 pounds) is tied with Sorenson for the team-lead in wins (17-6, 4-2 duals).
Nebraska won last season's dual 43-3 in Lincoln, Neb. Weston Blasius, who is in the probable lineup for Saturday, got the lone win for the Jacks, posting a 4-3 decision over Paul Sanders in the 157-pound match.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. NO. 12 NEBRASKA
125: Aaron Pickrel, RFr., Watertown S.D. vs. David Klingsheim, Fr., Bentwood, Calif.
133: Tyler Johnson, Fr., Canton, S.D. vs. C.J. Napier, Fr., Columbus, Kan.
141: Dustin Walraven, So., Huron, S.D. vs. Mike Koehnlein, Jr., West Minster, Calif.
149: Nick Hagar, Fr., Tomahawk, Wis. vs. Chris Hacker, RFr. El Reno, Okla.
157: Weston Blasius, Sr., Kimball, S.D. or Nick Flynn, So., Lansing, Kan. vs. No. 1 Jordan Burroughs, Sr., Sicklerville, N.J.
165: OPEN vs. James Nakashima, Jr., Dwight, Ill. or Tyler Koehn, RFr., Pittsburg, Kan.
174: Joe Rasmussen, Fr., Ankeny, Iowa vs. No. 3 Stephen Dwyer, Sr., Rockton, Ill.
184: David Michaud, So., Pine Ridge, S.D. vs. Josh Ihnen, RFr., Sheldon, Iowa
197: No. 8 Tyler Sorenson, Sr., Garretson, S.D. vs. No. 2 Craig Brester, Sr., Howells, Neb.
HWT: Jeremy Swier, Sr., Colton, S.D. vs. No. 7 Tucker Lane, So., Redvale, Colo.
SERIES: SDSU leads Nebraska 17-14-2 in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1949-50 season — a 30-0 win for the Cornhuskers. Through the first six years, Nebraska opened up a 5-1 lead in the series, before SDSU came storming back. The Jacks won or tied the next six matches to even the series at 5-5-2. Following a Nebraska win during the 1963-64 season, SDSU rattled off back-to-back wins over the next two years to take its first lead, 7-6-2. Nebraska evened things up at 7-7-2 with a win in 1966-67, but the Jacks proceeded to win nine consecutive duals between 1967-68 and 1977-78 to open up a 16-7-2 margin. Nebraska has won seven of the last eight, including six straight, to tighten things up. SDSU's last win was a 28-14 triumph during the 1979-80 season. Since SDSU's move to NCAA Division I in 2004-05, Nebraska has won all three matches — 32-9 in 2006-07, 37-12 in 2007-08 and 43-3 in 2008-09.
WHAT'S NEXT: The SDSU wrestling squad heads to the Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev., on Dec. 20. The Jacks then have a month off before opening Western Wrestling Conference action at Northern Iowa on Jan. 23
SORENSON RANKED: Senior Tyler Sorenson (Garretson, S.D.) dropped to No. 9 in the latest Intermat rankings. Last week, he held the No. 8 spot, the highest ever by a Jackrabbit in the school's Division I-era.
On the season, Sorenson has a 17-2 record (5-1 duals). He won his weight class at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open in Brookings on Nov. 7, and was the Elite Division champion at 197 pounds at the Kaufman/Brand Open (Nebraska-Omaha) in Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 21. He also took second at the Harold Nichols Open (Iowa State) in Ames, Iowa, on Nov. 14.
His only two losses on the season came at the hands of top-ranked Jake Varner, the defening national champion from Iowa State.
Last season, Sorenson became just the second SDSU wrestler to qualify for the national tournament in the Division I-era.
HOOSIER DUALS (INDIANA): SDSU went 1-4 at the Hoosier Duals on Nov. 28, picking up a 30-12 win over Cumberlands. The Jackrabbits, who started as many as eight underclassmen, fell 37-6 to No. 11 Indiana, 27-17 to Liberty, 32-15 to Northern Illinois and 40-4 to Chattanooga.
Tyler Sorenson led the way for the Jacks, recording a perfect 5-0 record at 197 pounds. He won two matches by fall, one by technical fall and one by major decision, and then wrapped up the day with a 9-7 decision over Indiana's Matt Powless.
Aaron Pickrel (125 pounds) and Dustin Walraven (141 pounds) also had solid days for the Jacks, posting 3-2 records. Nick Flynn posted a two-win day with a 2-2 record at 157 pounds.
SORENSON EARNS WWC WEEKLY HONOR: Tyler Sorenson was named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week, as announced Nov. 10 by league officials.
Sorenson won the 197-pound weight class at the Jackrabbits' Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open on Nov. 7. He posted four technical-fall victories, while outscoring his opponents a combined 75-12. Sorenson was also named Co-Outstanding Wrestler of the open.
Players Mentioned
157
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
141
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