Sorenson punches ticket to Nationals

Saturday, March 7

Greeley, Colo.

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

NCAA West Regional

3/7/2009 1:00:00 AM | Wrestling

By: SDSU Sports Info

GREELEY, Colo. ? Junior Tyler Sorenson became only the second wrestler to qualify for the national tournament from South Dakota State in the Division I era after placing second at the 2009 West Regional held at Butler-Hancock Hall in Greeley, Colo. Saturday night.

Wrestling at 197 pounds and receiving a bye in the first round, Sorenson cruised through his first match over No. 3 seed Eric Brennan from Northern Colorado 10-1, sending him to the championship match.

The championship pitted Andrew Anderson of Northern Iowa against Sorenson. Both wrestlers entered the match rated in the latest Intermat/USA Today poll at No. 13 and 14, respectively. Anderson, the only person to defeat Sorenson this season, prevailed in the championship 3-1.

Despite the loss, Sorenson went on to win his true-second place over Alfonso Hernandez of Wyoming, earning him a trip to nationals in St. Louis, Mo., held March 19-21.

Senior Jason Stripling also placed second but did not qualify for the national tournament. The heavyweight avenged a Feb. 20 loss to Tyler Hemmesch of North Dakota State, defeating him 6-2. Stripling then defeated Jacob Scharbrough of Wyoming, advancing him to the championship match. Facing the top seeded wrestler in the regional, Stripling fell to Christian Brantley of Northern Iowa, 7-5.

The only other Jackrabbit to win a match for SDSU was No. 3 seed Scott Elliott. After dropping his first match to No. 2 Sahne Onufer of Wyoming, the freshman 174 pounder earned an 11-3 major decision of Brandon Kammerzell of Northern Colorado, placing him in the third-place match. He then went on to upset No. 1 seed Jarin Beets of Northern Iowa, 6-5. Needing the true-second place match, Elliott fell by major decision, 11-2 and finished third at 174 pounds.

In the final team standings, SDSU finished fifth of the six teams in the West Regional with 24.5 points. Northern Iowa placed first with 94 while Wyoming was in a close second with 92.5. Northern Colorado and North Dakota State finished third and fourth with 70.5 and 39.5 points, respectively. Air Force rounded out the final spot with 12.5 points.

1. 94.0 University of Northern Iowa
2. 92.5 University of Wyoming
3. 70.5 Northern Colorado
4. 39.5 North Dakota State University
5. 24.5 South Dakota State University
6. 12.5 U.S. Air Force Academy

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