Completed Event: Wrestling at NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 20, 2025 , , 23rd Place - 19.0 Points (1 All-American)
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(23rd Place - 19.0 Points (1 All-American))
at NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
South Dakota State University Athletics
Wolverines and Bears await Jackrabbits
2/11/2010 2:00:00 PM | Wrestling
The South Dakota State wrestling team hits the road for the final three Western Wrestling Conference matches of the season as they travel to Utah Valley on Friday and Northern Colorado on Sunday. The Jacks will wrapup the season at North Dakota State on Thursday, Feb. 18, in Fargo.
Utah Valley has two athletes ranked in the first of three coaches' panel rankings, announced Jan. 21 and one ranked by InterMat wrestling. Ben Kjar is ranked 13th in the CPR at 125 pounds and 11th by InterMat. At 133 pounds, Flint Ray is ranked 33rd in the CPR. Kjar is 25-7 overall and 9-2 in duals while Ray is 18-8 on the season and 5-4 in duals.
Last week, UVU wrestling squad picked up their biggest win in school history, defeating No. 8 Boise State at home by a score of 22-20. Sophomore Brad Darrington, Jan. 20 WWC Athlete of the Week, picked up a huge win off Boise State's Nate Lee (ranked No. 11 by InterMat) to help seal the victory.
Friday's match will also be televised locally on UVU-TV and streamed live online at WolverineGreen.com.
The Jacks picked up their first and only WWC win on Jan. 20, 2007 against then Utah Valley State by a score of 34-6. However, UVU leads the all-time series 3-1, including a 35-14 win last season.
Sunday's match against Northern Colorado pits the final two winless WWC teams against each other. UNC is 1-13 on the year while SDSU enters 1-9-1 on the season. Both teams are 0-3 in the conference.
The Bears had three athletes ranked in the first CPR. Tony Mustari was ranked 29th at 125 pounds in a stacked weight class in the WWC that features four ranked wrestlers. Kenny Hashimoto entered at No. 20 at 141 pounds while Justin Gaethje is 19th at 157 pounds.
SDSU holds an 18-9 advantage in the all-time series dating back to the 1967-68 season. The former North Central Conference foes battled to a 29-15 score last season with the Bears taking home the win. Since entering the WWC, SDSU is 0-4 all-time verses UNC.
LAST TIME OUT: Nick Hagar and the South Dakota State wrestling team drew first blood but Wyoming rattled of 22 unanswered points and cruised to a 34-9 victory on senior night in Western Wrestling Conference wrestling at Frost Arena, Feb. 5.
Wyoming improves their record to 9-3 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the WWC, while the Jackrabbits fall to 1-9-1 overall and remain winless in conference action at 0-3.
The Jacks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on the back of a 3-1 Nick Hager decision over Kasey Garnhart. Hagar used a takedown in the final seconds of the first period and hung on for the two-point victory. The freshman 149 pounder cracks the double-digit win column and improves his record to 10-13 on the year.
In his final home dual of his career, senior Tyler Sorenson picked up a hard-fought 3-2 decision over Alfonso Hernandez. After a scoreless first period, SDSU's most decorated wrestler at the Division I level fought back from a 0-2 deficit on two escapes and a stalling point on Hernandez to pullout the victory. Sorenson boosts his team-leading win total to 22-5 overall and 9-2 in dual action.
Sophomore Dustin Walraven capped the evening with an 8-1 decision over 20-match winner Chase Smith at 141 pounds. Walraven used two takedowns, a 3-point nearfall and an escape to seal the victory, boosting his record to 19-12 on the year.
WRESTLING NOW ONLINE!!!: Starting this season, live video will be available from all home wrestling duals! A video options is available for $9.95 per month via the Jackrabbit Extra Package. If you are unable to get to the match, click the "sign up" link on GoJacks.com today!
JACKS ON THE MOVE: Freshman Aaron Pickrel at 125 pounds has had quite a season for the Jacks in his redshirt freshman campaign. His 20-10 record is good for second on the team in wins behind returning national qualifier Tyler Sorenson at 197 pounds with a 23-5 record. Sophomores Nick Flynn and Dustin Walraven have also cracked the double-digit win column with records of 17-11 and 18-10, respectively.
SDSU TO HOST NCAA WEST REGIONAL: SDSU will host the NCAA West Regional at Frost Arena on Saturday, March 6. Tickets to the day-long event, which serves as the Jackrabbits' qualifying tournament for the NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships, are $15 for adults and $5 for students are on sale now at the Jackrabbit Ticket office or by calling (866) GO JACKS. Doors will open at 9 a.m. with the event starting at 10 a.m.
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