For Immediate Release
Monday, January 30, 2012
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release
NSIC Wrestler of the Week
Andy Pokorny
133 lbs, R-Jr.,
Bennington, Neb.
Bennington HS
St. Cloud State
Andy Pokorny helped lift the No. 1 Huskies to a big dual match victory over #3 Augustana on Jan. 27 in St. Cloud, Minn. Pokorny posted a 9-6 decision victory over then undefeated and No. 2 ranked wrestler in the nation, Jason Jeremiason. The victory helped spark the 26-9 win by the Huskies over the Vikings at Halenbeck Hall. A transfer from Nebraska and Nebraska-Omaha, Pokorny is 14-4 this season for the Huskies at 133-pounds. SCSU improved to 18-0 overall and 5-0 in the NSIC.
NSIC Wrestling Notes
Out of the ten weight classes, the NSIC has five wrestlers ranked No.1 in the nation at their respective weights. The NSIC also has a wrestler ranked in the top four in each of the other five weight classes. (see page 4 of PDF release for full individual national rankings.
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE
Nate Herda (149, Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa/Rock Rapids HS), ranked first in Division II, went 2-0 at 149 pounds last weekend for No. 3 Augustana in conference duals against No. 1 St. Cloud State and Minnesota State. On Friday against SCSU, Herda beat SCSU’s Josh Howl 11-10. He followed with a 5-4 victory over MSU’s Jesse Westphal on Saturday as the Viking logged an 18-15 triumph.
UNIVERSITY OF MARY
Trevor Johnson (141, So., Bismarck, ND / Bismarck HS / North Dakota State) capped a University of Mary rally with a match-winning pin as the Marauders defeated MSU Moorhead 24-19. It is the first Marauders win over the Dragons since joining the Northern Sun. Johnson collared Conner MacGregor just 2:17 into the match. Ranked third in the nation, Johnson improved to 24-5 on the season… Trailing 19-12, Kyle Larson (133, Fr., Amery, WI) positioned the Marauders for the win when he pinned Graelin Garlington with 1:15 left in their match. Larson was leading 7-5 entering the third.
MINNESOTA STATE
Sophomore 125-lb David Demo (Bozeman, Mont.) defeated No. 6 Cody Lensing (Augustana) in an 8-5 decision Saturday night. Demo went 1-1 on the week and now sits at 18-8 on the season
Minnesota State went 0-2 in conference duals last week...MSU fell 24-12 to No. 3 Upper Iowa on Thursday...MSU also was defeated by Augustana 18-15 on Saturday night...MSU will host MSU-Moorhead Thursday night in Bresnan Arena at 7 p.m...
MSU MOORHEAD
Corey Ulmer proved his No. 2 national ranking by taking a short amount of time to pin the University of Mary’s Hunter Menendez on Wednesday night. The redshirt senior was able to put Menendez on his back and pin him in 1 minute and 32 seconds for the win in the 125-weight class. Ulmer next brought in Minot State Beaver Josh Douglas on Friday night. The first period was capped off for Ulmer with a near fall call as time expired, giving the senior an 8-0 lead. A reversal from each side came in the second period and only one point, from Ulmer, was scored in the third. Improving his individual record to 17-2, undefeated in dual action, Ulmer took a 12-2 major decision that helped the Dragons win the dual, 24-10.
NORTHERN STATE
Matt Meuleners (Jr., 285, Young America, Minn./Central HS) notched his 13th straight victory with a 14-4 major decision win over SMSU’s Cole Wilson on Friday. Meuleners, ranked second in the nation, has not lost a bout since Nov. 12 at the Bison Open when he fell to Minnesota’s Anthony Nelson 4-2.
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
Jacob Begin (165, So., Anoka, Minn.) won his eighth consecutive match, improving to 17-4 on the season with two wins last weekend. Begin earned a 12-1 major decision over Northern State’s Blake Lundgren on Friday night before picking up a 10-5 decision over Dan Dick of St. Cloud State on Saturday.
ST. CLOUD STATE
Andy Pokorny (133 lbs, Jr., Bennington, Neb.) helped lift the No. 1 Huskies to a big dual match victory over #3 Augustana on Jan. 27 in St. Cloud, Minn. Pokorny posted a 9-6 decision victory over then undefeated and No. 2 ranked wrestler in the nation, Jason Jeremiason. The victory helped spark the 26-9 win by the Huskies over the Vikings at Halenbeck Hall. A transfer from Nebraska and Nebraska-Omaha, Pokorny is 14-4 this season for the Huskies at 133-pounds.
The number one ranked Huskies improved to 18-0 on the season with a pair of victories in NSIC action on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. The Huskies opened the weekend with a big 26-9 win over #3 ranked Augustana in St. Cloud on Jan. 27. The match opened with a pin by #1 Jake Kahnke to give the Huskies a 6-0 lead. SCSU then rolled with wins by Dylan Wright (125), Andy Pokorny (133) and Jay Hildreth (141)to gain a 15-0 lead in the match. SCSU went on to seal the deal with wins by Tad Merritt (174), Derek Skala (184) and Mic Berg (197)…the Huskies capped the weekend with a 33-6 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University on Jan. 28. This match was wrestled at the Canby H.S. gymnasium in Canby, Minn. SCSU senior team captain Tad Merritt is a resident of Canby and he was a state champion during his prep career at Canby H.S…Josh Howk now has 16 pins this season to lead the Huskies. He is just one short of the Huskies’ team record of 17 pins in a season set by Tad Merritt in 2008-09. Howk is 21-12 this winter for the Huskies…Tad Merritt leads SCSU this winter with a 27-2 overall record. He also has 15 pins for the Huskies in 2011-12. He now has 133 career wins at SCSU. The current team career record for wins was set by Dustin Darveaux from 1999-03 with 142…junior Jake Kahnke (285) and Tad Merritt (165) are both ranked #1 in their weight divisions in the latest DII polls. Kahnke owns a 26-1 record this season with 11 pins to his credit…SCSU’s Shamus O’Grady (174), Derek Skala (184) and Lucas Munkelwitz (197) were all ranked #3 in their weight divisions in the latest DII polls, while Jacob D. Horn (157) was ranked #5 in the poll…SCSU is 5-0 in NSIC duals this season…SCSU will host the 2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 championships on Feb. 26 in Halenbeck Hall. Call 1-877-SCSUTIX or 320-308-2137 for complete ticket information on the upcoming regional…SCSU will host local rival St. John’s University on Feb. 2 in Halenbeck Hall. This match has been designated as Military Appreciation Night with all active members of the military and veterans being admitted free to the match. SCSU will wear special camo singlets in honor of the event and those singlets will be auctioned off after the match with all proceeds being donated to a designated military charity.
UPPER IOWA
Trevor Franklin (133, R-Jr., South New Berlin, N.Y., #1 NCAA) secured six team points in last Thursday’s 24-12 victory over the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato in Fayette. Franklin used a takedown midway through the final period that he converted into the pin (5:06) against Brian Reisenauer. The Peacock junior was leading the match handily at the time of the pin. With the win, Franklin improved to 17-0 on the year and extended his win streak to 33 matches.
The #3 Peacocks defended Dorman Gym for the third time this year in posting a 24-12 victory over the rival Mavericks of Minnesota State. The win pushed UIU’s overall record to 8-1 and the team is now 4-0 in NSIC duals. Upper Iowa won six of the matches including one by fall and one by forfeit, while all four of MSU’s wins came by decision. Winners for the Peacocks included Kyle Pedretti (125, #1 NCAA), Franklin, Winston Robbins (157), Wade Gobin (174, #6 NCAA), Mitch Schultz (184, #4 NCAA) and Carl Broghammer (197, #4 NCAA). Upper Iowa will remain at home for their next two NSIC duals against the Dragons of MSU Moorhead on Friday, Feb. 3, and the #3 Vikings of Augustana College on Friday, Feb. 10. Both duals are set to begin at 7 p.m.
Week 11 Results
1/25 *U-Mary 24 at MSU Moorhead 19
1/26 *Minnesota State 12 at Upper Iowa 24
1/27 *Augustana 9 at St. Cloud State 26
1/27 Minot State 10 at MSU Moorhead 24
1/27 *Northern State 17 at SMSU 23
1/28 *St. Cloud State 33 at SMSU 6
1/28 *Augustana 18 at Minnesota State 15
* = NSIC Match
Week 12 Schedule
2/2 *MSU Moorhead at Minnesota State 7 PM
2/2 Dickinson State at Northern State 7 PM
2/2 St. John’s at St. Cloud State 7 PM
2/3 *MSU Moorhead at Upper Iowa 7 PM
2/3 *SMSU at Augustana 7 PM
2/4 *U-Mary at SMSU 2 PM
2/5 *Northern State at Augustana 2 PM
* = NSIC Match
Past NSIC Wrestlers of the Week
11/08/11 Jake Kahnke, SCSU
11/15/11 Zach Rosol, UIU
11/22/11 Trevor Johnson, U-Mary
12/05/11 Jayd Docken, Augie
12/12/11 Tad Merritt, SCSU
12/20/11 Matt Meuleners, NSU
01/03/12 Tad Merritt, SCSU (2)
01/09/12 Lucas Munkelwitz, SCSU
01/16/12 Jacob Begin, SMSU
01/23/12 Taylor Nagel, U-Mary
01/30/12 Andy Pokorny, SCSU
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