Utah Valley 22, South Dakota State 18

Jacks edged by Wolverines

The South Dakota State wrestling team battled Utah Valley in numerous matches, but the Wolverines escaped Brookings with a 22-18 win.

The dual was SDSU’s first and only mid-week dual of the season in its third Western Wrestling Conference competition.

The Jacks opened the dual with a lead, as Utah Valley forfeited the opening match at 125 pounds.

Brance Simms lined up versus Chasen Tolbert at 133. Simms scored an early takedown, but allowed an escape takedown in a 30-second span. While on the bottom, Simms turned the tables and forced his back onto the chest of Tolbert and scored the defensive pin.

“The pin was big,” head coach Chris Bono said. “Tolbert beat Simms in Las Vegas, so the improvement is there. The improvement is there throughout the lineup. That is the goal for this season, to get better in every match. Tonight was good and I am proud of our fight. The wins will come.”

At 141 pounds, Ben Gillette faced Avery Garner. Garner took a five-point, first-period lead and Gillette was unable to recover, as Garner pulled away for a 9-2 decision.

In a battle of ranked wrestlers, No. 31 Dustin Walraven wrestled No. 22 Josh Wilson at 149. The match was closer than the scoreboard indicated, but Wilson used a pair of third-period takedowns and riding time to score a 12-4 major decision.

Utah Valley took its first lead of the dual after a pin at 157 pounds. The result took the teams to intermission.

The 165-pound match was a struggle in a low-scoring affair. Joe Brewster and Abner Cook spent the majority of the match in neutral position and finished the third period tied 2-2. In the first overtime period, the two wrestled the first 58 seconds in neutral, but Brewster used his final effort to score a takedown and a 4-2 decision. The win put SDSU back on top 15-3 with four matches remaining.

After a Wolverine decision at 174, SDSU trailed 16-15.

At 184 pounds, Shea Nolan faced Derek Thomas. The two wrestled in another low-scoring match, but Nolan received two points from stalling calls. Nolan scored an escape late in the third period and was able to stay on his feet for a 3-2 decision. The Jacks retook the lead 18-16 with two matches remaining.

Joe Skow took on David Prieto in the first of two decisive matches. Following a scoreless first period, Prieto chose down and scored a quick escape. Skow matched the play in the third period and the two advanced to the second sudden victory match of the dual. Unfortunately for the Jacks, Prieto scored a takedown midway through the first overtime for a 3-1 decision.

The dual was decided by the final match between J.J. Everard and Adam Fager. Fager struck first with a takedown midway through the first period, but Everard escaped seconds later. Everard started down in the second and escaped after one minute, but Fager scored another takedown. Everard scored a second escape to close the second period. Fager chose down to start the third, but SDSU allowed a point for neutral. The scoring stopped as Utah Valley escaped in the match and the dual.

“I am pleased,” Bono said. “We fought and hustled and we had a chance to win at the end. We are getting better.”

The Jacks dropped to 4-10 overall, 0-3 in conference. Utah Valley moved to 5-2, 2-1 in conference.

SDSU faces its second short turnaround in as many duals when the Jacks host Northern Colorado in its second conference clash of the week. Dual time is set for 7 p.m. on Friday in Frost Arena.

“We get to put this dual behind us and get ready for Friday,” said Bono. “Northern Colorado is a tough team and we will see what happens.”
Utah Valley 22, South Dakota State 18
125 – Aaron Pickrel won by forfeit (SDSU 6-0)
133 – Brance Simms won by pin Chasen Tolbert (UVU), 2:40 (SDSU 12-0)
141 – Avery Garner (UVU) won by decision Ben Gillette, 9-2 (SDSU 12-3)
149 – No. 22 Josh Wilson (UVU) won by major decision No. 31 Dustin Walraven, 12-4 (SDSU 12-7)
157 – Chase Cuthbertson (UVU) won by pin Cody Pack, 1:42 (UVU 13-12)
165 – Joe Brewster won in sudden victory 1 Abner Cook (UVU), 4-2 (SV1) (SDSU 15-13)
174 – Monte Schmalhaus (UVU) won by decision Troy Morisette, 5-0 (UVU 16-15)
184 – Shea Nolan won by decision Derek Thomas (UVU), 3-2 (SDSU 18-16)
Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks 197 – David Prieto (UVU) won in sudden victory 1 Joe Skow, 3-1 (SV1) (UVU 19-18)
285 – Adam Fager (UVU) won by decision J.J. Everard, 5-3 (UVU wins 22-18)

Exhibition – Logan Addis (UVU) decision Tyler Johnson, 17-10