by Max Steigauf / kvsc.org/sports

 

The St. Cloud State wrestling team did what they do best over semester break, win! The team won the Ranger duals with 36-3, 25-9, and 34-6 dual scores. 

 

The week before that was the real show. 

 

The Huskies went to Louisville, Kentucky for the NWCA D-II National Duals. SCSU truly showed that they are in a class of their own as they pillaged the competition with 3 of their 4 wins being in double digits. The one close match came in the semi-finals when the Huskies downed the #1 team in the nation, Nebraska Kearney, 22-15. 

 

The finals match was against Notre Dame (Ohio), as the Huskies took their 5th national dual championship previously winning the dual tournament in 2018, 2017, 2013 and 2012. While these tournaments are massive successes for the team, they still need to defend their national title in March and if there is one thing that we learned over the break, that this group can produce upsets. 

 

Not only did the huskies down the #1 ranked team but Garrett Aldrich who was unranked beat #4 Jonathan Killingsworth of Nebraska Kearney, even some high-ranking Huskies fell as #7 Jake Barzowski lost to an unranked opponent in the Kearney match. It is a bit concerning because if these matches have taught us anything, it’s that anyone is beatable. This aspect makes for good wrestling down the stretch which the Huskies will need if they are to defend their national championship. 

 

St. Cloud State seem to be consistent with who wins and losses as guys like Vince Dietz led the way with 20 team points followed by Kolton Eischens with 17, and Brett Velasquez and James Pleski both with 12 team points in the national duals. The Huskies also as a team have been consistent as they have a 39-match win streak right now dating back to 2016-17. 

 

St. Cloud State can continue this success as the last part of the season gets underway. the huskies will face U of Mary this Saturday at 2pm in Halenbeck hall for the alumni day match. 

 

The Marauders have a 3-1 dual match record this year with their only loss coming at the hands of Northern State University who will be coming to Halenbeck January 24th. 

 

The Marauders and Huskies have faced one similar opponent this year in Minot State. Both the Huskies and Marauders have beaten Minot, but Minot showed a big hole in the Marauder’s lineup.  the Marauders 174, 184 and, 197 all lost to Minot. 

 

The Huskies lost one weight class to Minot state at 174, but Kolton Eischens wasn’t wrestling in that spot during the Minot State match it was redshirt freshman Riley Vanek. If the Huskies put out their best lineup, I don’t see this match being very close, and I expect the Huskies unbeaten streak to continue to 40 after this Saturday. Huskies upcoming matches :

 

January 19th 2pm Halenbeck hall vs. U of Mary Marauders (Alumni night) 

 

January 24th 7pm Halenbeck hall vs. Northern State University (Prep Night) 

 

January 31st 7pm at Moorhead