BISMARCK, N.D. - The University of Mary grapplers took to the mat tonight hoping to enact some revenge on the Minot State University Beavers for the dual in the previous week. The Marauders won six matches to Minot State's four and U-Mary came out on top of the dual 23-17.
 
Hunter Menendez started off the night for the Marauders against Jason Huger at the 133-pound bout, and both wrestlers spent the first period taking a few shots but neither could land the takedown. Both wrestlers took a stall warning and the first period ended with no score. Huger chose bottom for the second period and his escape was the lone point for either grappler and Menendez went into the third period down 1-0. Menendez chose bottom for the final frame and he evened the score with an escape early in the period, and finally nailed the takedown on Huger to go ahead 3-1. Huger couldn't reverse the takedown and Menendez took the first match by 3-1 decision.
 
Alec Lindsey was up next at 141 and he took on Chris Warf from Minot State. Both wrestlers spent the first period feeling each other out and like the 133-pound match neither wrestler scored a point. Lindsey chose top for the second frame and he took advantage of his opponent by nailing a three-point near fall on Warf to go up 3-0. Lindsey wouldn't let his opponent escape and took a 3-0 lead into the final period. Warf chose neutral for the final frame but, again, neither wrestler could find an opening and Lindsey won the second match by 4-0 decision after riding time earned him another point.
 
The Marauders tied the team score at 6-6 after having to forfeit the 125-pound match, but the dual was just starting
 
Michael Rivera got the call at 149 pounds, but his opponent, Cody Haugen, made short work of him and got the pin in the first period. Rivera lost by fall at 2:04.
 
Paul Michaelson stepped up for the Marauders in the next bout at 157 pounds and he went to work on his opponent, Devin Combs. Michaelson got an early takedown on Combs and had a two-point near fall on the wrestler from Minot State, but Combs ended up escaping and Michaelson owned a 4-1 lead going into the second period. Michaelson chose bottom for the second period and wound up with a reversal on Combs, further adding to his riding time. Combs couldn't escape in the remainder of the period and Michaelson own a commanding 6-1 lead on the opposing grappler. Combs chose bottom for the final period but his escape efforts were in vain and Michaelson won the match by 7-1 decision thanks to another point from riding time.
 
Riley Nagel took his turn on the mat at the 165-pound bout against Ricards Avakovs. Avakovs scored the early takedown on Nagel, but Nagel ended up with the escape. Avakovs scored another takedown that Nagel, again, ended up escaping, but those were the only points he could score and went into the second period down 4-2. Avakovs chose bottom for the second period and scored an escape of his own, and ended up getting a takedown on Nagel. Nagel, being the escape artist that he is, once again squirmed out of Avakovs' grip and finally gained some momentum after he took down the Beaver's grappler. Nagel went into the third period down 7-5. Nagel chose bottom for the final period and got an early escape, but he could stop Avakovs' takedowns as the Minot State grappler scored two more takedowns in the match. Nagel lost the bout by 11-8 decision.
 
The 174-pound matchup turned out to be the turning point of the dual as it was a rematch of last week's dual between Kyle Schultz and Jon Wilson. Wilson nearly had the pin on Schultz the previous week but ended up with a 15-10 decision. The first period was full of action and Schultz scored the first takedown early in the frame. Wilson got the escape and scored a takedown of his own. Schultz was charged with a stall penalty and Wilson held the lead after the first period at 4-2. Wilson chose neutral for the second period and took down Schultz again to go ahead 6-2, while Schultz struggled to free himself and missed out on the escape opportunity for the second period. The third period is where things got interesting. Schultz chose top and Wilson couldn't escape his grasp through most of the third period. Schultz finally got the opportunity for a pin and made Wilson pay for his mistake with 40 seconds remaining in the third period. Schultz won by fall at 6:20 and the frustration was apparent from his opponent as the Beavers were charged with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, costing their team a point.
 
At this point, U-Mary finally went ahead in the dual, 15-14, and it was a lead they would not relinquish.
 
John DeVito was up next at 184 and he put in a lot of work on his opponent, Kobina Henriques. DeVito earned three takedowns and a three-point near fall, all in the first period, and took a commanding 9-2 lead. Henriques chose bottom in the second frame and scored an escape, but DeVito responded quickly with another takedown and went into the third period up 11-3. DeVito chose bottom for the final frame, got a quick escape, and rattled off three more takedowns on his opponent. DeVito won the match convincingly by 19-5 major decision after riding time was added.
 
Corey Parsons got the call at 197 and the freshman turned the matchup against his opponent, Taylor Barstad, into a clinic on how to score points. Parsons scored an early takedown and got a three-point near fall to surge out to a 5-0 lead. Parsons chose bottom in the second frame, scored an easy escape, and got another takedown on his opponent, furthering his lead to 8-0 going into the final period. Barstad chose top in the final frame and it was a choice he would regret as Parsons nailed the reversal and another three-point near fall. Parsons clinched the dual for the Marauders with a 14-0 victory by major decision and U-Mary owned a 23-14 lead with one bout to go.
 
Travis Smith took on Mitchell Eull in the heavyweight bout, another rematch from the previous week, and Eull scored a takedown in the first period. Smith was force to go top in the second frame as his opponent chose bottom, and with the escape the grappler from Minot State held a 3-0 lead going into the final period of the final matchup. Smith chose bottom for the frame but couldn't find the opening to escape and lost the match by 4-0 decision after riding time was added.
 
The final team score was 23-17 in favor of U-Mary.
 
The Marauders take a break for the next two weeks and return to the mat on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they travel to Kearney, Neb., to compete in the University of Nebraska-Kearney duals. The Marauders will have duals against Chadron State College, Colorado School of Mines, University of Central Missouri, and Lindenwood University.
 
#marauders#