MINOT, N.D. - Making their annual trip up north, the University of Mary Wrestling team took on Minot State University tonight, for the annual Battle of the Barrel in a non-conference dual.
 
The Marauders (2-4) held a decisive lead late in the match, but the Beavers (3-1) came from behind with a pin and a sudden victory to steal the match away from U-Mary at 18-16.
 
Josh Jensen got the start at 125 pounds to lead off the dual as he took on Jason Huger, and the Beaver got to work early as scored two takedowns in the first period. Jensen fought back with a reversal in the second period after choosing bottom before Huger escaped, yet Jensen notched the late takedown to put the score at 5-5 heading into the third.
 
Both wrestlers scored a takedown in the final period, to go with an escape, but Huger took the decision at 9-8 after riding time became a factor.
 
Tate Barnhardt took on Colton Nichols in the 133-pound matchup and the Marauder put in work as Barnhardt recorded three takedowns in the first two periods while only allowing one escape. With the score at 6-1 in favor of the U-Mary grappler, Barnhardt added on another takedown before Nichols notched a late takedown of his own while threating the nearfall, but Barnhardt squirmed away for the final point to take the decision at 10-5, evening the team score at 3-3.
 
Rudy Guillen made his appearance at 141 pounds against Tanner Crissler as Guillen came back after missing the previous week. Guillen immediately got to work as he scored a quick takedown and two-point nearfall over Crissler, but Crissler managed to reverse the position for two points before Guillen notched a reversal of his own and another two-point nearfall before cutting Crissler loose for an 8-3 lead after an explosive first period.
 
Crissler chose bottom in the second frame, which didn't slow Guillen down as the Marauder recorded two takedowns in the frame while the Beaver pulled off two escapes to put the score at 12-5. Rudy took neutral in the final frame and scored the quick takedown, but not before Crissler made an effort to climb back into the match as he notched an escape followed by another takedown.
 
Unfortunately for Crissler, Guillen held the insurmountable lead and recorded the major decision at 16-8, putting the team score at 7-6.
 
Reed Cronin got the bill at 149 pounds against Cody Haugen in a bout highlighted by limited action as neither grappler could get the edge on the other. Both Haugen and Cronin went scoreless into the final frame with Haugen choosing bottom, and his lone escape ended up as the deciding factor as he took the decision at 1-0 over Cronin, cutting U-Mary's lead to 7-6.
 
The 157-pound matchup between Dane Fischer and Marcus Polak turned into another tough bout as Polak did most of the work with a takedown, two-point nearfall, and two escapes en route to a 7-1 victory by decision over the Marauder, setting the team score at 9-7 at the midway point.
 
Paul Michaelson put U-Mary back on the winning track in the 165-pound match against Carlos Toledano as Michaelson held a 4-3 lead heading into the third period. Michaelson extended his lead after he escaped from bottom to start the period, was awarded a penalty point, and recorded a takedown for a commanding 8-3 lead, but Toledano mounted the comeback effort as he escaped and notched two takedowns in quick succession to put the score at 9-8 in the waning seconds of the match.
 
It was too little too late, however, as Michaelson held on for the decision, putting U-Mary back ahead at 10-9.
 
Riley Nagel proved too much for Mason Courtright at 174 pounds as the Marauder controlled the matchup from start to finish with a quick takedown in the first period without letting the Beaver escape, held a 2-1 edge heading into the final frame after Courtright eventually escaped after choosing bottom, and Nagel earned an escape himself along with the takedown for the eventual 6-1 victory by decision, extending U-Mary's lead to 13-9.
 
Dylan Mitzel got the first start of his collegiate career at 184 pounds against Briley Crissler, which turned into another close bout in an already close dual as Mitzel faced a 2-1 disadvantage going into period three. Crissler chose bottom in the frame and managed to escape with relative ease for a 3-1 lead, but Mitzel stole the bout away from the Beaver as he recorded a quick takedown followed by a two-point nearfall to edge Crissler at 5-4 after riding time favored Minot State.
 
With U-Mary holding the lead at 16-9 heading into the final two matches, the Beavers needed an impressive effort to take the dual out of the Marauder's hands, an event that seemed likely after the 197-pound match.
 
Jonathan Pelach took on Tiger Paasch in the matchup and Paasch put the Marauder on his heels almost immediately with a blazing fast takedown. Pelach couldn't hold on, unfortunately, and Paasch recorded the pin at the 43 seconds into the first period, bringing Minot State back from the brink with U-Mary clinging to a 16-15 lead.
 
Travis Smith got the call at 285 pounds against Mitchell Eull as the two grapplers have fought back-and-forth throughout their entire collegiate careers. The bout proved to be a microcosm of their past matchups as neither wrestler held the advantage through three frames. Both Eull and Smith recorded an escape in the second and third period, respectively, and Smith narrowly missed the takedown at the end of regulation that would've sealed the win.
 
Smith went for the takedown attempt almost immediately as overtime started, but a quick scramble saw Eull on top in the bout and Minot State in the dual with a sudden victory, putting the team score at 18-16 in favor of the Beavers.
 
The Marauders will start the conference portion of their schedule later this week as they take on Upper Iowa University on Friday, December 11, starting at 7:00 PM, in the McDowell Activity Center.
 
MINOT STATE 18, UNIVERSITY OF MARY 16
125 – Jason Huger, MSU, Josh Jensen, 9-8 (3-0)
133 – Tate Barnhardt, MARY, def. Colton Nichols, 10-5 (3-3)
141 – Rudy Guillen, MARY, won by major decision over Tanner Crissler, 16-8 (3-7)
149 – Cody Haugen, MSU, def. Reed Cronin, 1-0 (6-7)
157 – Marcus Polak, MSU, def. Dane Fischer, 7-1 (9-7)
165 – Paul Michaelson, MARY, def. Carlos Toledano, 9-8 (9-10)
174 – Riley Nagel, MARY, def. Mason Courtright, 6-1 (9-13)
184 – Dylan Mitzel, MARY, def. Briley Crissler, 5-4 (9-16)
197 – Tiger Paasch, MSU, pinned Jonathan Pelach, :43 (15-16)
HWT – Mitchell Eull, MSU, def. Travis Smith, 3-1 (OT) (18-16)
 
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