BISMARCK, N.D. - The University of Mary wrestling team concluded their regular season tonight with a Northern Sun Dual against Minnesota State University Moorhead.
 
The Marauders (1-15, 0-8 NSIC) provided a challenge at every weight class but were ultimately undone by the Dragons (7-5, 3-4 NSIC), and lost the final dual of the season 36-7.
 
The match started at the 141-pound bout but the Marauders didn't get their first win until the 197-pound matchup between Tom DeVito and Christopher Bascon.
 
Tom put on a clinic against the Dragon as he scored a takedown early in the first period, allowed Bascon to escape, and took him down again followed by a two-point near fall. Bascon scored a reversal late in the period, but when the dust settled the Marauder held a 6-3 lead going into the second.
 
Bascon chose bottom in the next frame and got the escape, but his takedown attempt on Tom was foiled as the Glendale, Ariz., native caught the attempt and reversed it into a takedown of his own followed by another fast two-point near fall to go up 10-4 over Bascon heading into the final frame.
 
Tom chose bottom in the third, got an early escape followed by a fast takedown and two-point near fall to surge ahead 15-4 over the Dragon, and gave up an escape in order to score another takedown. Even though the technical fall was just out of reach, Tom still came away with an 18-5 victory by major decision.
 
Travis Smith got the call at the heavyweight bout as he took on Nader Abdullatif, an opponent Smith is very familiar with as Abdullatif is also from California and the two grapplers have faced each other countless times since high school.
 
The first period was largely uneventful as both wrestlers took the time to feel each other out, but neither of them could score a point. Smith chose bottom in the second frame and got the first point of the match after he escaped Abdullatif's clutches, but again the matchup proved difficult for both grapplers, as that was the only point scored.
 
Smith added to his point total after Abdullatif chose bottom in the final frame and Smith scored a two-point near fall to gain a 3-0 lead. Smith ended up with the 4-0 victory by decision after riding time was added in.
 
There were a few other matchups that were close, most notably the 165-pound bout between Riley Nagel and Dan Murakami as the score was 1-0 in favor of the Dragon going into the third. Unfortunately the grappler from MSU Moorhead earned the victory after he scored the lone takedown on Nagel, giving Riley the 3-1 loss by decision.
 
Dane Fischer proved a tough matchup at 149 pounds as he took on Issac Novacek and kept the match close up until the very end. Novacek scored plenty of points in the first frame after a takedown and a slew of near falls, but Fischer had an opportunity to end the match after he scored a critical takedown and nearly had the pin, but only came away with a two-point near fall after Novacek squirmed away.
 
The full results are as follows:
 
141: Philippe Walker over Miguel Rivera (TF 18-1 6:19)
149: Isaac Novacek over Dane Fischer (Dec 13-9)
157: Garrett Hoffner over Paul Michaelson (Dec 7-1)
165: Daniel Murakami over Riley Nagel (Dec 3-1)
174: Michael Joseph over Jered Keller (Fall 1:06)
184: Shawn Porter over John DeVito (Inj. Def.)
197: Tom DeVito over Christopher Basco (MD 18-5)
285: Travis Smith over Nader Abdullatif (Dec 4-0)
133: Blake Bosch over Hunter Menendez (MD 14-1)
 
Note: U-Mary did not fill the 125-pound matchup and ended with a forfeit.
 
John DeVito had a good start at the 184-pound matchup against Shawn Porter, but after a quick takedown the Dragon grappler went for a reversal and DeVito was subsequently injured and unable to continue.
 
The Marauders are finished with their regular season and will travel to Mankato, Minn., next week to participate in the NCAA Super Regionals.
 
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