BISMARCK, N.D. - The University of Mary wrestling team took to the mat today against Southwest Minnesota State University, in a Northern Sun conference dual at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
The Marauders gave the Mustangs a run for their money, but U-Mary ended up on the losing side of a 28-15 decision.
 
Hunter Menendez was up first for the Marauders at 133 pounds, but found himself down 4-1 in the first period after two quick takedowns from Jordan Beihn. After deferring to the third period, Menendez started on top but gave up a quick escape to the grappler from Southwest Minnesota. Hunter scored a quick takedown to keep the score close at 5-3, but the Mustang scrambled away again and Menendez was down 6-3 going into the third. Menendez used his deferred choice to go bottom in the third and got a key reversal to close in at 6-5 on the Southwest Minnesota State wrestler. Unfortunately, Beihn got a quick escaped followed by a takedown and two-point near fall to pull away from Menendez and the U-Mary grappler fell 12-5 by decision after riding time was added up.
 
Miguel Rivera was up next at 141, and he had his hands full against Trent Butcher as the Mustang scored a fast takedown and three-point near fall on the Marauder to go up 5-0 after one period. Butcher chose bottom in the second frame and scored a reversal on Rivera followed by a three-point near fall, and two two-point near falls to go up 14-0 heading into the third. Rivera did what he could in the third frame, but was pinned at 5:30 and lost by fall to the Mustang.
 
Dane Fischer got the call at 149 against John Weeding, and the grappler from Southwest Minnesota State scored the first points of the match with a takedown followed by two two-point near falls and Fischer found himself down 6-0 after the first period. Dane deferred his choice and ended up on top for the second frame, but Weeding scored an escaped followed by a takedown to jump ahead 9-0 heading into the third. After choosing neutral, Fischer was taken down by Weeding early in the third frame but got a key reversal and had a chance to get a pin, but couldn't connect and lost by 12-2 major decision.
 
Paul Michaelson was up next at 157, and he went right to work on the wrestler from Southwest Minnesota State, Patrick Kelley. Michaelson scored an early takedown and gave up the escape, but still held the lead at 2-1 heading into the second. Kelley chose bottom in the second frame and got another escape, but the rest of the period saw a lot of back-and-forth with neither wrestler getting a distinct advantage. With the score tied at 2-2 going into the third, Michaelson chose bottom and it turned into the key moment for him as he pulled off a quick reversal and two-point near fall to take the lead at 6-2 midway through the final period. Kelley couldn't get much going after that and Michaelson came away with a 6-3 victory by decision to get U-Mary on the board 19-3.
 
After a quick intermission, Riley Nagel was up next at 165 and he put on a takedown clinic on Hunter St. John, scoring a the first one midway through the first period but not allowing the Mustang to escape his grasp. After choosing bottom in the second frame, Nagle score a quick escape followed by another takedown to jump ahead 5-0 on St. John without slowing down. The Southwest Minnesota State wrestler chose neutral in the final frame and it turned into the wrong choice as Nagel scored four straight takedowns to surge ahead 13-2. Nagel kept the momentum going with a 14-2 victory by major decision to keep U-Mary in the dual, 19-7.
 
Jered Keller was up next at 174 and he had the daunting task of taking on #6 Jacob Begin from Southwest Minnesota State. Keller put forward a great effort, but Begin was too much for him as the Mustang pinned Keller in the early goings of the first frame and Keller lost by fall at 1:06.
 
John DeVito, returning from an injury in the previous week, was up next at 184 and he went to work on Ashton Bartlett with a quick takedown and not escape in the first period to go up 2-0. The second period saw Bartlett on bottom and even after the escape, DeVito scored another takedown followed by a two-point near fall to surge ahead 6-1. There was a bit of controversy as Bartlett was awarded a reversal shortly after DeVito scored the near fall, but after review it was shown that both wrestlers were out of bounds and the reversal would not count. Instead, all Bartlett could do was get another escape and DeVito stayed on top 6-2 going into the third. DeVito chose bottom in the final period, and after a quick escape he scored another takedown followed by a two-point near fall and scored a 12-2 victory by major decision after riding time was factored in to make the score 25-11.
 
Tom DeVito got the call at 197 against Brody Goens and the first period saw a lot of back-and-forth but neither grappler could find purchase as the score remained 0-0 going into the second. Goens chose bottom for the second frame and after his escape DeVito went to work. Tom scored a key takedown followed by a two-point near fall to surge ahead in the match 4-1, and maintained his momentum in the final frame after he escaped from bottom and scored two more takedowns. Tom took the match with a 10-2 victory by major decision after riding time was factor in, giving another win to U-Mary to keep the score at 25-15.
 
Travis Smith looked to maintain his momentum from his victory last week but had a tough matchup against #6 Cole Wilson at the heavyweight matchup. Wilson scored a takedown on Smith and Travis responded with a quick escape to keep the score close 2-1 going into the second period. Smith deferred his choice in the period but Wilson, after starting on bottom, got the escape and held a 3-1 lead going into the final period. Travis chose bottom for the last frame but couldn't find the opening to escape and dropped the final bout of the day 4-1 by decision.
 
The final score was 28-15 in favor of the Mustangs, who improve to 8-7 overall, 3-3 in the NSIC.

Final results can be seen here.
 
The Marauders (1-12, 0-5 NSIC) will host Augustana College, tomorrow staring at 2 p.m. in the MAC.
 
#marauders#