BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary wrestling team opened with three straight wins and earned a split of the night's matches but big wins in the middle weights for Southwest Minnesota State University carried the visiting Mustangs to a 20-16 win over the Marauders.
 
For the third straight match and fifth time in the last six duals, the Marauders opened with wins at both 125 and 133 behind the efforts of Josh Jensen and Tate Barnhardt.
 
Jensen opened with a 5-2 win over Brock Buysse at 125 to improve his season record to 10-6. Little by little the sophomore pulled away, using a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second to take a 4-1 lead into the final period.
 
Barnhardt captured his tenth straight win with a 12-4 major decision over Jordan Biehm at 133. The sophomore recorded four takedowns on his way to improving his dual record to 11-0 this season.
 
Reed Cronin pushed the Marauders lead to 10-0 with a 4-1 decision at 141 over Zach Beaumaster. Scoreless until the final period, Cronin used an escape and a takedown to grab an insurmountable 3-0 lead.
 
The night shifted for Mary in the fourth match. Facing the sixth-ranked grappler in the region, Mary's Hunter Eckert scored a takedown in the first and led 2-1 after two periods. Eckert, needing an escape in the third period to secure an upset win, started in the down position but couldn't break the grip of Cortez Arrendo. After the Mustangs 149-pounder forced overtime by earning a point for riding time, Arrendo quickly claimed SMSU's first win of the match with an 8-2 overtime win in a takedown and a 4-point nearfall.
 
SMSU followed with major decisions at 157 and 165 to grab an 11-10 lead.
 
Mary regained the lead with an exciting 6-4 win by Dane Fisher at 174. Down 3-2 with 45 seconds left, Fischer grabbed a lead with 45 seconds left before Griffin Osing escaped to knot the match 4-4 with 18 seconds remaining. Seemingly looking at overtime, Fisher claimed the win in regulation with a takedown with just ten seconds on the clock. The victory pushed Mary back in front 13-11.
 
The Mustangs rebounded with big point totals at 184 and 197, gaining nine match points on a technical fall and a major decision to secure the dual victory.
 
Dom Tudor closed the match with a solid win for Mary at 285. Down 3-2 midway through the second period, Tudor pulled even with Quinn Bullard before scoring the only three points of the third period.
 
Mary falls to 5-6 overall and 1-3 in the Northern Sun. SMSU is 6-11 and 2-3.
 
The Marauders next host Augustana on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 2 pm.
 
FINAL Southwest Minnesota State 20 University of Mary 16
 
125: Josh Jensen (MARY) over Brock Buysse (SMS) (Dec 5-2)
133: Tate Barnhardt (MARY) over Jordan Biehn (SMS) (MD 12-4)
141: Reed Cronin (MARY) over Zachary Beaumaster (SMS) (Dec 4-1)
149: Cortez Arredondo (SMS) over Hunter Eckert (MARY) (SV-1 8-2)
157: Jake Slocun (SMS) over Donald Leuer (MARY) (MD 14-1)
165: Kegen Fingalsen (SMS) over Paul Michaelson (MARY) (MD 12-3)
174: Dane Fischer (MARY) over Griffin Osing (SMS) (Dec 6-4)
184: Cole Hennen (SMS) over Jonathan Pelach (MARY) (TF 16-0 2:44)
197: Jackson Ryan (SMS) over Jacob Green (MARY) (MD 15-6)
285: Dominic Tudor (MARY) over Quinn Bullard (SMS) (Dec 6-2)
 
Mary 5-6 overall / 1-3 Northern Sun
SMSU 6-11 overall / 2-3 Northern Sun