The Mesa State wrestling team started out 2011 with some stiff competition at the Grand Canyon Duals in Phoenix, Ariz. They took on 5th Ranked Newberry (S.C.), 2nd Ranked St. Cloud State, and a strong Kutztown team.
Against Newberry, Mesa State fell 42-(-1) to a much more veteran team that has had success at the NCAA National Tournament in the past. Mesa State lost a team point for an unsportsmanlike penalty in the 157lb. match. The Mavericks lost every one of the ten duals in defeat. Newberry troted out four ranked wrestlers against the Mavericks. Senior
Shane Miller (Gardnersville, Nev.) had the best match, losing 4-3 to Karl Reed.
In the St. Cloud State Dual, the Mavericks fell victim once again to a more seasoned team 37-6. St. Cloud State put five ranked wrestlers out on the mat but one fell victim to the Mavericks. #8 Lucas Munkelwitz took on Maverick
Shane Miller. Miller pinned Munkelwitz in 1:57 and kept the Huskies from the shutout.
Against Kutztown, the Mavericks came out fighting and won 6 of the 10 bouts en route to a 19-16 win over the Golden Bears. Freshman
Clay Flot (Kersey, Colo.) got the Mavericks out on the right foot with 6-5 win at 125 pounds. Junior
Bery Tack (Cheyenne, Wyo.) filled in for
Rhett Breed at 141 pounds and picked up his first dual victory of the season, winning 4-3. Sophomore
Jon Gappmaier (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Redshirt Freshman
Dylan Granard (Woodinville, Wash.) picked up back-to-back wins at 157 and 165 pounds to give the Mavericks the edge they were looking for. Junior
Kyle Brightman (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and
Shane Miller gave the Mavericks back-to-back victories at 184 and 197 to ice the match.
The win gives the Mavericks a 1-3 record in duals.
Mesa State will head to the Utah Valley Open next weekend before heading to Gunnison for the annual Tracy Borah Duals where they will take on Findlay University of Ohio, Western Wyoming CC, and the Air Force Academy.
Mesa State v. Newberry (S.C.) Results
Mesa State v. St. Cloud State Results
Mesa State v. Kutztown Results
