Southwest Minnesota State
Newman
Minot State
Nebraska-Kearney
KEARNEY, Neb. (January 17, 2015) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo wrestling team recorded a 2-2 record at the Midwest Duals Saturday, hosted by University of Nebraska-Kearney.
The ThunderWolves, now 6-4 in duals this season, lost their first and final matches of the day to Southwest Minnesota State University (27-18) and No. 3 and host Nebraska-Kearney (35-9), respectfully. The Pack dominated in their two victories with a 34-10 win against Newman University and a 43-12 victory versus Minot State University.
Two CSU-Pueblo wrestlers recorded a three wins to lead the team. Sophomore 157 Steven Kelly (Parker, Colo.) went 3-0 after being pinned in the third period against SMSU. He picked up an 8-5 decision against Newman, then earned his first pin of the season at 2:43 against Minot State before a 7-6 decision victory against UNK.
Wrestling at 184, sophomore Anthony Ball (Vista, Calif.) went 3-0. He picked up two pins, winning 31 seconds into the match against Newman and battling to a 4:45 fall against MSU. He posted a 4-0 decision against the host Lopers for his first non-pin victory of the year. Of his eight wins, seven have been by fall.
Other notables included senior heavywieght Niko Bogojevic (Superior, Wis.), who went 2-1 and won by forfeit. His one loss came to SMSU's heavyweight, 3-0, who was ranked No. 5 in the nation. He won in a third period fall against NU and posted a 3-1 decision against Nebraska-Kearney.
The Pack's 149, senior Dillon Karajanis (Cheyenne, Wyo.), won 7-4 against SMSU and needed sudden victory to earn a 7-5 decision against MSU. He went 2-1 on the day, suffering a 7-5 decision against Newman.
Junior Tim Urenda (Pueblo, Colo.) went 2-1 at 141. He won 7-2 against Southwest Minnesota State and picked up a major decision, 13-4, against Newman, but suffered an injury time loss at 4:07 against Minot State.
Finally, newcomer Marcus Finau (Fr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii) earned his first-collegiate victory on a late third period pin (6:42) against SMSU.
Match Summaries
The Pack owned a 12-3 lead through 149 against SMSU, but lost the next four matches, including three by fall, to trail 24-12. Finau pinned his opponent, but Bogojevic just couldn't get it done against his ranked foe and the ThunderWolves lost 27-18.
CSU-Pueblo led Newman by a slim 13-10 margin through 165, but the ThunderWolves went on to win the final four matches (two by fall and one forfeit) to pick up the decisive 34-10 victory.
The Pack never trialed against Minot State, as freshman Aaron Carrera (Pueblo, Colo.) pinned his opponent at 125 for his first-career victory and a forfeit at 133 put CSU-Pueblo ahead 12-0. The ThunderWolves totaled four pins in the match and took 22 points in the final four weight classes to win 43-12.
Facing a tough and highly-ranked Nebraska-Kearny team, the ThunderWolves trailed 23-0 through four matches. Kelly got the Pack on the board with a decision victory at 157, but the deficit was too large to rebound from and CSU-Pueblo lost 35-9.
The ThunderWolves return home Jan. 22 to continue Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference duals, as the Pack host No. 19 Colorado Mesa University at 7 p.m. at Massari Arena. The next day, CSU-Pueblo travels to Chadron State College for a conference dual beginning at 6 p.m.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
