ABERDEEN, S.D. – Minot State University wrestling came face to face with their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual win Friday night.

Unfortunately, the Beavers dropped their final three matches of the night, as they lost to the Northern State Wolves 31-18.

“I'm disappointed that we didn't get the win tonight,” said Minot State head coach Robin Ersland. “We had our chances, we just can't seem to stay off our backs in a couple weight classes and that is what hurt us again tonight.”

After wins by decision from Matt Ruby (So., 125/133, Minot, N.D.) and Marcus Polak (So., 157, Minot, N.D.), the Beavers trailed 17-6 entering the 165 pound match where Eric O'Neill (Fr., 165, Winter Springs, Fla.) was looking for his first collegiate victory.

O'Neill found what he was looking for, and he did it in grand style pinning his opponent with little time to spare (6:08).

Junior Matt Fetterley (Jr., 174, Muskegon, Mich.) followed O'Neill's pin with one of his own, but Fetterley wasted no time doing it. He pinned his NSU opponent in 34 seconds to bring MISU to a 18-17 lead.

Then the bottom fell out of the barrel, as Northern State dominated the final three matches, collecting 14 team points on their way to victory.

“It was a great first collegiate win for O'Neill,” said Ersland. “He has kept with it and it's good to see his word pay off. Fetterley also had a really nice takedown and pin. We are just a few weights away from getting that win.”

MISU will now head back to Minot for a NSIC dual with Augustana College on Sunday Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.


Northern State 31, Minot State 18

125- Anthony Bruno, NSU, wins by forfeit
133- Matt Ruby, MISU, def. Tyler Frost 5-4
141- Ian Muirhead, NSU, tech. fall Flynn Stormer 17-0
149- Grant Steen, NSU, pinned Marcus Wilson 5:50
157- Marcus Polak, MISU, def. Gavin Larsen 6-4 OT
165- Eric O'Neill, MISU, pinned Blake Lundgren 6:08
174- Matt Fetterley, MISU, pinned Anthony Navarro 0:34
184- Chad Gibson, NSU, def. Cody George 11-6
197- Baker Haar, NSU, pinned Joe Johnson 2:18
285- Matthew Meuleners, NSU, tech. fall Bobby Bartz 18-3