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WRESTLING HISTORY AND RECORDS

WRESTLING HISTORY AND RECORDS

NOTE: Records based on information available to the Minot State sports information department. If you have information to update the all-time record book, please contact Mike Stetson at mike.stetson@minotstateu.edu with that information.

SEASON-BY-SEASON  |  RECORD vs. OPPONENTS  |  COACHING RECORDS  |  POSTSEASON HONORS
D2 INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS  |  D2 INDIVIDUAL SEASON RECORDS
                               MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY WRESTLING HISTORY                              

Minot State University reinstated wrestling in 2010 after a 20-year hiatus as a varsity sport. The University sponsored wrestling from 1957 until suspending it as a varsity sport in 1990.

The Beavers made an impressive debut in their return to the mat, topping rival University of Mary in a nonconference match in front of a packed MSU Dome, Nov. 11, 2010. The Beavers moved from independent status in 2010 into the prestigious Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference - the top NCAA Division II wrestling conference in the country - in 2011.

Mitchell Eull finished his storied career at Minot State in 2017-18 by becoming the first Beaver to achieve All-America honors at the NCAA Division II level when he placed sixth at the NCAA Championships. Eull also broke the school record for career victories during the year and finished with 97 wins.

Following in Eull's footsteps one season later, Jered Sublet (141) and Will Jordan (285) each advanced to the NCAA Championships, and in the 2019-2020 season Dean Arevalo (125) earned the Beavers fourth berth to the NCAA Tournament. 

After a brief national-tournament hiatus, the 2022-23 Minot State team had its most successful season sending 3 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships as Oscar Nellis qualified at 125 pounds, James Davis at 133 pounds, and Jake Swirple at heavyweight (285). Swirple also brought home the program's 2nd NCAA All-American honor, finishing 8th in the nation.

In March of 2024, the Minot State men's wrestling program made history becoming the first Beaver team to host an NCAA championship event, welcoming the best teams in the Midwest for the NCAA Super Region V Tournament to the All-Seasons Arena at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Minot State finished 9th at the championship event where wrestlers competed for berths to the NCAA National Tournament.

And in March of 2025, Jake Swirple became the Beavers 1st 2-time NCAA All-American as he won the 2025 Super Region V heavyweight title to earn a second trip to nationals where he became Minot State's first NCAA wrestler to advance to the championship finals. Swirple finished 6th at the NCAA Tournament, the highest finish by a Beaver, earning All-American honors for the 2nd time.

Minot State was no stranger to success as a member of the NAIA over its first 33 years, winning nine conference championships and as high as ninth in the country as a team (1965-66). The Beavers also had 11 wrestlers become All-Americans with Keith Flygar, Leo Kinsella, Dan Holwegner and Steve Lipp earned All-American status twice in their careers.

Flygare was the first Beaver to finish as an All-American, placing fourth at the 1963-64 NAIA National Championships and repeated as All-American in 1964-65 with a third-place finish. Lipp was the final NAIA All-American and the last All-American wrestler at MSU, going back-to-back in 1988-89 and 1989-90, finishing fourth in 1989-90.

The Beavers had three All-Americans in 1965-66 as Bill McCollum, Roger Behm and Kinsella all finished as with the honor, marking the most in school history. Romfo and Holwegner at the highest national placewinners for the Beavers as each finished second in the country in their respective weight classes, Romfo was second at 190 pounds in 1972-73 and Holwegner was second at 150 pounds in 1973-74.

Fifteen different individuals and one team associated with the wrestling program have been inducted into the Minot State Athletic Department Hall of Fame. The 1965-66 team was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

In 2009, to resurrect the program, Minot State went out and found a Hall of Famer to coach the return of wrestling. Robin Ersland, who was inducted into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010, became the Beavers first coach in 20 years.

Current head coach Evan Forde took over as the second head coach for the Beavers in DII history and eighth overall in 2015.

The Beavers picked up their first win against an NSIC opponent in 2013-14, defeating a familiar foe, the University of Mary, 21-18 in Bismarck, N.D., Feb. 7, 2014. MSU then topped Northern State five days later for its first winning streak in the league.
 
- GO BEAVERS -