Brookings, S.D. – Second-ranked Minnesota State lifted the lid on the 2009-10 wrestling season at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open, hosted by South Dakota State.
Leading the way for the Mavericks was sophomore Tel Todd (Bozeman, Mont.) and senior Darren Olsen (Davis, Ill.) who placed third and sixth, respectively.
Todd began the day with a 10-3 decision over Pat Nord of Jamestown College and advanced further in the 165-pound winner’s bracket with an 8-4 win over Tanner Lavallier of Dakota Wesleyan. In the semi-finals, Todd was dealt a tough 7-6 setback by Tyler Wells of North Dakota State and was the beneficiary of a forfeit win in the wrestlebacks to finish third.
Olsen, wrestling at 157 pounds, opened competition with a fall over Jordan Packard of Dakota Wesleyan at the 1:08 mark. A 7-3 loss to Marcus Edginton of Augustana sent him to the consolation bracket where he rattled off three straight wins, including another first-period fall over Billy Dean of Minnesota State Moorhead, a 6-1 decision over Nathan Sigman of Nebraska-Omaha and a 6-2 win over Weston Blasius of South Dakota State. In the fifth-place match, he was pinned in 6:02 by Adam Everson, also from South Dakota State.
Other Mavericks competing but not placing were: Matt Nyvold (125, 0-2), Derek Hahn (157, 2-2) and Brad Kruse (165, 0-2).
The Mavericks return to action this Wednesday when they host Waldorf College at Bresnan Arena. Match time is slated for 7:00 p.m.