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SCSU wrestlers struggle at home
 Media Credit: Adam Hammer Mike Gritti gives Jackrabbits´ Ben Ericks a toss in their 184 lb. match at Halenbeck Friday.
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Finishing ninth at Nationals last season and beginning the 2003-04 season ranked No. 8 in Division II has not rescued SCSU from growing pains.
In addition to losing senior standouts Matt Neumueller and Dustin Darveaux to graduation, the Huskies also lost Jon Duncomber, who transferred to the University of Minnesota and is currently ranked No. 14 nationally at 171 lbs. in Division I.
With Dan Duch as the lone national qualifier on a Husky team with 13 first-years on its roster, the team has struggled to find its first victory. However, the Huskies have not struggled to find its identity as a hardworking team who will fight to the end in every match.
That was evident this weekend when No. 15 ranked South Dakota State and No. 9 ranked Augustana College renewed their North Central Conference rivalry at Halenbeck Hall.
Leading off Friday night, SDSU's Jarrod Chappa beat SCSU's Matt Jenson by a score of 8-3 in a hard fought match at 133 lb.
Moving up to 141 lbs., Tom Messerli was pinned at 2:15 by Chad Herrboldt. At 149 lbs., Seth Cole battled Jeremy Roe but lost by one point due to a third period takedown.
Blake Christopherson (157 lbs.) leading until the one minute mark in the third period lost another tough outcome for SCSU by a score of 3-5 in his match against Joe Kenton.
Duch put up a valiant effort in the 174 lb. weight class facing Travis Gottschalk. With the score tied 1-1 after three rounds Duch and Gottschalk entered a one minute extra period. With two seconds remaining in the extra period Gottschalk took down Duch to gain two points to give him the 3-1 win.
SCSU's Mike Gritti (184 lbs.) was pinned by Ben Ericks at the 4:46 mark. Kyle Stern battled No. 4 ranked Tim Boldt, but lost by a score of 13-1.
Heavyweight, first-year Mike Peterson endured a lengthy ferocious dual against Craig Martinmass to enter an extra period tied 1-1. With six seconds remaining in the extra period Peterson took down Martinmass giving him a 3-1 victory.
Head wrestling coach Steve Grimit was very pleased with Peterson's effort and hopes that this win will lead to bigger things.
"(I think) this gave Mike momentum," Grimit said. "It was a nice win. Mike Pederson is getting closer to where he needs to be."
SDSU left SCSU with a 3-4 mark (1-0 conference). First-year Josh Lindquist received a victory by forfeit, but had a tough battle the next day when No. 4 ranked Aaron Graumann and Augustana ventured to St. Cloud.
In a tough match at 125 lbs. Lindquist held his own but lost to Graumann by a score of 15-3.
Even with his tough match and the team's close defeats throughout the weekend Lindquist sees a silver lining.
"If you dwell on a loss it can only hurt yourself, but if you try to learn something from a loss it can only make you better," Lindquist said.
Jensen (133 lbs.) was pinned at 2:24, but Messerli (141 lbs.), who was pinned the night before, defeated Augustana's Mike Gibson by a score of 6-5.
Cole, earning a late reversal point in the third round of his pairing at 149 lbs., could not get enough points to defeat Ryan King, who won 7-6.
Blake Christopherson earned a shutout at 157 lbs. defeating Kevin Sobolik 8-0.
Duch lost another tough battle 6-3 facing Cody Henricksen at 165 lbs.
Sean Bere was pinned at 4:47 by Dusty Wilking in a face-off at 174 lbs.
Mike Gritti had the difficult challenge of facing No. 1 ranked Tom Meester at 184 lbs. In a tough battle Gritti did not allow Meester to pin him, but Meester won by a score of 17-2.
In the final match of the afternoon, Peterson took on Tyler Bullerman in a close match but Peterson fell to a score of 3-2.
SCSU left the weekend 0-4 and 0-3 in the difficult NCC; Augustana is 4-4 and 1-1 in Conference.
Grimit believes his young team will get themselves over the hump and start winning the close matches that have gone the other way up to this point in the season.
"They're working hard and giving it all they have. I can't fault their effort," Grimit said. "Continued hard work and believing in themselves will get them over the hump."
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