Sean Solis and Jacob Strausbaugh both rallied from 6-1 deficits to win their bouts Sunday in Fargo, but the No. 4-ranked University of Mary wrestling team fell 28-7 to NCAA Division I North Dakota State in its season-opening dual, according to UMary Athletics.
At the Jimmie Open in Jamestown the same day, senior Danyk Jacobsen went 4-0 to win the 149-pound bracket.
In Fargo, the Bison won the first two bouts. Freshman Nicolas Enzminger, making his collegiate debut at 125 pounds, lost a 7-2 decision to nationally ranked No. 9 Ezekiel Witt, and sophomore Ben DeForest dropped an 11-7 decision at 133.
Solis, ranked No. 2 nationally at 141, put UMary on the board with an 11-7 decision over Devon Harrison. He trailed 6-1 before scoring two takedowns and riding out the bout, the school said.
Strausbaugh, the reigning NCAA Division II champion at 133 pounds, then wrestled his first bout at 149 and won a 14-6 major decision over Brayden Canoyer. He also fell behind 6-1 in the first period before three takedowns and riding time turned it around. That gave the Marauders a 7-6 lead, their only lead of the afternoon.
NDSU took it back at 157, where Michael Olson beat sophomore Kale Baumann 4-2. The Bison then won at 165, 174, 184 and 197 to push the lead to 25-7. At heavyweight, sophomore Emery Slater lost a 3-2 decision to Adam Cherne.
UMary's other results, per the official results: Kaden Renner lost an 8-2 decision to Boeden Greenley at 165; Joe Mushinsky fell 24-10 to David Alonso at 174; Wyatt Elam lost 14-2 to Andrew Mcmonagle at 184; and Sam Bruss was beaten by a 15-0 technical fall by Devin Wasley at 197, with the bout ending at 3:16.
Jacobsen wins Jimmie Open title
UMary said seven of the 11 wrestlers it sent to Jamestown finished in the top six. Jacobsen opened with a pin of Minot State's Brayden Guerrero at 1:51, beat Northern State's Calder Sheehan 8-2 and won a 19-3 technical fall over Northern State's Alex Oedekoven in the semifinals. In the final, the Livingston, Montana, native beat teammate Cade Nieuwsma 4-1.
Nieuwsma went 3-1 to take second at 149. Isaac Stewart was also a runner-up after going 3-1 at 125. Alex Sitz lost his first match at 184, then won three straight to finish third. Gabe Wagner placed fifth at 157, and Ty Wiedrich (197) and Elijah Greenwaldt (165) each took sixth.
Season context
UMary started the season ranked fourth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II preseason poll released Oct. 22. The NSIC preseason coaches' poll picked the Marauders fifth in the conference. Strausbaugh was named NSIC Preseason Wrestler of the Year after winning the 133-pound national title as a freshman in March.
The school's preview listed four Marauders in the latest NWCA individual rankings: Strausbaugh and Lane Ewing at No. 1, Solis at No. 2 and Renner at No. 13. Ewing, who is ranked first at 165, did not wrestle in the NDSU dual, according to the posted results.
"What excites me most about this year's team is the experience, leadership, and competitive drive we have throughout our room," head coach Adam Aho said in the school's season preview. Aho is in his 14th season leading the program.
UMary's next event is the Dakota Wesleyan Open on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 9 a.m.
Sources: UMary Athletics: #4 Marauders fall to NDSU in season opener, Jacobsen takes gold at Jimmie Open; UMary Athletics: #4 Marauders open season against NCAA DI NDSU on Sunday
