The NCAA News - News and Features

March 23, 1998

North Dakota State takes 158-, 167-pound classes in title romp

North Dakota State claimed the 158-pound and 167-pound weight classes en route to amassing 112 points to win the 1998 Division II Wrestling Championships at Southern Colorado March 13-14.

The team championship was the Bisons' first since 1988. South Dakota State finished second with 78 points, its best finish ever.

Mark Pazdernik gave Division II coach of the year Bucky Maughn his first championship of the night with a 10-4 decision over Justin Edwards of Southern Colorado in the 158-pound class. In the next match, Steve Saxlund defeated Myron Ellegood, 4-3, to win the 167-pound crown.

South Dakota State's Travis King, the 150-pound winner, garnered the Most Outstanding Wrestler award after failing to place at 142 pounds last season.

"After not making the finals last year and watching from the stands, I committed myself to this year," he said. "I really worked hard in the off-season, and this is the payoff for all the hard work. This is what I put in those extra hours for."

At 118 pounds, Jody Strittmatter of Pittsburgh-Johnstown downed defending champion Damon Broadbent of San Francisco State, 5-4. In the semifinals, he trailed Brock Moore of Central Oklahoma, 6-1, before posting a 17-8 win.

"When I was down ... I might have given up, but I looked over at my coaches and they made me dig down and believe that I could win and I did," he said. "They have had that kind of confidence in me all year long, and it really helped in this tournament."

The only successful defending champion wrestled the last bout of the night. Ryan Resel of South Dakota State defeated Tim Croff of Carson-Newman, 3-1.

Nate Hendrickson of Moorhead State, last year's Most Outstanding Wrestler after winning the 167-pound title, lost in the semifinals and finished sixth in the same class this year. Defending 158-pound champion Greg Jackson of San Francisco State was disqualified in his semifinal match with Pazdernik and finished fifth.

In team highlights, Southern Colorado equaled its best national finish by claiming fifth with 56 points. Carson-Newman cracked the top 10 for the first time, placing 10th with 33 points.

Total paid attendance for the two days was 13,831. Paid attendance for the finals was 4,194.

Division II wrestling

TEAM RESULTS

1. North Dak St., 112; 2. South Dak. St., 78; 3. Pitt.-Johnstown, 66; 4. Central Okla., 61; 5. Southern Colo., 56; 6. Neb.-Omaha, 551Ž2; 7. Mankato St., 52 1Ž2; 8. Northern Colo., 411Ž2; 9. Neb.-Kearney, 41; 10. Carson-Newman, 33.

11. Adams St., 301Ž2; 12. Fort Hays St., 29; 13. San. Fran. St., 281Ž2; 14. Western St., 27; 15. Central Mo. St., 251Ž2; 16. Ashland, 241Ž2; 17. Southwest St., 22; 18. SIU-Edwardsville, 191Ž2; 19. Colorado Mines, 19; 20. Wis.-Parkside, 181Ž2.

21. Indianapolis, 13; 22. Augustana (S.D.), 121Ž2; 23. Chadron St., 12; 24. Kutztown, 11 1Ž2; 25. Moorhead St., 71Ž2; 26. (tie) Gardner-Webb and North Dak., 3; 28. (tie) Minn.-Morris and Shippensburg, 21Ž2; 30. American Int'l, 2; 31. Truman St., 11Ž2; 32. (tie) Mansfield, St. Cloud St. and West Liberty St., 1Ž2.

118-pound class

Preliminary round: Mike Bailey, Central Mo. St., def. Chris Ngo, Fort Hays St., 8-6; Jody Strittmatter, Pitt.-Johnstown, pinned Karega Scott, Truman St., 5:48; Chad Wickman, South Dak. St., def. Jeff Putt, Shippensburg, 11-3.

Quarterfinals: Brock Moore, Central Okla., def. Bailey, 10-2; Strittmatter def. Naret Viravong, Carson-Newman, 12-4; Wickman def. Michael Lovato, Adams St., 12-3; Damon Broadbent, San Fran. St., def. Mack LaRock, Neb.-Omaha, 11-3.

Semifinals: Strittmatter def. Moore, 17-8; Broadbent def. Wickman, 9-2.

Finals: Strittmatter def. Broadbent, 5-4. Third place -- Moore def. Wickman, 7-5. Fifth place -- Bailey def. LaRock, 5-3, tiebreaker. Seventh place -- Putt def. Scott, 2-0.

126-pound class

Preliminary round: Jessie Montez, SIU-Edwardsville, def. Erin Razo, North Dak., 6-6, tiebreaker; Lucas Trujillo, Southern Colo., pinned Marc Schulze, Mankato St., 6:49; Troy Keiswetter, Neb.-Kearney, def. Ryan Hintz, Central Mo. St., 5-4; Kris Nelson, Northern Dak. St., def. Lance Parsons, Indianapolis, 8-7; Craig Otto, Western St., def. Kohlby O'Donnell, Kutztown, 7-2; Matt Goodson, Central Okla., def. Nathan Godfrey, South Dak. St., 8-3.

Quarterfinals: Montez def. Trujillo, 3-2, tiebreaker; Jesse Clark, Ashland, def. Keiswetter, 6-5; Otto def. Nelson, 9-4; Goodson def. Tony Clark, Pitt.-Johnstown, 5-4.

Semifinals: Clark def. Montez, by default; Goodson def. Otto, 9-2.

Finals: Goodson def. Clark, 7-4. Third place -- Otto def. Nelson, 6-4, sudden death. Fifth place -- O'Donnell def. Montez, by medical forfeit. Seventh place -- Razo def. Trujillo, 11-4.

134-pound class

Preliminary round: Isaac Greeley, Pitt.-Johnstown, def. Phil Kirsch, Wis.-Parkside, by technical fall, 6:37; Ryan Mizushima, Western St., def. Jay Yates, Indianapolis, 7-3; George Thompson, North Dak. St., def. Mark Mentzer, Shippensburg, 14-2; Marshal Hahn, Northern Colo., def. Richie Daughtry, Carson-Newman, 6-3; Brauman Creighton, Neb.-Omaha, def. Dwight Ballou, Moorhead St., 5-3; Paul Konechne, South Dak. St., def. Joe Schneider, Central Okla., 7-4.

Quarterfinals: Greeley def. Mizushima, 6-4; Thompson def. Chris Stivers, Chadron St., 17-6; Creighton def. Hahn, 11-4; Konechne def. Kurt Karjalainen, Neb.-Kearney, 7-4.

Semifinals: Greeley def. Thompson, 4-3; Creighton def. Konechne, 8-4.

Finals: Creighton def. Greeley, 5-4, sudden death. Third place -- Thompson def. Mizushima, by technical fall, 6:20. Fifth place -- Karjalainen pinned Konechne, 6:23. Seventh place -- Hahn def. Stivers, 7-3.

142-pound class

Preliminary round: Corey Kline, Ashland, def. R. J. Pizzi, Central Mo. St., 10-2; Franky James, Carson-Newman, def. Jason Cuperus, North Dak. St., 3-2; Scott Trembly, San Fran. St., def. Justin Martin, Pitt.-Johnstown, 9-5; Gable Sullivan, Central Okla., def. Joe Renfro, Neb.-Kearney, 5-2; Chris Currier, Southern Colo., pinned Ryan Thorpe, Northern St., 2:06.

Quarterfinals: James def. Kline, 3-2; Troy Szydel, Mankato St., def. Trembly, by technical fall, 3:51; Sullivan def. Boyce Voorhees, Neb.-Omaha, 11-9, sudden death; Currier def. Bob Bellanger, Mass.-Lowell, 12-3.

Semifinals: Szydel pinned James, 2:18; Currier def. Sullivan, 6-4.

Finals: Szydel def. Currier, by default. Third place --Cuperus def. Renfro, 12-6. Fifth place -- James def. Sullivan, 8-3. Seventh place -- Kline def. Voorhees, 8-6.

150-pound class

Preliminary round: Matt Petsinger, Mankato St., pinned Justin Willuweit, Neb.-Kearney, 1:56; Benny Charles, Southern Colo., def. Joel Brinker, Mansfield, 9-2; Wayne Mooney, North Dak. St., def. Allen Everett, Ashland, 2-1; Travis King, South Dak. St., def. Mario Moreno, San Fran. St., 13-5; Lazaro Reinoso, Carson-Newman, def. Chance Stoeser, Augustana (S.D.), 7-2; Justin Hoopman, Chadron St., def. Doug Yeager, Central Mo. St., 10-8; Scott Hewit, Northern Colo., def. Tyke Conover, Pitt.-Johnstown, 10-0.

Quarterfinals: Charles def. Petsinger, 11-7; King def. Mooney, 5-2; Reinoso def. Hoopman, 6-4, sudden death; Jody Marple, Central Okla., def. Hewit, 5-4.

Semifinals: King def. Charles, 7-5; Marple def. Reinoso, 7-6.

Finals: King def. Marple, 13-4. Third place -- Petsinger pinned Charles, :36. Fifth place -- Hewit def. Reinoso, by medical forfeit. Seventh place -- Mooney def. Hoopman, 7-5, sudden death.

158-pound class

Preliminary round: Joe Veres, Ashland, def. Klaus Roberts, St. Cloud St., 5-4; Justin Edwards, Southern Colo., pinned Travis Nagel, Moorhead St., 2:53; Mark Blaschko, Neb.-Kearney, pinned Blue Perez, Carson- Newman, 4:01; Troy Barbush, Pitt.-Johnstown, def. Jake Holscher, Chadron St., 17-4; Mark Pazdernik, North Dak. St., def. Boone Smith, Wis.-Parkside, by technical fall, 4:27; Albert Harrold, Neb.-Omaha, def. Matt Surber, Central Okla., 6-5; Titus Taylor, SIU-Edwardsville, def. Mike Mitchell, American Int'l, 13-10.

Quarterfinals: Edwards pinned Veres, 4:39; Barbush pinned Blaschko, 4:29; Pazdernik def. Harrold, 15-3; Greg Jackson, San Fran. St., def. Taylor, 7-3.

Semifinals: Edwards Def. Barbush, 2-1; Pazdernik def. Jackson, by disqualification.

Finals: Pazdernik def. Edwards, 10-4. Third place -- Jackson def. Taylor, 5-2. Fifth place -- Barbush def. Blaschko, 8-4. Seventh place -- Holscher def. Veres, 6-1.

167-pound class

Preliminary round: Steve Saxlund, North Dak. St., def. Steve Massouh, West Liberty St., 11-7; Joe Dougherty, Pitt.-Johnstown, def. Ben Daley, Southwest St., 11-5; T. J. Deaguero, Northern Colo., def. Mike Ross, Colorado Mines, 9-2; Brandon Terry, Neb.-Kearney, def. Deon Brimmage, Indianapolis, 3-1, sudden death; Howard Fullhart, South Dak. St., def. Lantz Schawabenbauer, Gannon, 12-6; Nate Hendrickson, Moorhead St., def. Kevin Allison, Chadron St., 11-7; Myron Ellegood, Fort Hays St., pinned Eric Hage, Augustana (S.D.), 4:32.

Quarterfinals: Saxlund def. Dougherty, 11-2; Terry def. Deaguero, 4-2; Hendrickson def. Fullhart, 9-3; Ellegood def. Trent Monlux, Southern Colo., 15-5.

Semifinals: Saxlund def.. Terry, 7-2; Ellegood def. Hendrickson, 7-5.

Finals: Saxlund def. Ellegood, 4-3. Third place -- Deaguero def. Brimmage, 9-2. Fifth place -- Terry def. Hendrickson, 6-3. Seventh place -- Monlux def. Hage, 9-3.

177-pound class

Preliminary round: Jeremie Ott, Wis.-Parkside, def. Alex Tapia, Southern Colo., 5-3; Charlie Higdon, Carson-Newman, def. Scott Antoniak, Neb.-Omaha, by default; Brent Hendricksen, Augustana (S.D.), def. Irwin Brambley, Pitt.-Johnstown, 7-3; Conrad Johnson, Adams St., pinned Joe Pistone, American Int'l, 6:27; Pat Timm, South Dak. St., def. Matt Johnson, Central Mo. St., 8-1.

Quarterfinals: Ott def. Higdon, 12-3; Hendriksen def. Brady Wegesin, Ashland, 8-6; Johnson def. Corey Alfonsi, Fort Hays St., 13-3; John Simpson, Colorado Mines, def. Timm, 6-5.

Semifinals: Ott pinned Hendriksen, 6:02; Simpson def. Johnson, 8-2.

Finals: Simpson def. Ott, 6-4, sudden death. Third place -- Timm def. Johnson, 10-6. Fifth place -- Johnson def. Hendriksen, by default. Seventh place -- Brambley pinned Pistone, :58.

190-pound class

Preliminary round: Mike Schadwinkle, Adams St., def. Jason Moehlman, Central Mo. St., 13-3; Shawn Ange, Mankato St., pinned Antwuan Dallas, Carson-Newman, 5:48; Jose Medina, Neb.-Omaha, def. Kevin Jiminez, Southern Colo., 6-2; James Short, Gardner-Webb, pinned Jaison Klingensmith, Pitt.-Johnstown, 4:50; Andy Sistek, Neb.-Kearney, def. Ryan Wolters, North Dak. St., 6-3; Link Steffen, Southwest St., def. Steve Divirgilo, Mass.-Lowell, 21-10; Jason Schumacher, Augustana (S.D.), pinned Trevell Smittick, Fort Hays St., 6:55.

Quarterfinals: Schadwinkle def. Ange, 4-0; Medina def. Short, 8-6, sudden death; Steffen def. Sistek, 6-3; Edwin Lorne, Central Okla., def. Schumacher, 10-9.

Semifinals: Schadwinkle def. Medina, 6-5; Steffen pinned Lorne, 2:39.

Finals: Steffen def. Schadwinkle, 8-1. Third place -- Wolters def. Medina, 5-3. Fifth place -- Lorne def. Klingensmith, 6-4. Seventh place -- Ange def. Moehlman, 7-5.

Heavyweight class

Preliminary round: Winterhawk Windchief, Central Okla., def. Don Caramell, Gannon, 8-7, tiebreaker; Keith Blaske, Fort Hays St., pinned Jeremy Werner, Minn.-Morris, 4:15; Chris Villalobos, Northern Colo., pinned Keith Hoffman, Shippensburg, 2:30; Tim Croff, Carson-Newman, pinned Dave Claymer, North Dak. St., :32; Rich McPhee, Indianapolis, pinned Steve Brown, SIU-Edwardsville, 4:02; Ryan Resel, South Dak. St., pinned Jay Long, Chadron St., :36; Jerry Corner, Neb.-Omaha, def. Mark Rose, Ashland, 2-1.

Quarterfinals: Blaske def. Windchief, 7-2, sudden death; Croff def. Villalobos, 1-0; Resel def. McPhee, 10-1; Wicker def. Corner, 3-2, tiebreaker.

Semifinals: Croff pinned Blaske, 3:24; Resel def. Wicker, 9-1.

Finals: Resel def. Croff, 3-1. Third place -- Corner def. Villalobos, 8-0. Fifth place -- Blaske pinned Wicker, 2:10. Seventh place -- Clymer def. Rose, 5-4.