Wrestling 11/9/2024 8:45:00 PM

Prairie Wolves Narrowly Fall to Saint John’s in Season Opening Dual

Wrestling 11/9/2024 8:45:00 PM

Prairie Wolves Narrowly Fall to Saint John’s in Season Opening Dual

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Nebraska Wesleyan wrestling came up just short in a tightly contested 27-23 dual against Saint John's (MN) on Friday, marking the first dual under new head coach Colton McCrystal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Prairie Wolves got off to a strong start with back-to-back victories in the opening matches. Christopher McClanahan kicked things off with a second-period pin over Thomas Holmquist at 125 pounds, finishing in 4:59 to give NWU a 6-0 lead. Robbie Fisher then followed with an injury default win at 133 pounds, extending NWU's advantage to 12-0 early in the match.

Saint John's responded quickly. At 141 pounds, Jose De Los Santos pinned NWU's Randy Guerra in 3:56, narrowing the lead to 12-6. At 149 pounds, Travis Guzman put the Prairie Wolves back in command with a dominant 17-2 technical fall victory over Alex Schuh, extending the lead to 17-6. The Johnnies cut into the lead at 157 pounds, where Owen Carlson pinned Nathan Rowden in 4:11, and by the 165-pound match, Saint John's had cut the lead to 17-12.

Seth Littrell and Emilio Chavez continued to help the Prairie Wolves hold on to the lead. Littrell secured a 6-2 decision over Kris Castro at 165 pounds, while Chavez followed with a 7-2 victory over Laiken Copeman at 174 pounds, putting NWU ahead 23-12 with three matches remaining.

However, Saint John's staged a dramatic comeback in the final three bouts. Jacob Vaughan's 11-6 decision over Sam Weaver at 184 pounds, followed by Jordan Silvera's pin over Habeeb Raji at 197 pounds in 2:29, brought the score to 23-21. In the heavyweight match, Aidan Wayne sealed the win for Saint John's with a first-period pin over Donovan Mann at 1:39, giving the Johnnies a 27-23 victory.

RESULTS

125: Chris McClanahan (NWU) pinned Thomas Holmquist, 4:59 [0-6]
133: Robbie Fisher (NWU) injury def. Connor Krueger [0-12]
141: Jose De Los Santos (SJU) pinned R.J. Guerra, 3:56 [6-12]
149: Travis Guzman (NWU) tech. fall Alex Schuh, 17-2 [6-17]
157: Owen Carlson (SJU) pinned Nathan Rowden, 4:11 [12-17]
165: Seth Littrell (NWU) dec. Kris Castro, 6-2 [12-20]
174: Emilio Chavez (NWU) dec. Laiken Copeman, 7-2 [12-23]
184: Jacob Vaughan (SJU) dec. Sam Weaver, 11-6 [15-23]
197: Jordan Silvera (SJU) pinned Habeeb Raji, 2:29 [21-23]
285: Aidan Wayne (SJU) pinned Danny Mann, 1:39 [27-23]