Index of Sports Press Releases

Nov. 30, 2006

Tiger Wrestlers Pick up Big Dual Wins

Mitchell, S.D.— Freshman Laird Klippenstein pinned Greg Kelley in the second period of the final match to give Dakota Wesleyan University a 26-22 dual win over the University of Sioux Falls in Great Plains Athletic Conference wrestling action on Thursday night (Nov. 30) in Mitchell, S.D. The Tigers also won the first dual of the night winning by the second tie-breaker criteria 18-18 over NCAA Division II Northern State University.

Dakota Wesleyan is now 3-0 in duals in the 2006 season after going 2-13 last season. This was the first ever GPAC dual for the Tigers, as this is the first season that the GPAC is a sanctioned wrestling conference with six teams.

DWU trailed 22-20 heading into the final match against USF before Klippenstein sealed the win with the pin. Other key wins for the Tigers over the Cougars were a pin by Spencer Novotny at 157 pounds, a 24-9 major decision by Andrew Leggott at 125 pounds, and a 7-3 decision for Thomas Konechne at 149 pounds.

Against Northern State, the dual ended in a 18-18 tie. Both teams had five wins in the match, so it went to the second criteria, which is most falls. The Tigers held that advantage as returning All-American Lionel Riley pinned Jared Little for the only fall of the dual. It was Riley’s first match of the season after completing the football season.

Klippenstein and Konechne also won matches over the Wolves with Klippenstein winning 4-3 at 165 pounds, and Konechne getting a 7-4 decision at 149.

Freshman Jordan Harer had a key 6-3 win over Phil Greenfield at 133 pounds, and senior Ben Sevigny went up a weight class to get a 15-12 decision victory over Austin Johnsrud at 141 pounds.

The Tiger wrestlers will now travel to Moorhead, Minn., this weekend to take part in the Dragon Open on Saturday (Dec. 2).