Index of Sports Press Releases

Oct. 31, 2007

DWU Wrestlers Open Season on Saturday

Mitchell, S.D. — The Dakota Wesleyan University wrestling team will open its 2007-08 season this Saturday (Nov. 3) when the Tigers travel to Brookings, S.D., to participate in the Daktronics Open at South Dakota State University.

Third-year head coach Josh Hardman returns 12 lettermen from the 2006-07 team that finished 5-8-1 in duals. Three returning national qualifiers return with hopes of making it back to the NAIA National Championships in Sioux City, Iowa this season.

Headlining the list of returners is senior Thomas Konechne. Konechne (149) is a three-time National Qualifier and was All-GPAC Second-Team as a junior last season. The Kimball, S.D., native is second on the DWU career all-time win list with 69 victories. He is ranked third in the NAIA North Region preseason rankings.

Senior Andrew Leggott is also a three-time National Qualifier at 125. Leggott qualified as a freshman at Si Tanka and has made it to nationals the past two seasons at DWU. He is ranked third in the NAIA North Region rankings.

Sophomore Jordan Harer is the other returning NAIA National qualifier. Harer qualified for nationals as a freshman last season at 133 pounds. He is ranked fourth in the preseason regional rankings.

Senior Tony Duarte qualified for nationals in 2005 and he is back to wrestle at 165 for the Tigers this season.

A total of 26 wrestlers are on the roster for Coach Hardman this season. The Tigers will participate in nine tournaments including the DWU Open on Nov. 10 in the DWU Wellness Center. The Tigers also will be competing in the GPAC Conference race with six conference duals as the GPAC is in its second year to offer wrestling as a sanctioned sport. The GPAC Championships will be Feb. 16, 2008 at the Corn Palace.