Index of Sports Press Releases

Nov. 23, 2009

Harer leads No. 19 DWU to great showing in Minneapolis

Jordan Harer

Alan Stuber

MITCHELL, S.D. – The 19th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan University wrestling team had a great showing Saturday at one of the toughest tournaments it will attend all season. As a team, the Tigers were six wins above .500 for the day and had two national qualifiers and six place winners at the Auggie/Brute Adidas Open, hosted by Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

The Tigers, who collectively finished 17-11 at the prestigious tournament, were led by senior Jordan Harer who won the individual championship in the 141-pound Gold Division with a 4-0 record, and he qualified for his fourth-straight trip to the NAIA Wrestling National Championships in the process. Harer, ranked third in the NAIA at 141, is still unbeaten this season with a perfect 6-0 record.

The Gettysburg, S.D., native and returning NAIA All-American captured his first tournament title of 2009 with an impressive showing in the top division at 141 pounds. Harer opened with a pin, and used an 8-4 win to advance to the semifinals. He reached the championship match with a 6-4 win, and he scored an 8-3 win in the title match to finish 4-0 and claim another trip to nationals.

Harer wasn’t the only Tiger with an impressive showing. Alan Stuber went 2-2 in the 125-pound Silver Division and finished in fourth place to also earn a bid to nationals. Malik Stewart was 3-1 and the fifth-place finisher in the 133-pound Gold Division. Noah Ruml was also 3-1 and the third-place finisher in the 157-pound Bronze Division, and his brother Francis was 2-1 and the seventh-place finisher in the same division. Tanner LaValliere added a 2-2 performance and a sixth-place finish in the 165-pound Silver Division.

Blake Hodne was 1-2 overall in 174-ound Silver Division and Andrew Brech was 0-2 in the 157-pound Siver Division to round out Dakota Wesleyan’s performances at the invite.

The Tigers now have three qualifiers for the NAIA National Championships, as Danny Hutcheson qualified at 149 pounds at DWU’s home tournament a week earlier. DWU will take the rest of November off and will return to action with a triangular match and its Great Plains Athletic Conference opener on Dec. 3. Dakota Wesleyan will host Jamestown at 4:30 p.m. and Morningside at 6:30 p.m. that evening at Fosness Arena in the Christen Family Recreation/Wellness Center.