MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 23 Western Colorado wrestling team bounced back from a loss Thursday at Augustana as the Mountaineers upended No. 15 Minnesota State - Mankato 24-19 on Saturday at the Taylor Center.
The dual started at 141 pounds and
Jason Hanenberg got WCU rolling with a pin a minute into the second period to make it 6-0. The Mavericks picked up a major decision win at 149 and a decision victory at 157 to take a 7-6 lead before
Michael Thelen got the lead back for WCU with a 7-4 win over Logan Saltou to make it 9-7.
Arguably the turning point of the match came at 174 pounds as WCU's
Jimmy LaConte (ranked 11th) trailed 10-6 in the third period to MSU's Zach Johnson (ranked No. 7) before turning the tables by getting a pin with 1:15 left in the match to pick up a huge six points for the Mountaineers and give them a 15-7 advantage.
WCU needed it as the Mavericks picked up a decision win at 184 and a fall at 197 to take a 16-15 lead on the Mountaineers. At 285, WCU's
Sammy deSeriere - after a scoreless first period - picked up a 17-2 tech fall in the third period for five points for the Mountaineers and a 20-16 advantage.
The Mountaineers'
Colby Duncan dropped a battle at 125 8-4 as WCU's lead was cut to one at 20-19 heading to the final match.
Cody Fatzinger left little doubt for the Mountaineers as he closed it out with an 18-6 major decision win to make the final score 24-19 Mountaineers.
WCU closes out the road trip Sunday as it takes on No. 1 St. Cloud State.
#23 Western Colorado 24, #15 Minnesota State
141:
Jason Hanenberg (WCU) wins via fall at 4:00 vs.
Tony Heng (MSU) | 6-0 WCU
149:
Kyle Rathman (MSU) wins an 11-2 major decision vs.
Giovanni Cassioppi (WCU) | 6-4 WCU
157:
Cooper Siebrcht (MSU) wins an 8-6 decision vs.
Cole Mortensen (WCU) | 7-6 MSU
165:
Michael Thelen (WCU) wins a 7-4 decision vs.
Logan Saltou (MSU) | 9-7 WCU
174:
Jimmy LaConte (WCU) wins via fall at 5:45 vs.
Zach Johnston (MSU) | 15-7 WCU
184:
Trevor Turriff (MSU) wins a 13-8 decision vs.
Hunter Mullin (WCU) | 15-10 WCU
197:
Matthew Blome (MSU) wins via fall at 1:46 vs.
Kris Davis (WCU) | 16-15 MSU
285:
Sammy deSeriere (WCU) wins via a 17-2 tech fall at 5:17 vs.
Max Villnow (MSU) | 20-16 WCU
125:
Trenton McManus (MSU) wins an 8-4 decision vs.
Colby Duncan (WCU) | 20-19 WCU
133:
Cody Fatzinger (WCU) wins an 18-6 major decision vs.
Cole Gille (MSU) | 24-19 WCU
