NSU vs SDSU Results
NSU vs SIUE Results

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Facing a pair of NCAA Division I opponents, the Northern State University wrestling team scored late wins to secure a 19-19 tie at South Dakota State and won three of the last four bouts to edge Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 21-18 Sunday afternoon in SDSU's Frost Arena.  The non-conference duals were part of the SDSU Jackrabbit Triangular.

NSU senior Brent Fosheim (197 pounds) and sophomore returning All-American Matt Meuleners played key parts in both comeback efforts.  Foscheim scored a 12-4 major decision over SDSU's Kyle Larson to bring the Wolves back within striking distance in the opening dual.  The Wolves had dropped three straight bouts and were facing a 19-12 deficit heading into the final two bouts.

Fosheim's major decision gave the Wolves a much-needed four-point boost to make it 19-16 with the heavyweight match-up left to go.  After a scoreless first period, Meuleners chose down to start the second period and earned his one-point escape less than 20 seconds into the period.  The Norwood Young America native then kept Kelly down for all but 40 seconds of the final period.  With the riding time point, Meuleners claimed the 2-1 equalizer and ended the dual knotted at 19 points apiece.

Senior Corbin Surat picked up a forfeit victory at 125 pounds, while junior Benton Crow (141) and freshman Blake Lundgren (157) also tallied wins for the Wolves.

The Wolves got off to a quick start again in the SIUE match-up.  Surat took home another win by forfeit, while Crow pinned the Cougars' Lawrence Blackful with 1:04 left in the second period to boost the Wolves to a 12-3 advantage.

From there, however, the Cougars rattled off three straight decisions to tie things up at 12-all.  After a 5-4 Chad Gibson win over Deshoun White, SIUE's Jordon Bakley vaulted the Cougars into the lead with a win by fall over NSU's Baker Haar.

Down 18-15, Fosheim evened the match at 18 with his 8-4 win over Robert Cooney.  Meuleners then came through with another dramatic victory in the heavyweight bout to give the Wolves the win.  SIUE's David Devine scored a first-period takedown and a second-period escape to go into the third period with a 3-1 lead.  Meuleners chose the down position to start the stanza and immediately scored a 2-point reversal to tie the bout at 3-3.

Devine regained the lead with an escape with 1:47 left to go, but Meuleners got the go-ahead takedown with just 30 seconds remaining to get the bout win and secure the Wolves' first dual meet victory of the season.

The Wolves are back in action next weekend at the annual Midwest Classic in Indianapolis before breaking for the Christmas holiday.  NSU resumes dual meet action after the New Year with two matches in Sioux Falls on Jan. 12 against the University of Sioux Falls and Northwestern College.