Brad Steele sets DSU's single-season pins record at nationals

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Three Dickinson State wrestlers moved on to the quarterfinals of the NAIA national wrestling tournament Thursday — and one made history in the process.

Brad Steele became DSU’s all-time single-season pins leader in his first match.

The junior from Beach turned a 9-5 deficit into his 22nd pin of the season in 5 minutes, 38 seconds to defeat Montana State-Northern’s James Peterson in the second round of the 149-pound tournament. Steele had a bye in the opening round.

Steele then picked up a hard-fought third-round victory, beating Carey Cloud of William Penn (Iowa) 3-2 in overtime.

Sophomore Bryden Lazaro easily won his first match of the tournament, beating Bacone College’s Luis Mercado by a 17-2 technical fall.

Lazaro reached the quarterfinals with a 10-0 major decision over Wayland Baptist’s Richard Leal.

Junior Jose Lopez won by a 3-2 decision in two overtimes against Bacone College’s Jose Lee and then pinned Josh Geppert of Dakota Wesleyan in 4:26 in the second round.

Sergio Martinez (125), Clayton Steinmetz (133), Adam Orton (141), Robert Meador (149), Jesse Hellinger (184) and Colton Hill (285) all lost their opening matches.

The tournament continues today with wrestleback and quarterfinal matches.

First and second round

125: Bryden Lazaro, DSU, tech. fall Luis Mercado, Bacone, 17-2; Emerson Negley, York, major dec. Sergo Martinez, DSU, 9-0.

133: Omi Acosta, Grand View, pinned Clayton Steinmetz, 1:58.

141: Isaac Thomas, Lindsey Wilson, major dec. Adam Orton, 12-4.

149: Brad Steele, DSU, pinned James Peterson, 5:38; Damonte Riley, Lindsey Wilson, tech. fall Robert Meador, DSU, 19-3.

184: Evan Hinebauch, Montana State-Northern, pinned Jesse Hellinger, DSU, 5:37.

285: Jose Lopez, DSU, dec. Josh Lee, 3-2 (OT); Jacob Combs, Waldorf, dec. Colton Hill, DSU, 7-3.

Third round

125: Bryden Lazaro, DSU, major dec. Richard Leal, Wayland Baptist, 10-0.

149: Brad Steele, DSU, dec. Carey Cloud, William Penn, 3-2 (OT).

HWT: Jose Lopez, DSU, pinned Josh Geppert, Dakota Wesleyan, 4:26.

Tags: brad steele, blue hawks, dsu blue hawks, bryden lazaro, sports, wrestling