Using what he called his "go-to move," junior Brett Owen gave Dickinson State the boost it needed to sway Tuesday night's dual with Jamestown College in his team's favor.
With the Blue Hawks trailing by a point and his 184-pound match in overtime, Owen escaped from Matt Buysse's near takedown and reversed motion to take down the Jimmies' freshman and seal a 4-2 decision. The win gave DSU the momentum and a two-point lead with two matches left in the dual.
The fourth-ranked Blue Hawks went on to take a 23-21 victory at Scott Gymnasium in a dual between the only two Dakota Athletic Conference wrestling teams.
"I knew we needed the points big time," said Owen, who was forced up a weight class due to injuries. "... I knew I could scramble out of it (Buysee's hold). That move I did there is kind of my go-to move. I knew when he relaxed a little bit I had to go to it."
Senior Justin Schlecht gave the Blue Hawks some breathing room with a decision at 197.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wrestling competitively for the first time since Jan. 16, Schlecht wore a black knee brace on his left leg. He had injured the knee against Chadron State.
Still, the brace didn't appear to bother Schlecht, who managed a 4-0 decision over Chris Thoreson despite the Jamestown senior's penchant for trying to stall the two-time defending national champion.
"They got momentum going and we had to respond," DSU coach Thadd O'Donnell said.
Owen said wrestling between brothers Stanton Schlecht and Justin Schlecht gave him confidence during his match.
"After Stan got his win (an 8-0 major decision over Justin Schuele at 197), that got me going," Owen said. "I felt confident when we got to (Justin) Schlecht."
Jamestown senior Stacey Mello, NAIA Region III's top-ranked heavyweight, wrapped up the match with a 3-2 decision against Karter Kleeman, sealing DSU's victory.
The Jimmies trailed 9-0 after two matches but used pins by a trio of seniors to gain an 18-13 lead.
"We need to show up and put it on the line every day," O'Donnell said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Zach Halcumb pinned DSU sophomore Brett Hunter in 4:08 at 141. Brad Malum pinned Blue Hawks freshman Nick Zumwalt with 5 seconds remaining in their 157-pound match. Carlyle Scott followed that up with a pin against DSU freshman Corbin Jodozzi in 5:47.
O'Donnell was unhappy about giving up three pins.
"That's the key to duals, not giving up bonus points," he said. "They wrestled well but we cannot give up those bonus points. That's what it boiled down to."
DSU wrestled without three upperclassmen starters.
Nathen Schweitzer (141) and Jake Toavs (184) both sat out due to illness and Matt Pridgeon (149) is still recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered at National Duals.
Freshman Tyler Gilfeather, wrestling in place of Pridgeon, earned an 11-1 major decision against Jamestown freshman Devin Demaine at 149.
DSU sophomore Eli Zuniga won a 10-4 decision over Brandon Roehrich at 133.
Jamestown was open at 125, giving the Blue Hawks six crucial points.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I can't be happy about it, but I can't be too disappointed," said Jimmies coach Cisco Cole. "Our team came and wrestled their hearts out."
Dickinson State 23, Jamestown College 21
125: Cory Johnston, DSU, open. 133: Eli Zuniga, DSU, dec. Brandon Roehrich, 10-4 141: Zach Halcumb, JC, pinned Brett Hunter, 4:08. 149: Tyler Gilfeather, DSU, major dec. Devin Demaine, 11-1. 157: Brad Malum, JC, pinned Nick Zumwalt, 6:55. 165: Carlyle Scott, JC, pinned Corbin Jodozzi, 5:47. 174: Stanton Schlecht, DSU, major dec. Justin Schuele, 8-0. 184: Brett Owen, DSU, dec. Matt Buysse, 4-2 (OT). 197: Justin Schlecht, DSU, dec. Chris Thoreson, 4-0. HWT: Stacey Mello, JC, dec. Karter Kleeman, 3-2.
