ABERDEEN, SD – The Minot State wrestling team (3-9, 1-6 NSIC) stood its ground and escaped Aberdeen with a statement win on Friday, narrowly defeating No. 25-ranked Northern State (6-4, 3-4 NSIC) by a score of 25-20 for its first conference win of the season.

After collecting on an open win at the 125, the Wolves made it a 6-5 contest as Kenny Jones earned a technical fall (15-0) against Minot State’s Oscar Nellis at the 133.

But the Beavers rebounded. Jered Sublet earned a 10-1 MD win over Northern State’s Robert Coyle at the 141, and fellow senior Tanner Crissler piled it on with a key fall against Bryan Burnett at the 149 to give the Beavers a 16-5 edge.

Now leading 22-20, the Beavers turned to redshirt freshman and Bishop Ryan alum Jordan Will to seal the victory in the closing 285-pound match against Harrison Townsend. Will delivered with a gritty 8-3 decision to give his team the 25-20 victory.

Next up for the Beavers is a home dual at the Minot State Dome against Dickinson State on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Magi wrestling falls to Dickinson, 34-27

DICKINSON – The Minot High wrestling team (13-5, 7-3 West Region) lost a heartbreaker on the road Friday, falling to Dickinson (17-1, 9-0 West Region) by a nail-biting score of 34-27.

After claiming three decision wins in the early going, the Magicians finally earned their first fall at the 220 when junior Preston Jones defeated Dickinson’s Zander Lemon to make it an 18-15 contest in the Midgets’ favor.

Minot then took a slim 21-18 edge with an open victory, but Dickinson’s Houston Crimmins snatched the lead back for his team with a fall against Daniel Fernandez at the 106.

Minot claimed a 27-24 lead with another open victory, but the Midgets closed out the dual with a pair of decision wins and a major decision win to secure the 34-27 victory.

The Magi now shift their focus to regionals, which will begin Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Turtle Mountain Community College.

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