Early Streak Stops Blue Hawks

DICKINSON, N.D. (1/26/17)---Concordia won five of the first six contested matches against Dickinson State and held on to beat the Blue Hawks 21-18 in Dickinson.

The Cobbers built up an 18-12 lead heading into the match at 184 and then got the dual-winning victory from junior Kody Van Den Eykel to earn their eighth dual win of the season.

The victory pushes Concordia's overall record to 8-7 on the year while Dickinson State falls to 1-3 for the year.

The Cobbers started the match in a 6-0 hole due to a forfeit at 125. Concordia then earned three straight wins by a decision to jump out to a 9-6 lead. Aaron Dick started the win streak by posting a 16-9 decision at 133. Adam Presler then followed suit with a 14-8 win at 141. Blane Tschida completed the trio of victories by recording a 12-6 decision at 149.

The most anticipated match of the night occurred at 157 where Cobber junior Cole Sladek battled Blue Hawk redshirt senior Sean Elkins. Both wrestlers entered the match ranked sixth in their national rankings. Sladek was unbeaten in his first 12 matches of the year while Elkins was an NAIA All-American in 2015. Unfortunately for Sladek he got stuck in the first period and lost by pin fall at the 1:45 mark.

The biggest match of the night came in the very next bout at 165. Concordia trailed host Dickinson State 12-9 with the Blue Hawks holding all the momentum in the match. Joe Heinz proceeded to step on the mat for the Cobbers and silence the crowd with a pin fall at the start of the third period.

Heinz' pin at 5:31 gave Concordia a 15-12 lead – a lead they would never relinquish.

Jake Johnson widened CC's lead to six points when he grabbed a 5-1 decision at 174.

The Blue Hawks would get to within three points after a decision win at 184 before Van Den Eykel sealed the team victory with a 7-5 decision at 197.

PRESLER PRESSES ON: Adam Presler gained a 14-8 decision at 141 vs. Dickinson State which is his 20th win of the season. He is the first Cobber to reach the 20-win mark this year and it is his first 20-win season of his career. Presler is now 20-12 for the year.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia finishes off their three dual-match streak when they square off against former MIAC rival St. John's on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in Collegeville. The Johnnies are 6-3 in dual matches this year.   

FINAL SCORE:
Concordia-Moorhead 21, Dickinson State (N.D.) 18
Date: January 26, 2017
Location: Dickinson N.D.
Arena: Scott Gymnasium
Start Time: 8:00 p.m.
End Time: 9:25 p.m.
Total Time: 1:25
Attendance: 122

Individual Match Results:
125 - Anthony Locke (DSU) wins by forfeit (Dickinson State 6-0)
133 - Aaron Dick (CC) decision Michael Pajaro (DSU); 16-9 (Dickinson State 6-3)
141 - Adam Presler (CC) decision Jaime Mullins (DSU); 14-8 (Tied 6-6)
149 - Blane Tschida (CC) decision Seth Ehlang (DSU); 12-6 (Concordia 9-6)
157 - Sean Elkins (DSU) pin fall #6 Cole Sladek (CC); 1:45 (Dickinson State 12-9)
165 - Joe Heinz (CC) pin fall Devan Williams (DSU); 5:31 (Concordia 15-12)
174 - Jake Johnson (CC) decision Jason Zecchini (DSU); 5-1 (Concordia 18-12)
184 - Lane Oversen (DSU) decision Dan Marquette (CC); 8-4 (Concordia 18-15)
197 - Kody Van Den Eykel (CC) decision Payson Dirk (DSU); 7-5 (Concordia 21-15)
285 - Ethan Gross-Dickie (DSU) decision Brandon Knisley (CC); 10-5 (Concordia 21-18)