11/7/2010 12:53:00 AM | Wrestling
BROOKINGS, S.D. ? Three North Dakota State wrestlers opened the 2010 season by winning titles at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open hosted by South Dakota State on Saturday, Nov. 6. Senior Vince Salminen and junior Tyler Johnson both won their second straight titles at 157 pounds and 165 pounds, respectively. Sophomore Trent Sprenkle took first at 125 pounds. Overall, nine Bison placed at the season-opening meet.
Sprenkle won his opening bout by technical fall over Brandon Goodwin of Sioux Falls. He then defeated unattached Drew Fleming in a major decision, 16-7. In the semifinal bout, Sprenkle won a 21-6 major decision over Corbin Surat of Northern State. Sprenkle defeated teammate Justin Solberg, who competed unattached, in the final, 8-2.
At 157 pounds, Salminen pinned his first two opponents, Drey Keairnes of Midland and Austin Carmichael of Augustana. In the semifinals, he won an 18-2 major decision over unattached Nick Flynn. In a rematch of last year's final, Salminen defeated unattached Marcus Edgington by a 3-1 decision.
Johnson also pinned his first two opponents, Jay Fowler of Iowa Central and unattached Brayden Neises. He defeated Donnie Bowden of Northern State in a 19-6 major decision in the semifinal. In the final, Johnson defeated unattached teammate Kurtis Julson in a 7-5 decision.
Sophomore Mark Erickson took third at 141 pounds, defeating redshirt freshman Trevor Johnson in the third place match, 9-6.
At 149 pounds, senior Andrey Patselov finished second, dropping a 5-4 decision to unattached Esai Dominguez in the final. Redshirt freshman Steven Monk placed third at 157 pounds, winning a 4-2 decision over unattached George Ivanov in the third place bout.
At 184 pounds, senior Kenny Moenkedick finished second after losing a 6-5 decision to unattached Aaron Denson in the final. Freshman John Gusewelle was third, pinning unattached Joe Piro in 2:51.
NDSU will next host the Bison Open Saturday, Nov. 13 beginning at 10 a.m.
