South Dakota State JACKRABBIT ATHLETICS NEWS RELEASE Jackrabbit Sports Information 2820 HPER Center Brookings, SD 57007-1497 Wrestling Contact/Assistant AD-Sports Information: Jason Hove E-mail: Jason.Hove@sdstate.edu Office Phone: (605) 688-4623 Mobile: (605) 695-1827 Fax: (605) 688-5999 Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackrabbit.nation Twitter: @GoJacksWrestle Website: www.gojacks.com 2017-18 WRESTLING INFORMATION Jacks to wrestle at Bison Open THIS WEEK #16 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE at BISON OPEN 10 a.m. Saturday Scheels Center Fargo, N.D. Live Video: FloWrestling.org Live Results: TrackWrestling.com 2017-18 SCHEDULE NOVEMBER 5 WILLIAMSON/DAKTRONICS OPEN One champ 11 at Bison Open; Fargo, N.D. 10 a.m. 17 MINNESOTA 7 p.m. 26 at Arizona State noon MT DECEMBER 3 DAKOTA SHOWCASE Spearfish vs. Dakota Wesleyan noon MT vs. Northern State 1:30 p.m. MT vs. Augustana 3 p.m. MT 8 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 8 p.m. 29-30 at Ken Kraft Midlands Hoffman Estates, Ill. JANUARY 5 OREGON STATE 7 p.m. 12 *at Utah Valley 7 p.m. MT 14 *at Air Force 11 a.m. MT 18 *WYOMING 7 p.m. 21 *NORTHERN IOWA 2 p.m. 28 *at Oklahoma 2 p.m. FEBRUARY 4 *IOWA STATE 1 p.m. 9 at Pittsburgh 7 p.m. ET 11 *at West Virginia 2 p.m. ET 16 *NORTH DAKOTA STATE 7 p.m. MARCH 3-4 at Big 12 Championship Tulsa, Okla. 15-17 at NCAA Championships Cleveland, Ohio *Big 12 Conference dual Home events in CAPS All start times Central Time unless noted otherwise Sports Information Contact: Jason Hove November 9, 2017 BROOKINGS, S.D. The South Dakota State University wrestling team is scheduled to resume tournament competition by sending a full squad Saturday to the 47th Annual Bison Open in Fargo, North Dakota. Competition is slated to start at 10 a.m. at Scheels Center located inside the Sanford Health Athletic Center on the North Dakota State University campus. The Jackrabbits are scheduled to compete against wrestlers from Minnesota, North Dakota State, Minnesota State Moorhead, Minot State and Northland Community College in the day-long tournament. Video coverage (subscription required) can be accessed through FloWrestling.org. Live results are featured on TrackWrestling.com. RABBITS RANKED: South Dakota State is well represented both individually and as a team in rankings conducted by a number of wrestling-related media outlets. The Jackrabbits open the 2017-18 season with a No. 16 ranking in the first USA Today/ NWCA Division I Coaches Poll, which was released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association on Oct. 31. Defending national champion Penn State is the top-ranked team in the poll, followed by Ohio State. Reigning Big 12 Conference champion Oklahoma State is third. SDSU completed the 2016-17 season with a 14-5 dual record and was ranked 19th in the final USA Today/NWCA poll. The Jackrabbits return eight starters from a season ago, highlighted by NCAA runner-up Seth Gross at 133 pounds. Besides Oklahoma State and the Jackrabbits, the Big 12 is represented in the poll by newcomer Northern Iowa (13th) and Oklahoma (19th). Wyoming, North Dakota State and West Virginia are receiving votes, but outside the top 25. Other preseason top-25 opponents on the Jackrabbits dual schedule this season include Minnesota (sixth), Arizona State (11th) and Pittsburgh (24th). The Jackrabbits also are ranked 13th by WIN Magazine and FloWrestling, as well as 15th by Intermat. Individually, all four of the Jackrabbits returning national qualifiers appear in at least one Division I preseason poll, highlighted by Seth Gross No. 1 ranking by three rating services. The junior from Apple Valley, Minnesota, holds the top spot at 133 pounds in rankings condcuted by FloWrestling, Intermat and WIN Magazine. Three-time NCAA qualifier Nate Rotert at 197 pounds is ranked eighth by both Intermat and FloWrestling, as well as ninth by WIN Magazine, while 174-pound senior David Kocer is ranked as high as 12th by FloWrestling, followed by 15th- and 20th-place showings in the Intermat and WIN Magazine rankings, respectively. A Wagner native, Kocer is a two-time national qualifier. Completing the Jackrabbit rankings is Luke Zilverberg, who is dropping down to the 157- pound weight class for his senior season. An NCAA qualifer at 165 pounds during the 2016-17 season, the Belle Plaine, Minnesota, native checks in at No. 15 in this week s FloWrestling rankings and stands 19th in the Intermat rankings.
TEAM RANKINGS USA TODAY/NWCA POLL PRESEASON 1. Penn State [16] 400 2. Ohio State 384 3. Oklahoma State 358 4. Michigan 339 5. Missouri 325 6. Minnesota 302 7. Iowa 298 8. North Carolina State 267 9. Virginia Tech 262 10. Lehigh 261 11. Arizona State 256 12. Rutgers 214 13. Northern Iowa 208 14. Illinois 189 15. Nebraska 171 16. South Dakota State 157 17. Central Michigan 125 18. Wisconsin 120 19. Oklahoma 118 20. Cornell 86 21. Stanford 80 22. North Carolina 63 23. Rider 47 24. Pittsburgh 38 25. Edinboro 29 Note: 2017-18 dual opponents in bold INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS SETH GROSS 133 POUNDS 1st by FloWrestling 1st by Intermat 1st by WIN Magazine LUKE ZILVERBERG 157 POUNDS 15th by FloWrestling 19th by Intermat DAVID KOCER 174 POUNDS 12th by FloWrestling 15th by Intermat 20th by WIN Magazine NATE ROTERT 197 POUNDS 8th by FloWrestling 8th by Intermat 9th by WIN Magazine DAK OPEN RECAP: Nate Rotert repeated as the 197-pound champion at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open to lead the South Dakota State University wrestling team in its season-opening event Nov. 5 at Frost Arena. A senior from Spearfish, Rotert posted a 3-0 record on the day, which ended with a 6-5 victory over Nebraska's Eric Schultz in the second tiebreaker of overtime. The ninth-ranked Rotert cruised to the championship with a pair of technical falls in his first two matches. Two other Jackrabbit wrestlers in the upper weights also reached the title bout in their respective classes, but were defeated. At 174 pounds, David Kocer was upended by Mikey Labriola, who was wrestling unattached. A two-time national qualifier and a senior from Wagner, Kocer won his first three matches by a combined 33-3, earning two victories by major decision and one by decision. Fellow senior Brady Ayers reached the 184-pound championship match, where he fell in a 17-1 technical fall to Taylor Venz of Nebraska. Henry Pohlmeyer (141 pounds) and Luke Zilverberg (157) each turned in third-place finishes for the Jackrabbits. Pohlmeyer split his first two matches before storming back to win all four of his bouts in the consolation bracket. He shut out his last two opponents, defeating Eric Clarke of Iowa Central, 8-0, before downing Colin Ayers of Augustana, 7-0, in the third-place match. Zilverberg dropped a 3-1 overtime decision to eventual champion Tyler Berger of Nebraska in the semifinals before scoring respective 6-0 and 6-3 decisions over Minnesota wrestlers Alex Crowe and Miles Patton to claim third. Following is a list of other placewinners for the Jackrabbits at the 25th Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open: 125: Connor Brown, fifth; Joshua Portillo, sixth 165: Zach Carlson, fourth; Logan Peterson, fifth; Brett Bye, sixth 285: Kevin Vough, sixth GROSS WINS AT ALL-STAR CLASSIC: In a matchup between the top-two ranked wrestlers at 133 pounds in preseason polls, South Dakota State s Seth Gross scored a 7-1 decision over Michigan s Stevan Micic Nov. 5 at the 52nd annual NWCA All-Star Classic. A junior from Apple Valley, Minnesota, the top-ranked Gross scored an early first-period takedown before giving up an escape to Micic later in the period. Gross then rode out the entire second period, picking up a point for stalling in the process. After recording an escape seconds into the third period, Gross again took down Micic for two points and picked up a final point in the exhibition match for a riding-time advantage that neared five minutes. Gross became only the second Jackrabbit wrestler to compete in the prestigious preseason event, joining 157-pounder Cody Pack, who competed in the 2015 All-Star Classic in Atlanta. KOCER JOINS TOP 25: Senior 174-pounder David Kocer moved into the Jackrabbit top 25 for career wins during competition Nov. 5 at the season-opening Warren Williamson/ Daktronics Open. Kocer posted a 3-1 record en route to a runner-up finish, upping his career mark to 83-44 and tying him with Pat Timm (83-42-13 record from 1994-98) and Jason Stripling (83-41 record from 2004-09) for 23rd place on the SDSU career charts. He also joins his older brother, Alex, in the top 25. Alex Kocer compiled a 96-44 record from 2014-17, ending his career with an eighth-place All-America finish at 149 pounds in 2017. JACKRABBITS SIGN FOUR: The South Dakota State University wrestling team loaded up on talent in the lower and middle weights, signing four high school standouts Wednesday to National Letters of Intent. This is one of the best classes we've ever brought in, not only for the wrestling, but for the people they are, the programs they come from and the goals they have set for themselves, Jackrabbit head coach Chris Bono said. We're excited to get going with these guys and to continue to build on the things we've done here so far. The signees are: Alex Lloyd, Shakopee, Minnesota; Kenny O Neil, Prior Lake, Minnesota; Zach Price, Johnston, Iowa; and Peyton Robb, Owatonna, Minnesota
2016-17 RESULTS NOVEMBER 4 *IOWA STATE W, 27-9 6 WARREN WILLIAMSON/DAKTRONICS OPEN Two champions 13 at Cyclone Open 19 at Minnesota L, 17-18 at Finn Grinaker Open DECEMBER 2 IOWA L, 8-29 3 at UNI Open 4 SOUTH DAKOTA SHOWCASE Sioux Falls vs. Northern State W, 28-8 vs. Dakota Wesleyan W, 56-0 vs. Augustana W, 37-6 29-30 at Midlands Tournament 8th place JANUARY 6 BOISE STATE W, 37-3 8 *NORTHERN COLORADO W, 34-6 13 *at Wyoming W, 33-11 15 *at Air Force W, 28-6 22 *at Oklahoma State L, 9-31 28 at SIUE Triangular Edwardsville, Ill. at SIUE W, 34-9 vs. Gardner-Webb W, 33-10 FEBRUARY 3 *OKLAHOMA W, 20-19 4 *UTAH VALLEY W, 29-10 9 *at West Virginia W, 32-9 12 at Virginia Tech L, 15-29 17 PURDUE [NWCA National Duals] L, 19-20 19 *NORTH DAKOTA STATE W, 20-18 MARCH 4-5 at Big 12 Championship 3rd of 10 teams 16-18 at NCAA Championships 16th/2 All-Americans *Big 12 Conference dual Home events in CAPS All start times Central Time unless noted otherwise Lloyd has won back-to-back Minnesota Class AAA state titles at 145 pounds for Shakopee High School. He posted a 42-1 record as a sophomore, then turned in a 43-1 record en route to his second consecutive state title during his junior season. He also has excelled in other wrestling pursuits, highlighted by winning two USAW Folkstyle national championships and a Greco-Roman title at the Fargo Nationals. O Neil claimed the 160-pound Minnesota Class AAA state championship this past winter for Prior Lake High School, ending the season with a 41-2 record. He has compiled a 114-17 record over the past three seasons while claiming third place at 152 pounds in 2016 and fifth at 145 pounds in 2015. O'Neil also is a two-time All-American in junior and cadet competition and was a first-team academic all-state selection by the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association. Price has posted top-four finishes each of the past three seasons at the Class 3A Iowa State Wrestling Tournament for Johnston High School. He notched third-place finishes at 106 pounds in 2015 and 126 pounds in 2017, while placing fourth in the 120-pound weight class in 2016. Price already holds the Johnston record for most career wins after combining to go 128-21 over the past three seasons. He also earned All-America honors at the Fargo Nationals on the club circuit. Robb enters his senior season at Owatonna High School with a combined 107-6 record over the past three years. After winning Minnesota Class AAA state titles at 106 pounds as a freshman and 120 pounds as a sophomore, Robb was denied his third consecutive state title with a 5-4 loss to Lloyd in the 2017 145-pound championship match to end the year with a 36-1 record. Robb has competed extensively on the club circuit, earning All-America honors five times in cadet and junior competition, while winning Greco-Roman and freestyle Pan- Am and national championships. CALDWELL JOINS COACHING STAFF: South Dakota State University head wrestling coach Chris Bono announced in mid-september the hiring of Cody Caldwell as an assistant coach. He replaced A.J. Schopp, who accepted a coaching position at Purdue. Cody brings exactly what we need to SDSU, Bono said. He comes from a wrestling-rich family and will have a huge presence in recruiting in the state of Iowa. He is a bigger guy who can work with our upper weights, and his work ethic and knowledge of the sport is very impressive. Caldwell spent the 2016-17 season as a graduate assistant coach at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, which won its sixth consecutive NAIA national title. He helped mentor 12 All-Americans, including five individual national champions as the Vikings set a team scoring record. In addition, Caldwell served as a coach for the Viking Wrestling Club, which trained junior and senior wrestlers for high-level competitions, including the U.S. Open, World Team Trials and the Dave Schultz Memorial International. As a collegiate wrestler, Caldwell was a four-year starter and team captain at the University of Northern Iowa. A native of Waverly, Iowa, he qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in 2014 at 174 pounds. COACH BONO: Chris Bono has engineered a successful rebuilding process during his tenure as head coach of the South Dakota State University wrestling team and has the program s sights set high for the 2017-18 campaign. Entering his sixth season, Bono has helped mentor Jackrabbit wrestlers to qualify for the NCAA Championships 17 times, including a program-best five wrestlers during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. At the 2017 NCAA Championships, Seth Gross finished as runner-up at 133 pounds and Alex Kocer placed eighth at 149 pounds, giving SDSU its first All- Americans in the Division I era. As a team, the Jackrabbits posted their highest-ever finish at the NCAA Division I Championships with a 16th-place showing. SDSU was ranked nationally for all but the first week of the 2016-17 season, climbing as high as No. 16 in the USA Today/NWCA Top 25. Facing a challenging schedule, the Jackrabbits posted a 14-5 dual record, including an 8-1 mark against Big 12 Conference opponents. SDSU also was selected as a host site for the 2017 NWCA National Duals Championship Series. The Jackrabbits notched a third-place finish at the 2017 Big 12 Wrestling Championship, with Seth Gross being named the tournament s Most Outstanding Wrestler after winning the 133-pound title. Bono was also honored as the Big 12 Coach of the Year.
QUICK FACTS NAME OF SCHOOL: South Dakota State University CITY/ZIP: Brookings, SD 57007 FOUNDED: February 21, 1881 ENROLLMENT: 12,527 (fall 2017) COLORS: Yellow and Blue HOME ARENA: Frost Arena (6,100 capacity) PRESIDENT: Barry H. Dunn ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: Justin Sell 2016-17 DUAL RECORD: 14-5 (8-1 in Big 12) 2016-17 CONFERENCE FINISH: 3rd of 10 teams at Big 12 Conference Championship Note: SDSU will compete as an affiliate member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2017-18 season STARTERS RETURNING/LOST: 8/2 NCAA QUALIFIERS RETURNING/LOST: 4/1 CAREER WINS LEADERS 1. Paul Konechne (1998-2001)...137-30-0 2. Chad Lamer (1993-96)...132-30-2 3. Rick Jensen (1975-79)...128-24-0 4. Ryan Resel (1996-99)...121-27-0 5. Perry Fink (1986-89)...119-32-1 6. Aaron Veskrna (1999-2002)...114-40-0 Cody Pack (2012-present)...114-36-0 8. Chad Wickman (1996-99)...109-36-0 9. Mike Pankratz (1990-94)...108-27-2 10. Travis King (1995-98)...106-26-4 11. Tyler Jones (1999-2003)...102-17-0 12. Mike Engels (1971-74)...101-14-1 13. Pat Dorn (1986-89)...100-33-3 14. Tyler Bryant (2000-03)...96-32-0 Alex Kocer (2014-17)...96-44-0 15. Stan Opp (1970-73)...94-19-1 16. Josh Sammons (1994-97)...92-51-0 18. Jeff Hohertz (1977-81)...88-23-1 19. Bryan Guzzo (1986-89)...86-47-0 20. Brian Loeffler (1990-94)...85-27-4 Kirk Simet (1976-80)...85-26-1 Howard Fullhart (1995-98)...85-48-2 23. Pat Timm (1994-98)...83-42-13 Jason Stripling (2004-09)...83-41-0 David Kocer (2015-present)...83-44-0 ---------------------------------------------------- Nate Rotert (2015-present)...74-32-0 In dual competition, Bono has led the Jackrabbits to a 50-39 record that includes three consecutive winning seasons for the first time at the Division I level. Bono s career dual record stands at 89-56, including a highly successful three-year run at Chattanooga. The Jackrabbits entered a new era during the 2015-16 season by joining the Big 12 Conference as an affiliate member. After dropping early season duals to nationally ranked Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State and Iowa, the Jackrabbits reeled off a school-record 12 consecutive dual victories that propelled them into the top 25 of the Division I team rankings for the first time. While leading the Jackrabbits, Bono was also tabbed as coach for the U.S. Men s Freestyle team at the 2013 Pan American Championships. In the world event, Bono led Team USA to a 13-point victory. Under Bono s leadership, the Jackrabbit wrestling program has consistently raised the bar in promoting the sport through innovative social media strategies. SDSU has received the Gold Standard honor from the National Wrestling Coaches Association and Elite Level Sport Marketing three times as part of their Best of Brand Awards. His teams also have performed well in the classroom, placing in the top 25 for team grade-point average in rankings compiled by the National Wrestling Coaches Association each of the past three seasons. Individually, seven Jackrabbits wrestlers were honored on the 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Wrestling Team. Bono joined the UTC staff in 2005 after serving nine years as an assistant coach at Iowa State. He was the Cyclones head assistant coach for five seasons. Bono lettered at Iowa State from 1994-97 and ranks fifth on the program s all-time wins list with 130 victories. He won the NCAA 150-pound title as a junior and was a four-time NCAA participant. Bono won the Big Eight title as a junior and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the inaugural Big 12 Conference Championship in 1997. He later served as an assistant coach at Iowa State for nine years, including holding the title of head assistant coach for five seasons before moving on to Chattanooga. Bono earned his bachelor s degree in exercise and sports science from Iowa State in 1997. THE ROSTER: The 2017-18 SDSU wrestling roster features 36 student-athletes from 10 different states. Of the 36 wrestlers, 10 are from each South Dakota and Minnesota. Iowa and Missouri are each represented by four wrestlers, while two wrestlers hail from California and Ohio. Colorado, Illinois, Kansas and Wisconsin each have one wrestler. By class, seven are seniors, four are juniors, five are sophomores, seven are redshirt freshmen and 13 are true freshmen. WRESTLER WT. HT. YR. OVERALL DUAL HOMETOWN Alex Aarsvold 285 6-6 Fr. 0-2 0-0 Zumbrota, Minn. Isaac Andrade*** 141 5-7 Sr. 0-2 0-0 Redding, Calif. Brady Ayers*** 184 5-10 Sr. 2-1 0-0 Waterville, Minn. Blake Bietz 157 5-10 Fr. 0-0 0-0 Parkston, S.D. Connor Brown 125 5-6 Fr. 3-2 0-0 Oak Grove, Mo. Brett Bye 165 5-10 So. 3-2 0-0 Vermillion, S.D. Colten Carlson 149 5-10 R-Fr. 1-2 0-0 Willmar, Minn. Zach Carlson* 165 5-10 So. 4-2 0-0 Kerkhoven, Minn. Jaxon Fitzgerald* 141 5-7 Sr. 0-2 0-0 Palo Cedro, Calif. Nolan Funk 197 5-9 R-Fr. 0-0 0-0 Broomfield, Colo. Seth Gross** 133 5-9 Jr. 0-0 0-0 Apple Valley, Minn. Samuel Grove 184 6-1 Fr. 2-2 0-0 Moorhead, Minn. Kelby Hawkins 165 5-10 Fr. 0-2 0-0 Groton, S.D. Garrett Jordan 165 5-10 R-Fr. 0-2 0-0 St. Paris, Ohio Kasey Klapprodt* 165 5-10 So. 0-0 0-0 Rapid City, S.D. David Kocer*** 174 6-1 Sr. 3-1 0-0 Wagner, S.D. Anders Lantz 165 5-11 Fr. 0-0 0-0 Ellsworth, Wis. Alex Macki*** 285 5-10 Sr. 1-2 0-0 Cambridge, Iowa Rylee Molitor 125 5-8 Fr. 1-2 0-0 Sartell, Minn. Kahlen Morris** 125 5-1 Jr. 2-2 0-0 Sioux Falls, S.D. Martin Mueller* 184 6-0 So. 0-0 0-0 Rapid City, S.D. Logan Peterson** 165 6-0 Jr. 3-2 0-0 Lake Lillian, Minn. Tyler Pieper** 133 5-4 Jr. 0-2 0-0 Davis, Ill. Henry Pohlmeyer* 141 5-8 So. 5-1 0-0 Johnston, Iowa Josh Portillo 125 5-5 R-Fr. 2-3 0-0 Clarion, Iowa Justin Portillo 125 5-5 R-Fr. 0-2 0-0 Clarion, Iowa Michael Prieto 149 5-7 R-Fr. 0-0 0-0 Garden City, Kan. Nate Rotert*** 197 6-0 Sr. 3-0 0-0 Spearfish, S.D. Hunter Shelton 157 5-8 Fr. 0-0 0-0 Kansas City, Mo. Devon Sievers 165 5-10 Fr. 0-2 0-0 Gary, S.D. Peyton Smith 157 5-7 Fr. 2-2 0-0 Savannah, Mo.
ACTIVE WINS LEADERS WRESTLER YEAR CAREER RECORD David Kocer Sr. 83-44 Nate Rotert Sr. 74-32 Luke Zilverberg Sr. 73-38 Brady Ayers Sr. 61-48 Seth Gross Jr. 60-16 Logan Peterson Jr. 41-29 Isaac Andrade Sr. 39-46 Elias Vaoifi 174 5-9 Fr. 0-0 0-0 Independence, Mo. Kevin Vough 285 6-4 Fr. 3-3 0-0 Elyria, Ohio Aric Williams 149 5-10 Fr. 0-2 0-0 Pierre, S.D. Blake Wolters 285 6-1 R-Fr. 1-2 0-0 Pipestone, Minn. Luke Zilverberg*** 157 5-10 Sr. 4-1 0-0 Belle Plaine, Minn. * Number of letters earned Records from 2017-18 season Head Coach: Chris Bono Assistant Coaches: Jon Reader, A.J. Schopp Volunteer Assistant Coach: Zach Reed A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits are scheduled to open dual competition Nov. 17, when SDSU hosts Minnesota in a clash between nationally ranked teams. Start time is set for 7 p.m. at Frost Arena.