Freshman Michael Kroells captures title in heavyweight competition
Twelve of Minnesota’s underclassmen wrestlers competed unattached at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open this past weekend. The Maroon and Gold made an impressive showing in Brookings, S.D., posting a 35-21 record in the tournament. Jordan Bremer, Jarod Donar, Zane Zeman, Josh Shupe, Conrad Rangell, Steven Keogh, Brandon Kingsley, Brad Dolezal, Dylan Reel, Riley Prentice, Brett Pfarr, and Michael Kroells all competed over the weekend. Kroells brought home a title, while Pfarr took second, Dolezal placed third, and Zeman finished fourth.
Kroells finished 4-0 in the tournament to claim the championship title at 285 pounds. He ended the day with two wins by decision, one major decision, and one fall. Kroells pinned Michael Johnson of Iowa Central at the 6:00 mark. In the next round, Kroells tallied a major decision victory (15-2) over Iowa Central’s Malcolm Allen. He then earned an 8-4 decision over Nebraska’s returning heavyweight starter Donny Longendyke to push into the championship. Kroells faced Collin Jensen, also with the Cornhuskers, in the title match, defeating him by an 8-2 decision to take home first place.
Pfarr also had a solid day in his first collegiate appearance. Competing at 184 pounds, Pfarr went on a three match run, defeating opponents from Iowa Central, Midland, and North Dakota State en route to the championship bout. Despite a valiant effort, Pfarr fell by decision (8-3) to Josh Ihnen of Nebraska to finish second in the weight class.
In the 157 pound weight class, Dolezal was one of three Gopher participants. After winning his first match with a 2:30 pin of Tyler Willis (Midland), Dolezal dropped a 17-4 major decision to move into the backdraw. Dolezal battled back to go on a 6-0 run, besting representatives from Simpson, Augustana, and Iowa Central. In the third-place contest, he posted his second pin of the day at the 2:09 mark to defeat NDSU’s Matt Gray.
Minnesota Wrestling begins its season this weekend when the team hosts Hofstra on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion.
SDSU Williamson Daktronics Open 2012 brackets (pdf)
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