ST. CLOUD, Minn. – November 15, 2018 -- The No. 21-ranked Chadron State College wrestling team managed to eke out only two match wins in its debut dual at No. 1 St. Cloud State on Thursday evening. However the two individuals who won were impressive in the 36-9 loss on the road in St. Cloud.
 
The Huskies got pins at 125 pounds, 157, and 197, plus a technical fall at 141.
 
However the Eagles got on the board at 149 when CSC junior Chase Clasen scored the first takedown, and allowed only an escape, winning 2-1 over No. 1-ranked and returning national runner-up James Pleski. CSC Head Wrestling Coach Brett Hunter said he thought Clasen might have had another takedown with eight seconds remaining in the third period, but it was not signaled by the official.
 
The other big win for the Eagles was in the final match of the evening at heavyweight. The No. 12-ranked senior from Curtis, Nebraska, Rulon Taylor recorded a first period pin in only 1:44 against his opponent, who Hunter noted was only a redshirt freshman but was one of the most highly-rated high school recruits at his weight two years ago.
 
Hunter also added he was pleased with the competitiveness of his team, if not the outcome, but also said that the Eagles won't face a dual opponent that tough the rest of the season and that his starters now know where they stand against the competition nationally.
 
At 197 pounds, CSC's No. 9-ranked junior Wade French was not cleared to weigh-in at his competition weight, but will expect to make weigh-ins on Saturday when the team travels three hours away to Moorhead, Minnesota, to compete in the Finn Grinaker Open hosted by Concordia-Moorhead.

No. 3 Brock Thumm, the Eagles' returning national qualifier at 141, will rejoin the team at semester.
 
Complete Results:
125: Brett Velasquez (SCSU) over Clayton Eagle (CHST) (Fall 1:42)
133: Garrett Vos (SCSU) over Brandon Kile (CHST) (Dec 5-0)
141: Travis Swanson (SCSU) over Chance Karst (CHST) (TF 16-1 3:27)
149: Chase Clasen (CHST) over James Pleski (SCSU) (Dec 2-1)
157: Jake Barzowski (SCSU) over Steven Lahnert (CHST) (Fall 1:36)
165: Devin Fitzpatrick (SCSU) over John Porter (CHST) (Dec 11-4)
174: Kolton Eischens (SCSU) over Mat Hebel (CHST) (Dec 5-2)
184: Riley Vanik (SCSU) over Heber Shepherd (CHST) (MD 11-3)
197: Vince Dietz (SCSU) over Aspen Naylor (CHST) (Fall 2:40)
285: Rulon Taylor (CHST) over Zachary Muller (SCSU) (Fall 1:44)