Harer, Holmes, Goodwin lead Tigers at DWU Open
Jordan Harer
Jeff Holmes
Brandon Goodwin
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University wrestling team had a successful showing at its annual home tournament – the DWU Open – Saturday at the Christen Family Wellness Center on the Dakota Wesleyan campus.
Tiger junior Jordan Harer won the individual title at 141 pounds with a perfect 4-0 record. Two other DWU wrestlers – Jeff Holmes and Brandon Goodwin – also qualified for the NAIA National Championships with their performance at the tournament, which included 16 teams and roughly 250 wrestlers. Tiger sophomore Danny Hutcheson also started the tournament 2-0 before bowing out with a minor illness.
Harer won his title in convincing fashion. He beat Dana College’s Brett Brandl 17-6, then scored a 10-3 win over Dakota State’s Nathen Schweitzer. Harer reached the title match with a 13-2 win over Morningside College’s Drew Smith, and he claimed the championship with a third-period pin (6:34) William Penn’s Marcus Cobbs. Harer’s title comes on the heels of his performance at last weekend’s Daktronics Open, where he qualified for nationals.
Holmes and Goodwin both earned their trip to nationals in the 125-pound bracket. Holmes went 4-2 at the DWU Open to finish in seventh place, and Goodwin finished 3-3 and took eighth place. The Tigers had three other wrestlers in the 125-pound weight class. Alan Stuber and Josh Seeley each went 2-2 and Darrell Oberg was 0-2.
Ray Rickenbach finished 3-2 at 141 pounds and Brad Lore was 1-2 in the same weight class. Andrew Jensen was 2-2 at 157 pounds and Kyle Henderson went 1-2 at 174 pounds. Tyler Welch and Blake Fastnacht each finished 0-2 for the Tigers.
DWU will enjoy a few days off after its busy weekend before traveling to Webster, S.D., on Wednesday for a nonconference dual meet against Northern State University at 7 p.m.
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Our other two kansas kids are out hurt, Alan Benander has a bum knee, and Jordan Packard hurt his rotator cuff.
