LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock wrestling team came away wins at 125 and 285 against #15 North Dakota State, but the ranked team proved to be tough especially in the upper weights. With three bonus points wins not including two pins, the Bison solidified the 33-6 team score despite close matches early in the dual.
Head coach
Neil Erisman put it bluntly: "We have the skill, we know how to score points, but it's wrestling. You've got to be willing to go out and impose your will on someone and fight, and I'm not sure we were all willing to do that tonight. The guys that did do it won their matches, point blank."
Jeremiah Reno opened the evening with a commanding 8-3 win at 125 pounds, not allowing a single takedown from his opponent. The sophomore came out hot, jumping to a 4-1 lead after the first period with continuous shots at the legs. He collected three takedowns against his Bison foe, who was not ranked via FloWrestling but was ranked on Intermat at #27. Reno moves to 7-2 on the season and holds the top winning percentage on the team.
"Jeremiah did a great job," commended Coach Erisman. "That's a tough kid, and Jeremiah found a way to score, and when he was asked to do it again, he went and scored again. I know that sounds simple, but that's wrestling."
Heavyweight
Josiah Hill closed the dual with a 3-2 decision, starting off strong as well for an early takedown in the first twenty seconds of the match. While the North Dakota State wrestler picked up an escape in the first period along with an escape after starting on bottom in the second, Hill got up fast in the final period after starting down and held on for the win. It is his second win over NDSU in as many seasons. The redshirt sophomore sits at 6-4 on the year now and, like Reno, is undefeated at home.
"Josiah set the tone early, but I'd like to see him finish it at the end," added Coach Erisman. "He held on instead of finishing that last takedown and separating himself. But it's important to go out and set the tone instead of having to react. We need to see more of that."
Josh Sarpy was unable to snag a win, but he had the right mentality and battled to the finish in his bout. He was the only other Trojan to score a takedown in his match, and kept his Bison foe to a 9-5 decision. While
Jayden Gomez couldn't find his way to finish, he also made his opponent work to win, holding the #11 guy in the country to a 6-1 decision. Likewise,
Joseph Bianchi finished behind 6-1, but showed flashes of potential, including a full two-minute ride in the second period.
As for the next steps for this team? Coach Erisman says that consistency is key.
"Our guys respond, but they have to be constant with their response. And they've got to believe it. You don't believe it unless you do it every day, and you show up on competition day and say this is what I'm going to do and what I'm going to be, instead of piecing together matches and hoping for the best. It's that consistency every day."
Little Rock will be looking to prove that they can find that in less than two weeks, when the Trojans open 2023 at the Southern Scuffle tournament on January 1st and 2nd in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
RESULTS vs. #15 North Dakota State
125:
Jeremiah Reno DEC Carlos Negrete Jr. (NDSU), 8-3
133: McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) DEC
Josh Sarpy, 9-5
141: #11 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU) DEC
Jayden Gomez, 6-1
149: Kellyn March DEC
Joseph Bianchi, 6-1
157: #6 Jared Franek (NDSU) MD
Matty Bianchi, 9-0
165: #21 Michael Caliendo (NDSU) F
Bilal Bailey (6:57)
174: #HM Gaven Sax (NDSU) MD #HM
Triston Wills, 11-1
184: #HM DJ Parker (NDSU) MD
Mason Diel, 13-0
197: #24 Owen Pentz (NDSU) F
Ty Lukens (4:07)
285:
Josiah Hill DEC Juan Mora (NDSU), 3-2
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