Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: January 13

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Match Action Pictures

(click on picture to see larger image)

For a complete Cobber wrestling photo gallery from the 2005-06 season go to:

www.cord.edu/dept/sports/photo/wr/index.html

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Match Recap

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- With four matches to go in their dual meet against NCAA Division II opponent Southwest Minnesota State, Concordia was only three points behind and was infused by the momentum of a major decision win. Unfortunately for the Cobbers, the Mustangs were able to turn the match around, capture three of the final four bouts and walk away with a hard-fought 26-16 victory.

The loss evens Concordia's 2005-06 dual meet record at 3-3, while Southwest Minnesota State improves to 2-1 on the season. Their only loss came at the hands of defending NCAA Division III champion Augsburg.

The match was played out from the bottom to the top as the 125-lb weight class started the competition.

Concordia seized control as Leland Brincefield pulled out a 3-1 decision over Kurt Smith. Brincefield's victory came in an overtime period. After the two wrestlers finished the three periods tied at 1-1, Brincefield scored a takedown in the first minute of overtime to claim the win.

Ryan Reed put the Mustangs on the board at 133. The St. Cloud State Invitational Most Valuable Wrestler pinned the Cobbers' Smokey McBride at the start of the third period.

The third match of the meet was also the shortest. SMSU's Keefer Johnson waited for Concordia's John Fradette to sprint to the center of the mat to start the match and then promptly pinned him in 40 seconds.

Johnson's win gave the Mustangs a 12-3 advantage.

P.J. Mack countered that 6-point pin with one of his own as he scored a fall at 3:45 in his match at 149 with Luke Griffith. Mack is now 6-2 in his last eight matches.

The two teams traded major decision wins with Aldon Struchen picking up a 14-3 win at 157 over Spencer Lund. Lee Rahrlien, Concordia's leading wrestler for the past three seasons, pulled the Cobbers to within three at 16-13 when he outmaneuvered Greg Frank to earn a 23-9 victory. Rahrlien used the "takedown and allow an escape" tactic to pile up the points and come away with the most lopsided point win of the match. The victory is Rahrlien's 18th of the season.

The overall match swung in the favor of the Mustangs in the next three bouts. The tide was turned by All-American Tim Johns who handed the Cobbers' Luke Vetsch a  6-0 defeat at 174. Vetsch tussled with the third-ranked Johns all match and kept the score close throughout to pick up a moral victory. With the win, Johns is now 17-4 on the year.

Tyler Johnson added a major decision at 184 and Joel Wipperfurth scratched out a tough 4-2 victory at 197 to give SMSU a commanding 26-13 edge heading into the final match of the night.

The match at 285 provided the most drama of the night. Concordia's Preston Lyles used a near fall in the second period to take an advantage into the third frame. In that final period, Lyles was carried off the mat and as he fell to the ground on the uncovered arena floor, slammed his face against the wood floor of the basketball court and snapped off his front tooth.

Lyles cleared off the blood and used an injury timeout to compose himself. He then finished off an 8-5 decision over Jeremy Schafer to give pull Concordia to within 13 and finish the match at 26-16.

Next up for the Cobbers is a dual meet with St. John's. Concordia will host the Johnnies on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 5:00pm at Frazee HS

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Match Results

Southwest Minnesota State Dual Meet Results

Concordia 16, SW Minnesota State 26

Location: Moorhead, Minn. - Concordia College

Arena: Memorial Auditorium
Start Time: 7:00pm

End Time: 8:30pm

Total Time: 1:30

Attendance: 112

Individual Match Results:

125 Leland Brincefield (CC) dec. K. Smith (SMSU); 3-1
133 R. Reed (SMSU) pin Smokey McBride (CC); 5:45
141 K.Johnson (SMSU) pin John Fradette (CC); 0:40

149 P.J. Mack (CC) pin Luke Griffith (SMSU); 3:45
157 A. Struchen (SMSU) maj. dec. Spencer Lund; 14-3
165 Lee Rahrlien (CC) maj. dec. G. Frank (SMSU); 23-9
174 Tim Johns (SMSU) dec. Luke Vetsch (CC); 6-0
184 T. Johnson maj. dec. Tony Neumann (CC); 15-6
197 J. Wipperfurth (SMSU) dec. Ed Oehlers (CC); 4-2
285 Preston Lyles (CC) dec. J. Schafer (SMSU); 8-5

Match Notes:

- SW Minnesota State moves to 2-1 in dual matches

- Concordia drops to 3-3 in dual meets

- SW Minnesota All-American Tim Johns (174) moves to 17-4 on the year

- Concordia senior Lee Rahrlien (165) improves to 18-6