DRAGON WRESTLING
Press Release
TUBBS EARNS ALL-AMERICAN HONORS AT 2008 NCAA II NATIONAL MEET
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2008
NATIONALS- - - Minnesota State University Moorhead 174-pound junior Tyler Tubbs earned All-American honors for a seventh place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships at Cedar Rapids, IA last weekend. Tubbs defeated Jesse Feinsod of New Mexico Highlands 6-5 in the seventh place match. MSUM placed 27th with 5.5 team points.
RECORD- - - MSU Moorhead finished 12-9-0 overall and 2-2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
COACH- - - Ex-Dragon Keenan Spiess is in his fifth season as head coach at MSU Moorhead this winter. Spiess is assisted by Desmond Radunz.
NORTH REGIONAL- - - MSU Moorhead placed seventh with 20.5 points at the 2008 NCAA Division II North Regional tournament March 2 in Mankato as host MSU, Mankato captured the team title with 104.5 points. Tyler Tubbs finished second at 174 pounds.
RANKINGS- - - Minnesota State Moorhead dropped out of the Top 20 on the latest NCAA Division II wrestling rankings, but Tyler Tubbs climbed to fifth at 174 pounds.
NSIC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK- - - The Dragons have collected three NSIC Wrestler of the Week awards in 2007-08. Derek Bomstad was named the NSIC Wrestler of the Week December 17 and January 14, while Joe Werner won the award January 7.
NATIONALS DUALS- - - MSUM finished sixth and posted a 3-2 record at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals January 11-12 at Cedar Falls, IA. MSUM toppled Ashland College 23-14, fell to Nebraska-Omaha, 37-6, defeated UW Parkside 22-10, defeated Upper Iowa, 17-16 and lost to Western State, 21-12, in the consolation finals. Derek Bomstad, unbeaten at 141, was named the Division II Outstanding Wrestler. Bomstad is 18-2 on the season.
DRAGONS/COBBERS- - - MSU Moorhead launched the 2007-08 dual meet season with a 30-7 victory over Concordia College December 5 at Alex Nemzek Hall. The Dragons posted eight victories, including a fall by Kelly Janke at 133 pounds.
DRAGON OPEN- - - Matt Nelson captured the 197-pound title at the 2007 Dragon Open at Alex Nemzek Hall December 1. Joe Werner was second at 125, Kyle Dukowitz fourth at 157, Kelly Janke fifth at 133 and Shane Walton fifth at 149. Tyler Tubbs was unbeaten in a pair of matches at 174.
COBBER OPEN- - - Three Dragons, including Derek Bomstad, 141, Tallen Wald, 157, and Matt Nelson, 197, claimed runnerup finishes at the Cobber Open November 17 in Moorhead.
DRAGON DUALS- - - MSU Moorhead hosted the Dragon Duals November 8. Rockie Stavn captured first place at 165 pounds, while the Dragons received runnerup finishes from Evan Forde at 125, Kelly Janke at 141 and Matt Nelson at 197.
RECORD- - - MSUM finished 14-8 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC in 2006-07.
LETTERMEN- - - MSUM returns 15 lettermen, including seniors Brandon Kok (Beulah, ND), 149, Troy MacFarland (Grand Forks, ND), 133, and Shane Walton (Pine River), 157, juniors Josiah Bush (North Pole, AK), 197, Casey Dschaak (Beulah, ND), 133, Kelly Janke (Frazee), 141, Matt Nelson (Burnsville), 197, Rockie Stavn (Bismarck, ND), 165, Tyler Tubbs (Chokio), 184, and Joe Werner (Richville), 125, and sophomores Shaun Bingaman (North Pole, AK), 165, Steve Carlon (Eden Prairie), 141, Kyle Dukowitz (Pillager), 157, Dustin Nagel (Hillsboro, ND), 174, and Beau Tweten (Moorhead), 133.
2007 NATIONALS- - - MSUM placed 18th with 20.5 points at the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championships at Kearney, NE. Senior Nate Baker placed third at 165 pounds and senior Kyle Trout was eighth at 157. Both earned NCAA II All-American honors.
2007 REGIONALS- - - MSU Moorhead qualified six wrestlers for the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championships at the NCAA II North Central Regionals at Alex Nemzek Hall February 25 and placed fifth. Senior Nate Baker finished second at 165, sophomore Tyler Tubbs was third at 174, and the Dragons received fourth place finishes from Troy MacFarland at 133, Kelly Janke at 141, Shane Walton at 149, and Kyle Trout, 157. MSU, Mankato captured the team title with 146.5 points, followed by Upper Iowa, 122, Nebraska-Omaha, 114.5, Augustana, 85.5, MSU Moorhead, 76, Southwest Minnesota State, 34, Northern State, 31, and St. Cloud State University, 31. Nick Smith, the 125-pound champion from MSU, Mankato, was voted the Outstanding Wrestler.
NEXT- - - MSU Moorhead closed the 2007-08 season at the NCAA Division II National Championships March 14-15 at Cedar Rapids, IA.
