South Dakota State edges Utah Valley 19-16 in Orem
Bonus-point results and a late pin by No. 6 Bennett Berge provided the margin as the Jackrabbits escaped on the road.
OREM, Utah — South Dakota State edged Utah Valley 19-16 Friday night, with a pin by No. 6 Bennett Berge and a pair of major decisions swinging the dual in the Jackrabbits’ favor.
Utah Valley drew a four-point swing when No. 16 David Evans posted a 15-6 major decision over No. 21 Alek Martin at 149, giving the home side a lift midway through the dual. South Dakota State answered when No. 17 Cael Swensen earned a 13-1 major decision at 157, offsetting that bonus and keeping the meet close.
The dual featured an upset at 141 when No. 25 Haiden Drury beat No. 16 Julian Tagg 2-0, a low-scoring decision that produced three team points for Utah Valley and helped keep the Jackrabbits from pulling away.
South Dakota State regained decisive bonus margin at 197 when No. 6 Bennett Berge recorded a pin of Kael Bennie, a fall that supplied six team points and proved the difference in the final team total.
Earlier in the evening Brady Roark opened the dual with a 5-1 decision at 125, keeping South Dakota State on the board. Geronimo Rivera’s 8-3 decision at 133 and Jack Forbes’ 8-2 decision at 285 provided two of Utah Valley’s victories; Forbes’ heavyweight decision included a riding-time point that extended the margin.
The Espinoza-Owens brothers supplied back-to-back decisions for South Dakota State at 165 and 174, with Marcus Espinoza-Owens winning 4-1 at 165 and Moses Espinoza-Owens taking a 7-5 decision at 174. Caleb Uhlenhopp added a 2-1 win at 184 for Utah Valley, a late penalty point proving the decisive edge in that contest.
Both teams won five bouts. South Dakota State’s combination of two majors and the match-ending fall created the bonus cushion necessary to finish three points ahead in a dual that remained tightly contested through the final bout.
Utah Valley coach Adam Hall praised his roster’s effort after the meet, saying the team "brought the fight tonight" and that a single swing late in the dual would have changed the result.
The Jackrabbits leave Orem with a road victory that hinged on converting bonus opportunities; the Wolverines forced multiple tight matches and supplied a handful of upsets and high-margin decisions that kept the dual competitive until the end.