Stageberg Wins Title At DWU Open

MITCHELL, S.D. (11/14/15)—Jakob Stageberg won the 125-lb weight class to lead the Cobber contingent at the Dakota Wesleyan Open. Stageberg was one of only two Concordia wrestlers to earn a top 3 finish at the highly competitive meet.

It marks the second straight multi-team invite that a Concordia wrestler has won a weight class. Last weekend senior Gabe Foltz captured the crown at 135 at the Pointer Open.

Stageberg, who wrestled in seven matches at last weekend's season-opening Wis.-Stevens Point multi-team event, went 5-0 on the day to earn the weight class championship. Stageberg is now 10-2 on the season and leads CC in victories.

Adam Presler was the other Concordia wrestler to record a top 3 finish. Presler went 4-1 for the meet and placed second at 141. Presler earned a fourth-place finish last weekend after going 4-2. He is now 8-3 on the year.

Stageberg opened his championship journey by grabbing a 9-4 decision over Ignace Hakizimana of Concordia University. He then beat Kyle Penalosa of Waldorf 6-1 before posting an 11-4 decision over Joel Timmons in the quarterfinals. Stageberg earned a place in the final by edging Tristan Bundy 4-3 in the semifinals. The wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal wins came against wrestlers who are from Grand View. Grand View is currently the No.1 team in the nation in NAIA. Stageberg was crowned champion by posting a pin fall at 1:21 against Jesse Barajas of Jamestown.    

Presler won his first four matches on the day before losing in the final. He opened the tournament with a 6-4 decision over Dillon Kifer of Jamestown. He then earned a major decision in his second match before beating Grayson Brenna of Grand View 5-3 in the quarterfinals. He outdueled Justin Haneke Southwest Minnesota State 8-3 in the semifinals. Butcher is currently ranked 12th in the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 rankings. Presler finally lost to Mason Brownlee 6-1 in the champion match. Brownlee was competing as an unattached wrestler but competed for Division II Augustana (S.D.) last season.   

Concordia had several other wrestlers record at least three wins at the meet. Cody Weiland went 3-2 at 141. Ben Cousins was 3-2 at 157 while Joe Heinz and Parker Jackson posted identical 3-2 records at 165.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will open its dual-meet season when they square off against MSU Moorhead on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Fiieldhouse on the campus of MSUM.    

Cobber Results By Weight Class
- 125: Jakob Stageberg 5-0, first place; Andrew Nissen 0-2; Aaron Dick 0-2
- 141: Adam Presler 4-1, second place; Cody Weiland 3-2
- 149: Ty Johnson 1-2, Gus McCarthy 2-2; Ben Baumgartner 1-2; Aaron Senne 1-2
- 157: Ben Cousins 3-2; Alexi Bode 0-2
- 165: Nick Gravdahl 2-2; Joseph Heinz 2-2; Parker Jackson 3-2; Blake Bergeron 0-1; Jacob Johnson 1-2
- 174: Dane Ringquist 2-2
- 184: Dan Marquette 2-2
- 197: Hunter SantAmour 1-2; Kody Van Den Eykel 2-2
- 285: Jake Briggs 2-2