South Dakota State. Ja c k rabbits to close regular season at Fro s t

South Dakota State JACKRABBIT ATHLETICS NEWS RELEASE Jackrabbit Sports Information Stanley J. Marshall HPER Center SDSU Box 2820 Brookings, SD 57007-1497 Sports Information Director: Jason Hove Phone: (605) 688-4623 E-mail: Jason.Hove@sdstate.edu Graduate Assistant Director: Matt Hoover Phone: (605) 688-4822 E-mail: mmhoover@jacks.sdstate.edu Fax: (605) 688-5999 Sportsline: (605) 688-4626 Website: www.gojacks.info 2 0 0 6-0 7 W R E S T L I N G I N F O R M AT I O N Ja c k rabbits to close regular season at Fro s t T H I S W E E K SOUTH DA KOTA STATE v s. N O R T H E R N I OWA 3 p.m. Saturday Frost Arena Brookings, S.D. SOUTH DA KOTA STATE v s. N O R T H DA KOTA S TAT E 2 p.m. Sunday Frost Arena Brookings, S.D. P R O B A B L E S TA R T E R S P R O BABLE STARTERS 125: Marcus Wa t e r s, J r., L e ave n w o r t h, K a n. 1 3 3 : Jeff Cooley, S o., We s t b r o o k, M i n n. 141: Derek Pirner, J r., Elk Po i n t, S. D. 1 4 9 : Dan Bonte, R s Fr., G a r r e t s o n, S. D. or Sean Flynn, Fr., L a n s i n g, K a n. or Brad Gregory, S r., G l e n w o o d, I o w a 157: A n dy Eve r s o n, S r., M i t c h e l l, S. D. or Nick Herrboldt, R s Fr., S c o t l a n d, S. D 1 6 5 : R yan Meye r, R s Fr., Pa r k s t o n, S. D. or Nate Althoff, S r., Wa t e r t o w n, S. D. or Justin Retallic, S o., A t l a n t i c, I o w a 1 7 4 : Chris Mora n, R s Fr., Rapid City, S. D. 1 8 4 : L evi Krehmeye r, S r., G i l l e t t e, Wy o. 1 9 7 : Travis Gottschalk. S r., K i m b a l l, M i n n. H W T: Jason Stripling, J r., M i n n e o t a, M i n n. Sports Information Contact: Matt Hoover February 14, 2007 BROOKINGS, S.D. The South Dakota State University wrestling team returns home this weekend looking to put a halt to a three-match skid. SDSU will face two Western Wrestling Conference opponents in two days.the Jacks will start Saturday against Northern Iowa. Start time is set for 3 p.m. at Frost Arena. South Dakota State will then close out its regular season against North Dakota State Sunday afternoon. That match will begin at 2 p.m. in Frost. SDSU, 8-7 on the season, dropped both of its matches last weekend, falling at Wyoming and at Air Force. SDSU opened the weekend losing to the Pokes, 31-12. Against Air Force, the Jacks won five of the 10 weight classes, including two by fall, but dropped a 25-21 match to the Falcons.The Jackrabbits are 1-4 in Western Wrestling Conference competition. Northern Iowa heads into Saturday s matchup having lost its last match to No. 3 Missouri, 30-13.The Panthers, who wrestle at North Dakota State Friday, bring a 5-9-1 record and 2-0 conference mark into their final portion of the dual season. Every loss on UNI s schedule has come to an opponent ranked in the top-20 of theusa Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches poll. Overall, UNI has wrestled nine nationally ranked teams: No. 10 Iowa, No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 2 Iowa State, No. 13 Tennessee-Chattanooga, No. 16 Oregon State, No. 4 Oklahoma State (twice), No. 8 Hofstra and No. 3 Missouri. North Dakota State comes into Sunday s matchup having lost its last match to No. 16 Oregon State, 29-11.The Bison, who wrestle Northern Iowa Friday, bring an 8-4 record and 3-1 conference mark into their final portion of the dual season. NDSU has wrestled two nationally ranked teams: No. 16 Oregon State and No. 11 Penn State. The Bison are led by 125-pounder Eric Hoffman who has compiled a 17-5 record, including a 9-3 record in duals. At 157 pounds, Adam Aho has gone 16-9 overall and 8-4 in dual action, while Gabe Mooney, 16-9, has posted two wins during WWC action. BACK IN TIME: South Dakota State and North Dakota State will square off for the second time this season Sunday. Earlier this year, South Dakota State gave up forfeits in three weight classes to North Dakota State, but managed to win four bouts in a 30-14 defeat at the hands of the Bison in Fargo. Redshirt freshman Dan Bonte put the Jackrabbits on the board with a 4-0 decision over Gabe Mooney in the 149-pound weight class. After Ryan Meyer and Nate Althoff won by decision for SDSU, redshirt freshman

2 0 0 6-0 7 S C H E D U L E NOVEMBER 4 Williamson/Daktronics Open 9 a.m. 11 at Harold Nichols Open 9 a.m. 18 at Ashland Open 9 a.m. DECEMBER 3 at Northern Iowa Open 9 a.m. 9 at Nebraska L, 9-32 15 at North Dakota State L, 14-30 JANUARY 6 at North Carolina State Duals All Day vs. Campbell W, 39-15 vs. North Carolina State L, 17-32 vs. Ohio L, 12-35 12 at Virginia Duals All Day 12 vs. Anderson W, 49-6 13 vs. Roger Williams W, 30-9 13 vs. Newport News W, 31-7 20 Utah Valley State * W, 34-6 26 at Pacific University W, 41-6 26 at Portland State W, 38-3 FEBRUARY 2 at Eastern Illinois W, 25-18 3 Northern Colorado * L, 15-23 9 at Wyoming * L, 12-31 10 at Air Force Academy * L, 15-23 17 Northern Iowa * 3 p. m. 18 North Dakota State * 2 p. m. M A R C H 3 at West Regional Qualifier ^ T B A 15-17 N C A A DI National Championships T B A Note: All home duals start times Central Time Note: * Western Wrestling Conference Matches Note: ^ in Cedar Falls, Iowa Tyler Sorenson posted the lone fall of the night, pinning Matt Wetterling in the 184- pound match at the 4 minute, 30 second mark. The Ja cks since that match have gone 8-5 in dual competition. SERIES RECORDS: Saturday s matchup with Northen Iowa will mark the 34th meeting between the Jackrabbits and Panthers. UNI holds a 29-3-1 advantage in the all-time series. South Dakota State fell to Northern Iowa, 36-9, last winter at the West Gymnasium in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Cody Nehl, a senior from Watauga, put the Jacks on the board at 197 pounds by defeating Andrew Anderson, 7-3. Elk Point native Derek Pirner closed out the Jackrabbit scoring by upending No. 19 C.J. Ettelson by fall 48 seconds into the match. The Jackrabbits have faced off against North Dakota State on the mat 50 times before this weekend. NDSU holds a 32-18-0 record against the Jacks. SDSU hasn t won against the Bison since 1996-97, when the Jacks defeated North Dakota State, 24-10, en route to a North Central Conference championship. LAST WEEK S RESULTS: WYOMING 31, SDSU 12 Redshirt freshman Nick Herrboldt downed Dane Fuhrman by fall at 157 pounds, but it was not enough as South Dakota State fell to Wyoming last Friday night, 31-12, in front of 261 people. Herrboldt put the Jacks on the board defeating Fuhrman in 2 minutes, 45 seconds. With the win, the Scotland native posted his ninth win of the season and second during dual competition. Ryan Meyer, a redshirt freshman from Parkston, tied the match at 165 pounds by upending Kyle Morrow, 5-2. Meyer scored two straight escapes and then used a 7:00 riding time advantage to secure the victory. By defeating Morrow, Meyer collected his 20th victory of the season and has now won seven straight matches. He is 3-0 in the Western Wrestling Conference and 9-2 in dual action. Senior heavyweight Jason Stripling closed out the Jackrabbit scoring by defeating Jason Still, 1-0. Stripling scored an escape point with 3:51 showing on the clock in the second period to win the match. Stripling, 18-4 overall, moved to 2-1 in the conference. NORTHERN COLORADO 23, SDSU 15 The South Dakota State University wrestling team won five of the 10 weight classes, including two by fall, but dropped a 25-21 match to Air Force in Western Wrestling Conference action last Saturday afternoon. Nate Althoff, a senior from Watertown, gave the Jacks a 6-0 advantage in the match upending James Ciccone by fall in 3 minutes, 19 seconds. Fellow senior Travis Gottschalk increased the Jackrabbit lead by defeating Jordan Tribble, 5-3, in overtime at 197 pounds. With Air Force ahead 25-9 in the match, Mitchell native Andy Everson scored a 9-6 decision over Zach Lord at 157 pounds. Redshirt freshman Ryan Meyer closed the deficit to 25-18 by downing Anthony Dorward by fall in 2 minutes, 59 seconds, while Chris Moran closed out the match upending Stephen Crozier, 12-5. With the loss, South Dakota State dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-3 in the WWC, while Air Force improved to 4-10 overall and 1-1 in the conference. WEST REGIONAL INFORMATION: South Dakota State will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the West Regional Qualifier on March 3.This year s NCAA Division I Championships will be held in Auburn Hills, Mich., on March 15-17. I like the fact that we have a chance to advance to the NCAA Division I National

C OACH JA S O N LILES AT SDSU SE A S O N OV E R A L L CO N F. 1993 5-6 - 0 2-5 - 0 1994 4-6 - 0 2-5 - 0 1995 10-2 - 0 6-1 - 0 1996 8-2 - 0 6-1 - 0 1997 17-4 - 0 5-3 - 0 1998 15-7 - 0 4-4 - 0 1999 12-4 - 0 5-2 - 0 2000 9-5 - 1 5-2 - 0 2001 9-8 - 0 2-5 - 0 2002 12-9 - 0 4-5 - 0 2003 4-10 - 0 1-5 - 0 2004 10-8 - 0 N / A 2005 7-11 - 0 N / A 2006 8-7 - 0 1-3 - 0 O ve ra l l 130-89 - 1 43-41 - 0 2000-01 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Ye a r 1998 NCAA Division II Runner-Up 2001 NCAA Division II Runner-Up Championships come next month, said SDSU head coach Jason Liles. Northern Iowa will serve as the host for the 2007 NCAA West Regional in the McLeod Center. Fans wishing to attend the NCAA West Regional, should contact the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-DOME. Both general admission and reserved tickets are available. General admission tickets will cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth. Reserved seating will consist of the first 10 rows on each side of the mat at the McLeod Center. Reserved seating cost $6 for adults and $3 for youth. MEYER HAS STRONG SHOWING: Redshit freshman Ryan Meyer went 2-0 in competition this past weekend, collecting wins over conference opponents Wyoming and Air Force at 165 pounds. Meyer opened the weekend upending Wyoming's Kyle Morrow, 5-2, and then followed by downing the Falcons Anthony Dorward by fall in 2 minutes, 59 seconds. For the season, Meyer is 21-8 and has now won eight straight matches. He is 4-0 in the Western Wrestling Conference and 10-2 in dual action. SENIORS LAST STAND: When SDSU takes to the mats Sunday against North Dakota State, it will mark the final home match for five seniors and one junior. Nate Althoff, Andy Everson, Brad Gregory,Travis Gottschalk, Levi Krehmeyer and Marcus Waters will all wrestle their final matches in front of the home crowd Sunday. Althoff, a Watertown native, has gone 8-3 in duals heading into this weekend. He has collected 51 wins since SDSU made the move to Division I in 2004. Everson has posted a winning record every year he has been at South Dakota State.The Mitchell native has gone 8-2 overall and 5-1 in dual action heading into this weekend. Gregory will leave South Dakota State having wrestled in 79 matches.the senior has posted an 11-9 record this winter and is on track to record his first winning season since 2004-05 when he went 10-9 overall. Gottschalk has moved up two weight classes this dual season and posted an 8-4 record while doing so. Earlier this season, Gottschalk saw his streak of wrestling in 107 consecutive matches come to an end against North Carolina State on Jan. 6. Krehmeyer has been a constant in the Jackrabbit lineup the past two years after transfering here from North Idaho Community College. Slowed by injury this winter, Krehmeyer saw his first action of the dual season last weekend against Wyoming. Waters has been a constant team wrestler while attending South Dakota State. In 2004, he filled in after some key injuries in the lower weights and immediatly paid dividends by recording a fall in his first match back. In four years, Waters has wrestled in 67 matches heading into this weekend. WESTERN WRESTLING CONFERENCE: SDSU has had three wrestlers go undefeated in conference action. Leading the way for the Jacks are Ryan Meyer and Nate Althoff.The senior Althoff has gone 3-0 against Utah Valley State, Northern Colorado and Air Force, while Meyer leads the team in WWC matches with a perfect 4-0 record. The Jackrabbits will conclude its first year of conference action this weekend against NDSU and UNI. ALTHOFF NICE FINISH: After being injured earlier in the year, Watertown native Nate Althoff has bounced back to record an 8-3 record in dual competition, including a s-1 record in his last seven outings. With only two duals left in his career, Althoff has collected a total of 71 victories as a Jackrabbit heading into the two home duals. WINNING MARKS: During the dual season, the Jackrabbits have had five

CAREER V I C TO RY LEADERS NAME (YEARS) RECORD Paul Konechne (1998-2001) 137-30-0 Chad Lamer (1993-96) 132-30-2 Rick Jensen (1975-79) 128-24-0 Ryan Resel (1996-99) 121-27-0 Perry Fink (1986-89) 119-32-1 Aaron Veskrna (1999-2002) 114-40-0 Chad Wickman (1996-99) 109-36-0 Mike Pankratz (1990-94) 108-27-0 Travis King (1995-98) 106-24-4 Tyler Jones (1999-2003) 102-17-0 Mike Engels (1971-74) 101-14-1 Tyler Bryant (2000-03) 96-32-0 Stan Opp (1970-73) 94-19-1 wrestlers record seven or more wins heading into this weekend. Overall, 17 different Jackrabbits have wrestled during the dual season. 13 of the 17 wrestlers have posted winning records this winter. MATCH FACTS: SDSU has scored a total of 396 dual team points this season, plus a total of 1,498 match points. Redshirt freshman Tyler Sorenson leads the Jacks by collecting 46 dual team points, while junior Jason Stripling is second on the team with 44. In all, South Dakota State has posted 332 takedowns, 78 three-point near falls, 59 pins and 61 reversals as a team during 2006-07. BONTE UNDEFEATED ON WEEKEND: Redshit freshman Dan Bonte went undefeated in competition to begin the month of February upending Tommy Reamer of Eastern Illinois, 4-3, and UNC s Richard Lohr, 7-4, to move to 7-2 in dual competition. Bonte, who is 1-1 in conference action, is 9-4 overall and has posted two decisions and one fall in his last three matches. TECHNICAL FALLS GALORE: As a team, South Dakota State during its sevenmatch win streak recorded seven technical falls. Led bytyler Sorenson s eight this season, SDSU has upended a total of 10 different opponents by technical fall. Individually, Sorenson has upended five opponents by tech fall in his last six matches. PIN-TO-WIN: Junior Jason Stripling became the second SDSU wrestler in three years to pin his opponent during the pin-to-win contest against Utah Valley State Jan. 20.The Minneota, Minn., native, downed Mike Smith in 1 minute, 23 seconds. Because of Stripling s win by fall, Brookings resident Kami Bartels won $1,000. WWC FIRST: By beating Utah Valley State, 34-6, Jan. 20, SDSU collected its first Division I conference victory of any kind. South Dakota State also upended the Wolverines for the first time in the programs history and brought its overall record to 5-4 on the year and 1-0 in the Western Wrestling Conference. SORENSON SHOWING UP: Redshirt freshman Tyler Sorenson closed out his impressive weekend at the Virginia Duals by technical-falling Justin Gillard of Newport News, 16-1, to lead SDSU to the American College Division title. Overall, Sorenson, a Garretson native, recorded three technical falls and outscored his opponents an astounding, 49-4. For the year, Sorenson co-leads the team in victories with a 19-6 overall record. He has gone 9-3 in dual action and has eight technical falls on the year. THE GARRETSON CONNECTION: Dan Bonte and Tyler Sorenson, who both hail from Garretson, S.D., have opened the dual season in impressive fashion. Bonte, a 141-pounder, has compiled a dual record of 4-2, while Sorenson has gone 7-2. Overall, Bonte has a 6-4 record and Sorenson leads the team with a 17-5 mark. RANKINGS: SDSU redshirt freshman Tyler Sorenson became the first Jackrabbit wrestler since moving to Division I in 2004 to be ranked nationally in his respective weight class. WrestlingReport.com ranked Sorenson 29th overall in Division I at 184 for the first week of February.The Garretson native currently has posted an 19-6 record, including a 9-3 record in dual competition, and was ranked nationally for five straight weeks. MOVING ON UP: After wrestling his whole career at 174 pounds, senior Travis Gottschalk has filled in at 197 pounds this season to fill a void left in the lineup.

P R O N U N C I ATION GUIDE NA M E PR O N U N C I AT I O N Nate Althoff A L L - t o f f Dan Bonte B O N - t e e Tyler Cuka C H E W- K a A n dy Eve r s o n E E - ve r- s o n N i ck Herrboldt H E R - b o l d t L evi Krehmeye r K R E E - my - e r Justin Retallic r e - TA L - i c Jason Stripling S T R I P - l i n g Gottschalk, a Kimball, Minn., native has not disapointed by going 8-4 with one pin in his first 12 matches at his new weight class. IMPRESSIVE STATS: At the Virginia Duals, the Jackrabbits had 11 wrestlers go undefeated in Virginia and only lost a total of six matches as a team, including one by forfeit. Eleven wrestlers overall have posted winning records during the dual season, while seven have an overall record of 10 wins or better. THREE S THE KEY: Overall, South Dakota State had three wrestlers go 3-0 in Virginia; two redshirt freshmen and one senior. Wrestlers that went undefeated in three matches against Anderson, Roger Williams and Newport News were: Dan Bonte,Travis Gottschalk and Tyler Sorenson. STRIPLING BACK AT IT: After not wrestling for nearly two months, heavyweight Jason Stripling made his return to the Jackrabbit lineup in North Carolina, seeing his first extensive action since the Harold Nichols Open on Nov. 11. In his first match back Stripling, who picked up a forfeit win against Nebraska on Dec. 9, upended Jeremiah Fennell by fall in 2 minutes, 31 seconds. AFTER BREAK: SDSU is a combined 3-7 in competition following Christmas break.the Jackrabbits competed in the Lone Star Duals in Arlington,Texas, last winter and recorded an overall record of 1-3 at the competition. SDSU s lone win came against Clarion (Pa.). South Dakota State defeated Clarion, 28-15. In 2004-05, SDSU dropped two straight matches to Oregon and Pacific (Calif.), but then rallied to defeat Portland State, 29-20, to close out the Oregon Duals. EVERSON LATE-MATCH HEROICS: Jackrabbit senior Andy Everson, 4-1 on the young season, opened the dual season by posting a 5-3 decision over Rob Plambeck of Nebraska on Dec. 9, but it wasn t easy. Plambeck tied the match at 2-2 heading into the final period. Everson used a takedown with 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining and riding time to secure the victory. BIG-TIME MATCHES: When South Dakota State faced NDSU Dec. 15 it marked the second straight dual SDSU faced a team with one or more wrestlers ranked in the USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches poll. NDSU junior Eric Sanders is currently ranked No. 16 at 125 pounds. Sanders marked Marcus Waters second-straight opponent ranked in the top-20. Nebraska s Paul Donahoe moved up to No. 11 in this week s rankings. OPEN SEASON RECAP: South Dakota State put an end to its open season in Cedar Falls on Dec. 3. Overall, the Jackrabbits recorded 101 victories during the open season and posted 30 victories by fall. Leading the way for the Jacks was redshirt freshman Tyler Sorenson who went 10-3 in four tournaments. Junior Jason Stripling was also productive during the open season, having collected nine wins in three tournaments. Overall, South Dakota State wrestlers went a combined 113-101 during the open season. ALMOST THERE: In its last three outings during the open season, South Dakota State upended its opponent by fall a total of 23 times. Individually, three different wrestlers defeated their oppnent by fall at Northern Iowa on Dec. 3. Overall, the Jackrabbits have won 30 matches by fall this winter and are only four pins away from topping last year s total for the entire year. In 2005-06 SDSU only recorded 34 total pins on the season.

W E S T E R N W R E S T L I N G C O N F E R E N C E S TA N D I N G S TE A M W W C OV E R A L L Northern Iowa 2-0 5-9 - 1 N D S U 3-1 8-4 Wy o m i n g 3-1 4-9 Northern Colora d o 2-2 5-9 S D S U 1-3 8-7 Air Fo r c e 1-1 4-10 Utah Va l l ey State 0-4 6-11 A NEW YEAR: During the open season, a total of eight Jackrabbit wrestlers improved upon their open season records from a year ago. The biggest increase came from redshirt freshman Ryan Meyer, who improved in the win column a total of six matches during the open season. During the 2005-06 open season Meyer only recorded five wins, compared to his 11 this open season. Sophomore Justin Retallic has bettered his entire total of wins from last winter (4) by going 5-8 during the open season. Senior Brad Gregory has improved by five wins from a year ago. In 2005-06, Gregory was 3-8 heading into the first dual match, while this winter the Iowa native, is 8-7 with three pins. STRONG OUTING IN OHIO: Overall at the Ashland Open, the Jackrabbits had five wrestlers place in the tournament. SDSU, which recorded 10 pins on the day, combined for a 35-20 record at the open. Leading the way for the Jacks in total falls were Andy Everson, Nick Herrboldt and Thomas Strubel.The three standouts each collected two pins and combined for a 7-5 record. Senior Levi Krehmeyer, who picked up third-place honors, went 3-1 overall marking the first time in his career the Wyoming native had placed in an open tournament. WE LL BE BACK: When SDSU took to the mats in Cedar Falls on Nov. 11 it marked the first of two trips to the Northern Iowa campus for the Jacks this winter. SDSU will also take on the Panthers in a home dual on Feb. 17 before traveling to the UNI-DOME for the West Regional Qualifier on March 3. RETALLIC A FIRST: Justin Retallic, a sophomore from Atlantic, Iowa, went 2-2 in competition on Nov. 11. After picking up a bye in first-round action, Retallic used a takedown and an escape to defeat Andrew Nash of Newman University. He followed that up by recording his first collegiate pin over Jon Terronez of Buena Vista. For the season, he has posted a 3-4 record. His three wins are only one less win than he had during all of 2005-06. ONE TOUGH SCHEDULE: Five home dual matches and matches against Nebraska, Pacific and Portland State (Ore.) highlight the 2006-07 schedule. Included in the schedule are matchups against Western Wrestling Conference members Utah Valley State, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Air Force, Northern Iowa and North Dakota State. SDSU will be tested early in the year at the Harold Nichols Open, Ashland Open, Northern Iowa Open and North Carolina State and Virginia Duals. Once again, we have a very difficult schedule. In addidition to the tough schedule, I like the fact that we are competing in the Western Wrestling Conference and have a chance to advance to the NCAA Division I National Championships come March, said Liles. NCAA TOURNAMENT BOUND: The NCAA Membership Subcommittee during the summer of 2004 approved SDSU s request to fully reclassify its wrestling program to Division I status. Jackrabbit wrestlers will now be eligible to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships beginning this season.this is two years ahead of the original timeline set forth by the NCAA. This year s championships will be held in Auburn Hills, Mich., on March 15-17. SDSU s regional qualifier will be March 3 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. COACH JASON LILES: South Dakota State University wrestling coach Jason Liles, now in his 14th season, leads the Jackrabbits into a new era during the 2006-07 season. SDSU will be a charter member of the Western Wrestling Conference this winter

2 0 0 6-0 7 V I C T O R Y L E A D E R S NA M E RE C O R D Tyler Sorenson 19-5 R yan Meye r 21-8 Jason Stripling 18-5 N i ck Ku l s e t h 15-6 * Chris Mora n 15-10 Travis Gottschalk 14-12 B rad Gregory 11-9 Sean Flynn 10-8 *competing in open competition and also be able to qualify for the Division I Championships for the first time in the program's history. Last winter, the Jacks recorded an 7-11 record. Included in that win total was impressive victories over Clarion (Pa.), Delaware State, Portland State and Air force. He ranks second on the career victories list at SDSU, trailing only the late Warren Williamson, who compiled a 134-74-9 dual record over 16 seasons from 1957-68 and 1970-73. In 10 of the previous 12 seasons, Liles has led the Jackrabbits to a top-10 finish at the NCAA Division II Championships, including nine top-five finishes. SDSU has placed second at nationals twice (1998, 2001), third once (2001) fourth four times (1994,1996, 1997, 2000) and fifth two times (1995, 1999). He also led SDSU to a North Central Conference title in 1996. And Liles-coached teams won NWCA Division II National Duals titles in 1997-98 and 1999-00. Since Liles took over as head coach, the SDSU wrestling program has produced 46 All-Americans, 11 national champions and 31 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team selections. The 2000-2001 NCAA Division II Wrestling Coach of the Year, Liles came to SDSU in 1993 after a nine-year stay at Montana State University-Northern, in Havre, where he led his squads to NAIA national championships in 1991 and 1992. Liles was inducted into the MSU-Northern athletic Hall of Fame during the fall of 2003. Liles other coaching credentials include a two-year stint as head coach at Arcadia (Ohio) High School and as an assistant at Miami (Ohio) University, where he earned a master s degree in 1982. After a 4-10 record in duals in 2003-04, Liles team rebounded in 2004-05 by going 10-8 and capturing the American Division Championship at the Virginia Duals. His 8-7 record this winter brings his career dual record as a collegiate head coach to 218-126-1, including a 130-89-1 mark at SDSU. He ranks second on the career victories list at SDSU, trailing only the late Warren Williamson, who compiled a 134-74-9 dual record over 16 seasons from 1957-68 and 1970-73. A 1979 graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Liles ended his career as the winningest wrestler in the university s history. A four-year starter, he was chosen the team s most valuable wrestler his last three seasons (1977-79). In 1993-94, Liles took over the South Dakota State wrestling program and guided the Jackrabbits to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Division II tournament.that marked the highest national finish for the Jacks in 25 years and the first time that SDSU had two individual national champions (Chad Lamer at 177 and Justin Blasius at 190) in the same season. In the 1996-97 season, SDSU won the NCC title the first since 1980 as Liles was named Coach of the Year in the conference. After coming within 1.5 points of NCC champion Nebraska-Omaha a year earlier, the Jacks eliminated the suspense early in 1997 by putting six wrestlers in the finals of the conference tournament in Grand Forks. It translated to an 80-65 victory over the runner-up Mavericks. Over his last four seasons at Northern, his teams sandwiched back-to-back national championships (1991 and 1992) between a pair of national runner-up finishes (1990 and 1993). His teams at MSU-N won NAIA District-12 championships in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1992. During his career at MSU-N he posted a dual record of 89-33, coached six individual national champions (including the Outstanding Wrestler at the 1990 national tournament), and produced 48 All-Americans. And his teams produced eight academic All-Americans, with the team showing a 3.00 cumulative grade point average for 1987-1993. Prior to joining the staff at MSU-N, Liles was assistant wrestling coach at Miami

N E X T U P West Regional Qualifier Host: Northern Iowa March 3; TBA Cedar Falls, Iowa University in Ohio (1981-84). He played an integral part in developing three NCAA Division I All-Americans. Miami won the Mid-America Conference title in 1984 and had an alternate to the 1984 USA Olympic Freestyle team. THE ROSTER: The 2005-06 SDSU wrestling roster features 25 wrestlers from six different states. Of the 25 wrestlers, 11 are South Dakota natives and five are from M i n n e s o t a. Iowa is represented by four wrestlers, while Kansas has two. I l l i n o i s, Michigan and Wyoming each have one representative on the roster. By class, f i ve are s e n i o r s, four are juniors, three are sophomores, s even are redshirts and six are incoming f r e s h m e n. NAME YEAR WEIGHT(S) 2006-07 RECORD HOMETOWN Nate Althoff*** Sr. 165 8-3 Watertown, S.D. Dan Bonte RsFr. 141 9-5 Garretson, S.D. Jeff Cooley So. 133 8-5 Westbrook, Minn. Adam Everson Fr. 125-133 1-2 Mitchell, S.D. Andy Everson*** Sr. 157 8-2 Mitchell, S.D. Seth Fischer Fr. HWT 7-8^ LeMars, Iowa Sean Flynn Fr. 149 10-9 Lansing, Kan. Travis Gottschalk*** Sr. 174 14-12 Kimball, Minn. Brad Gregory*** Sr. 149 11-9 Glenwood, Iowa Nick Herrboldt RsFr. 149 9-10 Scotland, S.D. Dusty Kavitz** Jr. 141 0-2 Medford, Minn. Levi Krehmeyer** Sr. 174 3-4 Gillette, Wyo. Nick Kulseth RsFr. 133 15-6^ Windom, Minn. Alan Marvin* So. 125 10-9 Adrian, Mich. Ryan Meyer RsFr. 165 21-8 Parkston, S.D. Chris Moran RsFr. 184 15-10 Rapid City, S.D. Derek Pirner* Jr. 141 8-5 Elk Point, S.D. Justin Retallic* So. 157 6-8 Atlantic, Iowa Tyler Sorenson RsFr. 184 19-6 Garretson, S.D. Jason Stripling** Jr. HWT 18-5 Minneota, Minn. Thomas Strubel Fr. HWT 2-8 Huron, S.D. Marcus Waters* Jr. 25 6-17 Leavenworth, Kan. Marc Wermersen RsFr. 149 0-2 Sioux Center, Iowa ^ competing in open competition COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Jason Liles (14th season) Assistant Coach: Matt Sedivy A LOOK AHEAD: South Dakota State will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the West Regional Qualifier on March 3. A start time has yet to be determined.