FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Newcomer Tanner Cook pinned two ranked opponents in leading the South Dakota State University wrestling team to a pair of victories Monday on the final day of the South Beach Duals.

The Jackrabbits, who finished the two-day event with a 3-1 dual record, posted a 19-17 victory over Michigan State in the first match of the day and wrapped up the event with a 29-8 win against Old Dominion. SDSU improved to 4-3 overall, matching its win total in duals from a year ago.

South Dakota State 19, Michigan State 17

Cook, a freshman 165-pounder from Ilion, New York, swung the dual in the Jackrabbits’ favor with a third-period pin of 25th-ranked Drew Hughes. Cook trailed 2-0 and faced a huge deficit in riding time entering the final period. However, he came up with a reversal to tie the bout, then got a turn to put Hughes’ shoulders to the mat.

Cook’s victory gave the Jackrabbits a momentary 13-9 lead and was followed two matches later by a 7-6 decision by 17th-ranked Zach Carlson, who outlasted the Spartans’ Cameron Caffey, 7-6, in the 184-pound matchup.

Tanner Sloan upped the SDSU lead to 19-14 with a 7-0 decision over Nick May at 197 pounds.

Needing a pin to win the dual, the Spartans came up short as heavyweight Christian Rebottaro could only muster a 6-2 decision over the Jackrabbits’ Blake Wolters.

SDSU built an early 7-3 lead by winning two of the first three matches. Danny Vega won by major decision at 125 pounds and Clay Carlson added a decision in the 141-pound weight class.

Michigan State closed the first half of the dual with wins by Alex Hrisopoulos (149 pounds) and 20th-ranked Jake Tucker (157). Also winning for the Spartans was 25th-ranked 133-pounder Garrett Pepple, who scored a 4-2 decision over Zach Price.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 19, MICHIGAN STATE 17

125: Danny Vega (SDSU) major dec. Julian Saldana (MSU), 11-3

133: #25 Garrett Pepple (MSU) dec. Zach Price (SDSU), 4-2

141: Clay Carlson (MSU) dec. Matt Santos (MSU), 6-2

149: Alex Hrisopoulos (MSU) dec. Peyton Smith (SDSU), 4-2

157: #20 Jake Tucker (MSU) major dec. Colten Carlson (SDSU), 12-3

165: Tanner Cook (SDSU) def. #25 Drew Hughes (MSU), by fall 5:33

174: #25 Layne Malczewski (MSU) tech. fall Cade King (SDSU), 17-1

184: #17 Zach Carlson (SDSU) dec. #23 Cameron Caffey (MSU), 7-6

197: #19 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) dec. Nick May (MSU), 7-0

285: Christian Rebottaro (MSU) dec. Blake Wolters (SDSU), 6-2

South Dakota State 29, Old Dominion 8

South Dakota State swept the second half of the dual in posting a 29-8 victory in its first-ever matchup against an Old Dominion squad that was receiving votes in the most recent NWCA Division I Coaches Poll.

With the dual tied at 9-all through five matches, Cook again put the Jackrabbits in the driver’s seat with a first-period pin of 24th-ranked Shane Jones.

Cade King followed Cook’s victory with an 8-4 decision over Alex Cramer at 174 pounds, while Zach Carlson and Sloan added wins by major decision. Wolters closed out the dual with a 7-4 decision at heavyweight.

Also winning by fall for the Jackrabbits was 125-pounder Danny Vega, who opened the dual by upsetting 10th-ranked Killian Cardinale with a pin in 39 seconds. Zach Price then turned in a 5-2 decision over Shannon Hanna at 133 pounds.

All three of Old Dominion’s wins came in succession, starting with a 7-4 decision by 14th-ranked Sa’Derian Perry over Clay Carlson at 141 pounds. Kenan Carter (149 pounds) and 14th-ranked Larry Early (157) also won by decision for the Monarchs.

ODU later had a point deducted from its team total for lack of mat control.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 29, OLD DOMINION 8

125: Danny Vega (SDSU) def. #10 Klilian Cardinale (ODU), by fall 0:39

133: Zach Price (SDSU) dec. Shannon Hanna (ODU), 5-2

141: #14 Sa’Derian Perry (ODU) dec. Clay Carlson (SDSU), 7-4

149: Kenan Carter (ODU) dec. Peyton Smith (SDSU), 10-3

157: #14 Larry Early (ODU) dec. Colten Carlson (SDSU), 6-4

165: Tanner Cook (SDSU) def. #24 Shane Jones (ODU), by fall 0:45

174: Cade King (SDSU) dec. Alex Cramer (ODU), 8-4

184: #17 Zach Carlson (SDSU) major dec. Antonio Agee (ODU), 15-3

197: #19 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) major dec. Timothy Young (ODU), 13-0

285: Blake Wolters (SDSU) dec. Jacob Bullock (ODU), 7-4

UP NEXT

The Jackrabbits return to dual action Jan. 10 at Northern Iowa. Start time for the Big 12 Conference dual is set for 7 p.m. at West Gym in Cedar Falls, Iowa.