Jacks’ season ends at NCAA Championships

Oklahoma City, Okla. – South Dakota State saw all three of its qualifier’s seasons come to an end Thursday night at the second session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Alex Kocer, Cody Pack and Joe Brewster all dropped elimination matches, ending their seasons.

“We’re very disappointed in the results today,” head coach Chris Bono said. “We made too many mistakes to win at this level, but I’m proud of this group of young men. They fought hard. I can’t wait to start working for next year.”

In Pack’s pigtail match, the junior went blow-for-blow with Oklahoma’s Justin DeAngelis, but ended up dropping a 9-7 decision. Pack and DeAngelis exchanged takedowns throughout, but the two-time NCAA qualifier came up short and ends the year 28-8.

Kocer and Brewster both dropped their respective wrestleback matches and were eliminated. Kocer dropped a 13-5 major decision to Justin Arthur of Clarion, while Brewster was beat by Columbia’s Josh Houldsworth.

Kocer ends the year 29-13, while Brewster ends his junior campaign 22-14.

The Jacks ends the year 6-8 overall and went 3-2 in Western Wrestling Conference action. SDSU’s three NCAA Championship qualifiers were the most in school history.

Match-by-Match Results

149: Alex Kocer
#1 Drake Houdashelt (Missouri) over Kocer – Maj., 12-3
Justin Arthur (Clarion) over Kocer – Maj., 13-5

157: Cody Pack
Aaron Walker (Citadel) fall over #15 Pack – Pin, 5:25
Justin DeAngelis (Oklahoma) over #15 Pack – Dec., 9-7

165: Joe Brewster
#1 David Taylor (Penn State) fall over Brewster – Pin, 2:59
Josh Houldsworth (Columbia) over Brewster – Dec., 5-2

College Tournament Time