Jan. 27, 2010

Story courtesy of Dakota Wesleyan Sports Information

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Dakota Wesleyan's (S.D.) senior All-American Jordan Harer became the school's all-time wins leader as the No. 20 Tigers pulled out a dramatic 26-24 road win over the rival University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Tuesday.

DWU (2-4) entered the final match of the night trailing by a point, 24-23, but 165-pounder Tanner LaValliere (16-14) scored a 7-4 decision over the Cougars' Tyler Reibsamen to give the Tigers three points and the victory. The two teams split the 10 matches with five wins apiece, but bonus points were the deciding factor for the Tigers.

Some of those bonus points came from Harer (18-5) as he became the wrestler with the most wins in Tiger history. He entered the match tied with Justin Portenier with 94 career wins, and his record-setting 95th victory came with a 1:33 pin of USF's Tom Thompson.

Harer - ranked fourth at 141 pounds in the NAIA - now has a great chance to become the first DWU wrestler to ever reach 100 wins.

Blake Hodne (7-15) also had a huge win for DWU, scoring a 15-0 technical fall over USF's Jerry Renken at 174 pounds. Alan Stuber (6-7) and Danny Hutcheson (15-5) both accepted forfeits.

USF accepted forfeits at 184 and 197 pounds. DWU's Malik Stewart (11-11) lost a close 3-2 decision to Joe Goolsby at 133 pounds and USF's Koln Fink pinned Noah Ruml at 157 pounds.

The Tigers will now prepare for Saturday's 2010 Great Plains Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships, hosted by Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Harer and Hutcheson will try to add another All-GPAC honor to their stellar careers.