BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southwest Minnesota State’s Justin Reinsma rebounded from an opening round loss to win two straight matches and in the process secured All-American honors at the NCAA Division II Championships in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday.
Reinsma was one of four SMSU individuals competing at the championship with three of the four earning at least one victory on the day.
Reinsma becomes just the second two-time NCAA All-American in program history, joining Link Steffen, who earned All-American honors in both 1997 and 1998.
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Sixteen individuals qualified for each of the 10 weight classes, with the top eight in each class earning All-American honors.
Reinsma dropped his first match at 133 lbs., falling 14-6 to Cameron Throckmorton from Shippensburg (Pa.), before rebounding with a 9-2 win over Lino Estrada from Grand Canyon (Ariz.) in the consolation first round. Reinsma then secured All-American honors in style by earning a victory by fall at 38 seconds over Zachary Hale from Anderson (S.C.) in the consolation second round.
Reinsma (27-8) competes in the consolation third round tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. versus Alphonso Vrune from Minnesota State. Reinsma has lost twice to Vrune this season.
Jacob Begin at 165 lbs., started the day with an 8-4 loss to Chris Watson from Central Oklahoma, before rebounding with a 6-2 victory over Keith Ryan from Pitt.-Johnston (Pa.) in the consolation first round. Begin’s season came to end in the consolation second round with a 6-4 loss to Justin Samora from Adam State. Begin closes the season with a record of 17-5.
Kyle Begin, at 174 lbs., was the only SMSU wrestler to win his opening match, earning a victory by fall at 4:46 over Ray Hall from CSU-Pueblo. Begin then lost a hearbreaker in the championship quarterfinal to Mike Williams from UNC-Pembroke 4-3 in triple overtime. Begin had his season come to an end in the consolation second round with an 11-3 loss to Kelly Henderson from Central Oklahoma and finishing the season with a record of 19-4.
Travis Peralta dropped his opening match at 184 to Travis McKillop from Pitt.-Johnston, 11-7, before losing by fall at 4:24 to Charles Mason from Notred Dame (Ohio) in the consolation first round. Peralta finishes the season with an overall record of 18-13.
Below is a recap of the results for each of the SMSU wrestlers on Friday.
133 pounds
Justin Reinsma • lost 14-6 to Cameron Throckmorton (Shippensburg, Pa., 21-3)
Justin Reinsma (25-8) • won 9-2 over Lino Estrada (Grand Canyon, Ariz.) in consolation first round
Justin Reinsma (26-8) • won by fall at :38 over Zachary Hale (Anderson, S.C.) in consolation second round
Justin Reinsma (27-8) vs. Alphonso Vruno (Minnesota State) in consolation third round – Saturday
165 pounds
Jacob Begin • lost 8-4 to Chris Watson (Central Oklahoma, 29-18)
Jacob Begin (16-4) • won 4-2 overa Keith Ryan (Pitt.-Johnstown, Pa.) in consolation first round
Jacob Begin (17-4) • lost 6-4 to Justin Samora (Adams State, Colo.) in consolation second round
Jacob Begin finishes 1-2
174 pounds
Kyle Begin • won by fall at 4:46 over Ray Hall (CSU-Pueblo, 14-12)
Kyle Begin (19-2) • lost 4-3 3OT to Mike Williams (UNC-Pembroke, 35-2) in championship quarterfinals
Kyle Begin (19-3) • lost 11-3 to Kelly Henderson (Central Oklahoma, 24-6) in consolation second round.
Kyle Begin finishes 1-2.
184 pounds
Travis Peralta • lost 11-7 to Travis McKillop (Pitt.-Johnstown, Pa., 30-1)
Travis Peralta (18-13) • lost by fall at 4:24 to Charles Mason (Notre Dame, Ohio, 23-11) in consolation first round
Peralta finishes 0-2