Emotions ran the entire spectrum during the NCAA Super Region V Wrestling Tournament at the Barnett Center on Saturday.

There were tears of joy and of frustration as wrestlers punched their tickets to the NCAA Division II National Tournament while others had their seasons come to a close.

Northern State experienced both sides of that experience, qualifying three wrestlers for nationals, narrowly missing out on one other and falling a bit short of expectations as a team.

Devin Bahr and Cole Huss both finished runner-up and Wyatt Turnquist was third to earn a trip to nationals. Landen Fischer placed fourth, just outside of qualifying for the final tourney of the season.

St. Cloud State won the team title. The Wolves finished seventh.

“Our guys efforts were good,” said Northern coach Rocky Burkett.

However, he was hoping for a higher team finish.

“We wanted to place a little higher as a team,” Burkett said. “We kind of fell out of that this morning.”

Turnquist found his back up against the wall in his match at 149 pounds before finding his way back to nationals. He trailed 3-2 going into the third period, however, the senior was not overly concerned.

“I’ve been in this position before. For the last three years I’ve been in a third place match,” Turnquist said. “My first year I lost in the last eight seconds, so I know how that feels. Last year, obviously I got it done, but I just try not to think about outside factors, just focus on the task at hand, focus on getting points and then the rest will take care of itself.”

Down a point, Turnquist decided to chose down to start the third, despite the fact that his opponent owned a chunk of riding time so the deficit was actually two points.

Turnquist wasted little time in getting a reversal, then rode out his opponent for a 4-3 win.

“I was pretty confident in my ability to get a reversal,” Turnquist said. “Even if I didn’t get that, I knew I could get away and get right back on his legs, and hopefully score another one.”

Interestingly, his opponent chose neutral to start the second period, but Turnquist was not surprised.

“I’ve wrestled probably 21 matches this year and I’ve had one person pick down on me,” Turnquist said. “I’m pretty solid on top. I train that a lot in the room and score a lot of points from there.”

Bahr earned his first trip to the national tournament despite spending limited time on the mat in recent years. A pair of knee surgeries forced him to miss more than two full seasons.

“I haven’t wrestled a match for 2 1/2 years,” Bahr said. “This is my first tournament really since then.”

When asked if he gave much thought about what his stamina would be like in his return to competition, Bahr responded, “That’s always in the back of my mind, but Rocky and Zeke (assistant coach Zeke Andrade) did a good job. They tell me hey, you have what it takes to basically win the whole thing, like nationals even.”

Bahr dropped a 4-1 decision in his title match.

Huss came within inches of winning his championship final before eventually falling in overtime.

“It’s a battle. There’s a reason it’s the region finals,” Huss said. “Every position is a fight, just trying to get a little inch or a little edge over the other.”

Huss and his foe from St. Cloud State had their bodies entangled and it appeared that each had possibly taken down the other to break a 1-1 tie, but neither was awarded any points.

His championship match opponent was a two-time All-American, so the opportunities to score were limited.

“You just wrestle tactical, try and find your angles or openings, try not to force anything and make mistakes yourself,” Huss said. “It’s that constant battle of trying to be in good position without sacrificing position.”

Huss, who finished fourth at nationals last season, said the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference includes some of the nation’s top wrestlers, so doing well at the region means you can compete with anybody.

“This conference is tough as nails,” Huss said. “Pretty much everybody in the bracket is nationally ranked or an All-American. It’s always tough competition.”

The Wolves will now have two weeks to gear up for the national tourney March 10-11 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Burkett has heard the notion before that if you do well at the regional, you will do well at nationals.

“We say that every year,” Burkett said, “but now we’ve got to go do it.”

FULL REGION RESULTS
125 – Landen Fischer (3-2) placed 4th and scored 12.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Landen Fischer (NSU) 3-2 won by major decision over Clayson Mele (MSU Moorhead) 15-14 (MD 16-4)
Quarterfinal – Jaden Verhagen (Mary) 15-9 won by decision over Landen Fischer (NSU) 3-2 (Dec 12-6)
Cons. Round 2 – Landen Fischer (NSU) 3-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Landen Fischer (NSU) 3-2 won by decision over Colby Lopez (Upper Iowa) 4-22 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Semi – Landen Fischer (NSU) 3-2 won by injury default over #5 Paxton Creese (St. Cloud State) 18-5 (Inj. 1:06)
3rd Place Match – Oscar Nellis (Minot State (N.D.)) 4-1 won by decision over Landen Fischer (NSU) 3-2 (Dec 5-4)
 
133 – Teagan Block (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Teagan Block (NSU) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Caleb Meekins (St. Cloud State) 16-6 won by fall over Teagan Block (NSU) 0-2 (Fall 3:24)
Cons. Round 2 – Teagan Block (NSU) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – #11 Kaden Anderlik (Upper Iowa) 23-11 won by decision over Teagan Block (NSU) 0-2 (Dec 4-2)
 
141 – Kolton Roth (2-2) place is unknown and scored 1.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Kolton Roth (NSU) 2-2 won by decision over Hunter Hayes (MSU Moorhead) 6-17 (Dec 9-3)
Quarterfinal – #5 Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 27-6 won by fall over Kolton Roth (NSU) 2-2 (Fall 4:56)
Cons. Round 2 – Kolton Roth (NSU) 2-2 won by decision over Hunter Pfantz (Southwest Minn.) 8-16 (Dec 14-12)
Cons. Round 3 – #11 Alyeus Craig (St. Cloud State) 24-5 won by decision over Kolton Roth (NSU) 2-2 (Dec 9-6)
 
149 – Wyatt Turnquist (3-1) placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – #8 Wyatt Turnquist (NSU) 3-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – #8 Wyatt Turnquist (NSU) 3-1 won by tech fall over Ethen Doty (Upper Iowa) 13-15 (TF-1.5 6:53 (16-0))
Semifinal – #6 Jalen Spuhler (Wisconsin-Parkside) 27-7 won in tie breaker – 1 over Wyatt Turnquist (NSU) 3-1 (TB-1 3-2)
Cons. Semi – #8 Wyatt Turnquist (NSU) 3-1 won by major decision over Kelby Armstrong (Minot State) 2-3 (MD 13-3)
3rd Place Match – #8 Wyatt Turnquist (NSU) 3-1 won by decision over Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State) 29-10 (Dec 4-3)
 
157 – Devin Bahr (2-1) placed 2nd and scored 13.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Devin Bahr (NSU) 2-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Devin Bahr (NSU) 2-1 won in sudden victory – 1 over #11 Ben Durocher (Wis. Parkside) 21-7 (SV-1 4-2)
Semifinal – Devin Bahr (NSU) 2-1 won by decision over Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) 23-6 (Dec 5-2)
1st Place Match – #2 Nick Novak (St. Cloud State) 23-0 won by decision over Devin Bahr (NSU) 2-1 (Dec 4-1)
 
165 – Chase Bloomquist (1-2) place is unknown and scored 0.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Chase Bloomquist (NSU) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – #10 Anthony Herrera (St. Cloud State) 15-6 won by decision over Chase Bloomquist (NSU) 1-2 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Chase Bloomquist (NSU) 1-2 won in tie breaker-1 over Lucas Hodges (Southwest Minn.) 10-14 (TB-1 7-6)
Cons. Round 3 – #2 Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) 28-3 won by decision over Chase Bloomquist (NSU) 1-2 (Dec 4-3)
 
174 – Kelby Hawkins (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Anthony Castro (MSU Moorhead) 14-12 won by fall over Kelby Hawkins (NSU) 0-2 (Fall 2:46)
Cons. Round 1 – Kelby Hawkins (NSU) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Michael Smith (Minnesota State) 25-11 won by decision over Kelby Hawkins (NSU) 0-2 (Dec 5-3)
 
184 – Sam Kruger (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Colter Bye (Upper Iowa) 14-9 won by decision over Sam Kruger (NSU) 0-2 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Sam Kruger (NSU) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – #9 Cade Mueller (Augustana) 16-5 won by decision over Sam Kruger (NSU) 0-2 (Dec 3-2)
 
197 – Cole Huss (2-1) placed 2nd and scored 13.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – #3 Cole Huss (NSU) 2-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – #3 Cole Huss (NSU) 2-1 won by decision over Dustin Swisher (Minot State (N.D.)) 3-3 (Dec 7-1)
Semifinal – #3 Cole Huss (NSU) 2-1 won by decision over #7 Dalton Hahn (Upper Iowa) 12-5 (Dec 3-2)
1st Place Match – #10 Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud State) 26-3 won in sudden victory-1 over Cole Huss (NSU) 2-1 (SV-1 3-1)
 
285 – Nathan Schauer (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – #9 Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) 21-7 won by decision over Nathan Schauer (NSU) 0-2 (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Round 1 – Nathan Schauer (NSU) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Zach Peterson (Augustana) 14-12 won by decision over Nathan Schauer (NSU) 0-2 (Dec 9-5)