Emma Buee/MDN MSU senior Nina Sandoval faced off with Kylie Hulse of Sioux Falls at the 180-lbs contest on Wednesday, January 7, at the MSU Dome. Sandoval made history as the first ever senior to come from the MSU women’s wrestling program.

Just three years old, the Minot State University women’s wrestling program celebrated another milestone Wednesday night: The program’s first “Senior Night.”

The Beavers honored third-year wrestler Nina Sandoval prior to the match, then battled hard only to fall 33-16 to visiting Sioux Falls.

Sandoval, the program’s all-time leader in career wins and pins with 34 victories and 18 pins entering the match, didn’t let the “Senior Night” emotions affect her performance on the mat, though, as she won by pin in 1 minute, 45 seconds over the Cougars’ Kylie Hulse in their 180-pound match, the final team points of the night for the Beavers (2-5 duals).

The Beavers all-time wins lead was one of three MSU ladies to win by pin on the night as freshman Pua Beebe and sophomore Haleigh Lematta also added five-point victories for the Beavers.

Lematta won by pin 50 seconds into the second round of her 145-pound match against the Cougars’ Ciana Grate.

As for Beebe, she provided the most dramatic finish of the evening as she regrouped after an early scare, shaking off a potential knee injury 15 seconds into her battle at 138 pounds with Diann Smith.

Working through the early injury, Beebe kept battling and with 46 seconds left in the second round earned the win by pin for the Beavers.

The dual was the final home match of the season for the MSU women who are back in action next week as they head to Jamestown for a dual on Wednesday, then compete at the York Open in Nebraska next on Saturday, January 18.