Kari Gibb/MDN Minot State junior Ryan Hrcka battles at 157-pounds against University of Mary redshirt sophomore Kaden Renner in an NSIC dual on Friday, February 7, at the MSU Dome.

Minot State University (MSU) seniors Cannon Potts and Jake Swirple provided a huge emotional boost for the Beavers Friday night and injected some drama into the “Battle for the Barrel.”

Both dominated their individual matches, giving the Beavers momentum with a pair of wins but it wasn’t enough as the visiting 11th-ranked Mary Marauders walked out of the MSU Dome with the prize in the eighth “Battle of the Barrel,” and a 40-9 NSIC dual victory.

Mary (7-6 overall, 5-2 NSIC) jumped up 17-0 with wins in the opening four matches, two of which could have gone either way as both Brendan Barnes, at 165 pounds, and Gavin Turk, at 174 pounds lost close battles. Barnes lost a 5-2 decision and Turk lost a 4-1 decision.

Those close setbacks along with a pin and technical fall spotted the Marauders a 17-0 lead before Potts changed the momentum of the dual, dominating his 197-pound match against Marco Reyes and scoring a 17-0 technical fall win.

Then came a Top 10 battle of the big boys with No. 9-ranked Swirple taking on No. 8 Luke Tweeton, a battle controlled throughout by Swirple who cruised to a 13-2 major decision win, energizing the crowd and his teammates as the Beavers cut the difference in half, down 17-9.

A pin in the 125-pound match, though, returned the evening’s energy to the Marauders, who picked up two more wins by pin and a technical fall victory for the final margin.

MSU (7-7, 2-5) now closes out its home slate hosting a Super Bowl Sunday “Senior Day” celebration this Sunday as the Beavers host Northern State at 2 p.m. at the MSU Dome. The Beavers will honor seniors Barnes, Kale Farrington, Wayne Joint, Potts, Swirple, and Evan Vieira before Sunday’s dual.