SIOUX FALLS -- Alex Kocer, a five-time Class B state high school wrestling champion from Wagner, met up with a familiar opponent Sunday.
Kocer, now a sophomore wrestler for South Dakota State University, defeated Augustana's Jeremiah Peterson by major decision 10-1 in a nonconference dual at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. SDSU defeated Augustana 30-3 in the match.
The victory for Kocer was a rematch of the 2010 Class B state high school championship at 130 pounds. That year, Kocer -- a sophomore -- defeated Peterson -- a senior -- 12-2 to help Wagner win its third straight Class B state team championship.
That was Kocer's third individual title. Peterson, whose only loss as a senior was to Kocer, won two state high school championships. Kocer then won titles in his junior and senior seasons, making him one of five wrestlers to win five or more state high school wrestling championships in South Dakota history.
Last year as a freshman at SDSU, he qualified for the NCAA national wrestling tournament as the Western Wrestling Conference champion. He finished his first collegiate season 29-13.
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Kocer's younger brother, David, a two-time state high school champion, also had success Sunday for SDSU. Kocer, a freshman for the Jackrabbits, defeated Augustana's Tim Weber 3-0 in the 174-pound match.
