FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University's head wrestling coach Bucky Maughan announced today that four-time North Dakota state high school champion Levi Haugen has signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle and continue his education at NDSU.

“We identified Levi as the top senior prospect with Division I credentials in North Dakota,” said Maughan.  “He is a proven winner and one we believe will excel at the highest level of competition.”

Haugen has compiled a career record of 192-21 for Minot Bishop Ryan High School with 116 pins, winning North Dakota state titles the last four years.  Seventeen of those losses came as a seventh grader.  Currently, the senior is on a 57 consecutive match winning streak and is only 33 wins shy of breaking former Bismarck High standout Travis Lang's record for most career wins in North Dakota with 224.

He is a five-time state qualifier and four-time regional champion.  Haugen went undefeated his freshman and junior years at Minot Ryan and capped off the 2004 season by winning the state triple crown (high school, Greco-Roman and freestyle titles).

The three-time state freestyle and Greco-Roman champion also received interest from The Citadel, Lehigh, Wyoming, Michigan, West Point, Buffalo, Brown, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Minnesota State-Moorhead, Augustana and Mary before signing with the Bison.

Following a redshirt year, Haugen and all other recruits that sign with NDSU this year would have all four years of NCAA Division I eligibility for national competition in postseason tournaments. 

“It's our goal to always sign the top wrester in North Dakota before we look to other areas of the country,” said Maughan.  “Levi's record speaks for itself and we're excited to have him as we make this move to Division I.”

An interesting footnote to Haugen's signing is that back in 1968, the first big name wrestler from North Dakota to sign with the Bison was Lynn Forde of Minot Ryan High School.  That class of 1968 started the Bison on their way to success at the Division II level.  Now 36 years later, as the Bison start building for Division I, the first wrestler to sign is also from Minot Ryan High School.