The North Dakota State wrestling team opens the 2020-21 season this Sunday, Jan. 3, hosting Oregon State at 10 a.m. and 10th-ranked Missouri at 12 p.m. in the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. Both NDSU matches will be televised statewide on BEK Sports and online at FloWrestling and GoBison.com with Jordan Hassler and Jack Maughan on the call. Additional matches not being televised include South Dakota State vs. Missouri at 10 a.m., SDSU vs. Oregon State at 12 p.m. and Missouri vs. Oregon State at 2 p.m.

Tickets

Capacity for Sunday's event will be limited to 1,000 spectators under current North Dakota health guidelines and all attendees will be required to wear masks. Tickets may be purchased in advance at GoBison.com/tickets and any remaining tickets on Sunday will be available at the door. One ticket will be valid for all matches all day. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 3-17.

Series History

Oregon State has a 5-2 lead in the series with North Dakota State since 2006-07, but NDSU won the last matchup 31-13 in Fargo on Dec. 20, 2018. Missouri is 3-0 against North Dakota State dating back to 2011-12. The Tigers won the last meeting 23-9 on Nov. 16, 2013, in their only trip to Fargo.

Who's Back

North Dakota State returns three NCAA qualifiers and six starters from last year's team that went 10-4 overall in duals and placed fifth at the Big 12 tournament before cancellation of the NCAA tournament. Sophomore 141 Dylan Droegemueller (15-10), sophomore 157 Jared Franek (27-7) and junior heavyweight Brandon Metz (22-10) each qualified for the NCAA tournament last year. Other returning starters include junior 149 Jaden Van Maanen (12-17), senior 174 Luke Weber (15-13) and sophomore 184 Noah Cressell (10-12).

Bison in the National Rankings

North Dakota State has four wrestlers in the latest Division I rankings. Sophomore 157 Jared Franek is 13th in the InterMat and WIN Magazine rankings, 14th in Trackwrestling and 16th in The Open Mat. Junior heavyweight Brandon Metz is ranked 16th in all four rankings. Sophomore 141 Dylan Droegemueller is 20th in Trackwrestling and 24th in The Open Mat, while senior 174 Luke Weber is 22nd in The Open Mat and 30th in Trackwrestling.

North Dakota State's Probable Lineup

125—McGwire Midkiff, Jr., Carter Lake, Iowa (23-25 career, 12-9 last year, 6th at Big 12)

or Ryan Henningson, Fr., Winona, Minn. (Winona all-time wins leader, 108-25 with 101 pins)

133—Ryan Ripplinger, RFr., Bismarck, N.D. (8-3 last year unattached)

or Kellyn March, Fr., Canton, S.D. (four-time state champ w/199-2 varsity record)

141—#20 Dylan Droegemueller, So., Champlin, Minn. (15-10 last year, 4th at Big 12, NCAA qualifier)

149—Jaden Van Maanen, Jr., La Crosse, Wis. (27-30 career, 12-17 last year, 8th at Big 12)

or Gaven Sax, Fr., St. Robert, Mo. (state champ w/43-1 record last year)

157—#13 Jared Franek, So., Harwood, N.D. (27-7 last year, 3rd at Big 12, NCAA qualifier)

165—Michael Weber, RFr., Forsyth, Mont. (5-4 last year unattached at 149)

or Austin Brenner, So., St. Cloud, Minn. (9-6 last year)

174—Riley Habisch, RFr., Buffalo, Minn. (0-1 last year unattached)

or Noah Cressell, So., Wabash, Ind. (10-12 last year)

184—TJ Pottinger, So., Hastings, Minn. (9-9 last year)

or Gary Wokojance, RFr., Barberton, Ohio (8-6 last year unattached)

197—Cole Witzig, Sr., Troy, Ill. (20-23 career, 7-6 last year)

or Michael Nelson, RFr., Dover, Minn. (13-1 last year unattached)

285—#16 Brandon Metz, Jr., West Fargo, N.D. (37-22 career, 22-10 last year, 7th at Big 12, NCAA qualifier)

Head Coach: Roger Kish (10th season, 81-59 overall, 35-22 in Big 12)

Assistants: Obenson Blanc, Austin Marsden, Cody Pack

Oregon State's Probable Lineup

125—#26 Brandon Kaylor, RSo., Bonney Lake, Wash.

133—#7 Devan Turner, RSr., Central Point, Ore.

or Jason Shaner, RJr., Hood River, Ore.

141—#16 Grant Willits, RJr. Pueblo, Calif.

149—#30 Lane Stigall, RJr., Aurora, Ore.

or Riley Gurr, RSo., Frenchtown, Mont.

157—#20 Hunter Willits, RJr., Pueblo, Calif.

165—Dillon Ulrey, RSr., Central Point, Ore.

174—Colton Beisley, RJr., St. Helens, Ore.

184—#33 Ryan Reyes, So., Fresno, Calif.

or Jackson McKinney, RSo., Vancouver, Wash.

197—#29 JJ Dixon, RSo., Tacoma, Wash.

285—Brian Barnes, RJr., McMinnville, Ore.

Head Coach: Chris Pendleton (1st season)

Assistants: Nate Engel, Isaiah Martinez, Mike Kosoy

Missouri's Probable Lineup

125—Noah Surtin, So., Edwardsville, Ill.

or #19 Connor Brown, RJr., Oak Grove, Mo.

133—#10 Matt Schmitt, RJr., Platte City, Mo.

or Trey Crawford, Fr., Kansas City, Mo.

141—#12 Allan Hart, RJr., Akron, Ohio

or Josh Edmond, Fr., Detroit, Mich.

149—#3 Brock Mauller, Jr., Columbia, Mo.

157—#13 Jarrett Jacques, Jr., Columbia, Mo.

or Keegan O'Toole, Fr., Hartland, Wis.

165—#16 Peyton Mocco, RSo., West Allis, Wis.

or Martell Boone, RJr., Cahokia, Ill.

174—#23 Sean Harman, RFr., West Linn, Ore.
or Duwayne Villalpando, Fr., Wichita, Kan.

184—Colton Hawks, Fr., Wentzville, Mo.

or #19 Jeremiah Kent, RSo., Columbia, Mo.

197—Canten Marriott, RJr., Excelsior Springs, Mo.

or #19 Wyatt Koelling, RSr., Kaysville, Utah

285—#7 Zach Elam, RSo., Kansas City, Mo.

or Rodrigo Diaz, RSr., Lafayette, La.

Head Coach: Brian Smith (23rd season)

Assistants: Tyrel Todd, Kendric Maple, Dom Bradley

South Dakota State's Probable Lineup

125—#27 Danny Vega, Sr., Tucson, Ariz.

133—#23 Zach Price, So., Johnston, Iowa

141—#23 Clay Carlson, So., Willmar, Minn.

149—Hunter Marko, Sr., Amery, Wis.

157—#21 Cade DeVos, R-Fr., Altoona, Iowa

165—Kenny O'Neil, So., Prior Lake, Minn.

174—Cade King, So., Owatonna, Minn.

184—Josh Casperson, So., Beresford, S.D.

197—#8 Tanner Sloan, So., Alburnett, Iowa

285—Blake Wolters, Sr., Pipestone, Minn.

Head Coach: Damion Hahn (3rd season)

Assistants: Cam Simaz, Cody Caldwell, Chris Dardanes