BROOKINGS, S.D. – Heavyweight Brandon Metz won the final bout and North Dakota State claimed its seventh straight dual win defeating South Dakota State 19-18 in a Big 12  Conference dual on Friday, Feb. 21, before 1,679 spectators in Frost Arena.
 
NDSU (10-3, 6-1 #Big12WR) wrestles at No. 19-ranked Iowa State (9-4, 6-1 #Big12WR) at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, in Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State travels to No. 24 Missouri on Saturday.
 
South Dakota State (12-6, 6-3 #Big12WR) trailed 16-6 before reeling off three straight wins – a major decision by Tanner Cook at 174 pounds, a tech fall from No. 15 Zach Carlson at 184 and slim 3-2 decision by No. 12 Tanner Cook -- to take an 18-16 heading into the final match of the evening.
 
Enter Metz, a redshirt sophomore from West Fargo, N.D., who gained a first period takedown and an escape early in the third to hold off South Dakota State's Blake Wolters 3-2 to not only take the bout, but give the Bison the dual win and keep the Border Bell trophy. The No. 28-ranked Metz improved to 20-7 overall and 8-3 in duals.
 
North Dakota State won four of the first six matches. McGwire Midkiff used a third period escape to earn a topsy-turvy 8-7 decision over No. 17-ranked Daniel Vega. It was the second straight win over a nationally-ranked opponent for Midkiff (11-5, 6-3).
 
No. 17-ranked 133 pounder Cam Sykora helped to extend the lead to 8-0 with his first tech fall since Jan. 2 at the Southern Scuffle by the score of 19-4 at 4:31. It was the sixth tech fall of the season for Sykora (13-4, 9-3).
 
South Dakota State bounced back with wins by Clay Carlson and No. 10 Henry Pohlmeyer at 141 and 149 pounds to cut the deficit to 8-6.
 
NDSU No. 13-ranked 157 pounder Jared Franek continued to make a statement with a convincing 18-3 tech fall at 7:00 over Garrett Jordan. It was ninth straight win and the third tech fall of the season for Franek, who pushed his record to 22-6 overall and 11-2 in duals.
 
Andrew Fogarty (18-3, 11-1), who was ranked No. 8 at 165, fought off a late rally from Kenny O'Neil for a 9-3 decision.
 
North Dakota State 19, South Dakota State 18
Frost Arena, Brookings, S.D.
Friday, Feb. 21, 2020
125— McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) dec #17 Daniel Vega (SDSU), 8-7
133— #17 Cam Sykora (NDSU) tech fall Zach Price (SDSU), TF 19-4 4:31
141— Clay Carlson (SDSU) dec Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 7-3
149— #10 Henry Pohlmeyer dec Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU), 3-0
157— #13 Jared Franek (NDSU) tech fall Garrett Jordan (SDSU), TF 18-3, 7:00
165— #8 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) dec Kenny O'Neil (SDSU), 9-3
174— #23 (165) Tanner Cook major dec Luke Weber (NDSU), MD 17-8
184— #15 Zach Carlson tech fall Noah Cressell (NDSU), TF 16-1 7:00
197— #12 Tanner Sloan dec Cordell Eaton (NDSU), 3-2
285— #28 Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec Blake Wolters (SDSU), 3-2
Attendance—1,679