BROOKINGS, S.D. – No. 13-ranked Jared Franek won both of his matches at 157 pounds to help North Dakota State split a pair of Big 12 Conference wrestling duals Sunday, Jan. 10, at Frost Arena.
 
Franek's 4-2 decision over 20th-ranked Cade DeVos in the sudden-victory period propelled NDSU to a 21-13 victory over South Dakota State after the Bison fell 27-11 to 23rd-ranked Northern Iowa. Franek won a 5-1 decision against Cayd Lara of UNI in the earlier dual.
 
NDSU (2-2) won seven of 10 matches against South Dakota State including a 6-4 decision by Luke Weber over Cade King at 174 pounds. Weber recorded a takedown with 4 seconds left for the victory, his second of the season.
  
McGwire Midkiff got the scoring started for the Bison with a 3-1 decision at 125 before SDSU pulled ahead 7-3. NDSU won the next five bouts starting at 149 where Jaden Van Maanen earned a 4-2 decision in a tight dual against Hunter Marko.

Following Franek's win at 157, Austin Brenner tacked on to the Bison lead with a 6-5 slugfest against Colton Carlson. Brenner recorded an escape in the final 45 seconds to end the scoring. No. 16-ranked heavyweight Brandon Metz sealed the Bison victory with a 5-4 overtime win in the second tiebreaker round.

Northern Iowa won seven of 10 bouts including two pins to rout the Bison in the first dual. Joining Franek in the win column were Dylan Droegemueller, who took down Drew Bennett by major decision 12-2 at 141 pounds, and Michael Nelson, who recorded his first victory as a Bison with a 10-1 major decision against No. 30 Tyrell Gordon at 197 pounds.

North Dakota State is off next week before traveling to Cal Poly, where the Bison are scheduled for four duals on Sunday, Jan. 24, against Fresno State, California Baptist, Cal Poly and Little Rock.

#23 NORTHERN IOWA 27, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 11
125–#31 Brody Teske (UNI) pinned McGwire Midkiff (NDSU), 4:36
133–#13 Jack Skudlarczyk (UNI) dec. #18 Kellyn March, 4-0
141–#20 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU) major dec. Drew Bennett, 12-2
149–Tristan Lara (UNI) dec. #31 Jaden Van Maanen, 4-2
157–#13 Jared Franek (NDSU) dec. Cayd Lara, 5-1
165–Pat Schoenfelder (UNI) dec. #33 Luke Weber, 7-2
174–Lance Runyon (UNI) dec. Riley Habisch, 7-0
184–Keegan Moore (UNI) dec. TJ Pottinger, 6-2
197–Michael Nelson (NDSU) major dec. #30 Tyrell Gordon, 10-1
285–#11 Carter Isley (UNI) pinned #16 Brandon Metz, 0:41
 
EXTRA MATCHES – UNI vs. NDSU
125–Kyle Golhoffer (UNI) dec. Ryan Henningson, 9-3
149–Gable Fox (UNI) dec. Michael Weber, 6-1
174–Noah Glaser (UNI) major dec. Noah Cressell, 15-6
197–Parker Keckeisen (UNI) major dec. Cole Witzig, 13-3

NORTH DAKOTA STATE 21, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 13
125–McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) dec. Tanner Jordan, 3-1
133–#9 Zach Price (SDSU) major dec. #18 Kellyn March, 13-5
141–#27 Clay Carlson (SDSU) dec. #20 Dylan Droegemueller, 8-6
149–#31 Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) dec. #30 Hunter Marko, 4-2
157–#13 Jared Franek (NDSU) dec. #20 Cade DeVos, 4-2 (SV-1)
165–Austin Brenner (NDSU) dec. Colten Carlson, 6-5
174–#33 Luke Weber (NDSU) dec. Cade King, 6-4
184–TJ Pottinger (NDSU) dec. Nick Casperson, 6-5
197–#9 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) pinned Michael Nelson, 6:28
285–#16 Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec. Blake Wolters, 5-4 (TB-2)
 
EXTRA MATCHES – NDSU vs. SDSU
125–Tanner Jordan (SDSU) dec. Ryan Henningson, 7-3
165–Austin Brenner (NDSU) dec. Kenny O'Neil, 10-4
197–Cole Witzig (NDSU) dec. Jacob Schoon, 4-3