FARGO, N.D. – Heavyweight Brandon Metz won the final bout by sudden victory to lift North Dakota State to a 19-15 win over Oregon State in the wrestling season opener Sunday, Jan. 3, in the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. The Bison lost their second match of the day to 10th-ranked Missouri, 38-3.

Metz, a junior from West Fargo, N.D., recorded a takedown with 4 seconds left in the first overtime period to secure a 9-7 decision over Oregon State's Brian Barnes. Metz led most of the way before falling behind 7-6 in the third period and getting an escape to tie the score.
  
The Bison victory was highlighted by a 14-5 major decision from true freshman 133 Kellyn March over No. 7-ranked Devan Turner. March was in control from the start leading 3-2 after the first period before an escape, takedown, and four-point near fall in a dominant second period.

NDSU's Jaden Van Maanen powered past 30th-ranked Lance Stigall 6-5 at 149 pounds. After leading 5-2 through two periods, Van Maanen held off a late charge from Stigall to record the decision. The match gave the Bison a 7-3 lead they would not squander.

No. 13-ranked Jared Franek earned an overtime victory at 157 pounds for NDSU. After a scoreless sudden victory period, Franek rode out the first 30-second tiebreaker before scoring on an escape in the next period.

NDSU's Luke Weber got a decisive first-period pin for NDSU at 165 pounds handling Dillon Ulrey in just 2:36 to put the Bison up 16-6. Oregon State won the next three decisions to pull within 16-15 before Metz capped off the Bison victory at heavyweight.

Missouri won nine bouts including three by major decision, one technical fall and two pins to rout the Bison in the second dual of the day. March recorded the lone Bison win 7-4 at 133 pounds.

North Dakota State (1-1) is schedule to wrestle Big 12 Conference opponents South Dakota State and Northern Iowa next Sunday, Jan. 10, at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D.

North Dakota State 19, Oregon State 15
125 – Brandon Kaylor (OSU) dec. Ryan Henningson (NDSU), 9-6
133 – Kellyn March (NDSU) maj. dec. Devan Turner (OSU), 14-5
141 – Grant Willits (OSU) dec. Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 5-2
149 – Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) dec. Lane Stigall (OSU), 7-5
157 – Jared Franek (NDSU) dec. Hunter Willits (OSU), 2-1 (TB-1)
165 – Luke Weber (NDSU) pinned Dillon Ulrey (OSU), 2:36
174 – Colton Beisley (OSU) dec. Noah Cressell (NDSU), 6-2
184 – Ryan Reyes (OSU) dec. TJ Pottinger (NDSU), 4-1
197 – JJ Dixon (OSU) dec. Michael Nelson (NDSU), 7-4
285 – Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec. Brian Barnes (OSU), 9-7 (SV-1)
Referee: Gary Wade
Attendance: 668
 
Missouri 33, South Dakota State 9
125 – Connor Brown (MU) maj. dec. Daniel Vega (SDSU), 14-5
133 – Zach Price (SDSU) dec. Matt Schmitt (MU), 7-5
141 – Allan Hart (MU) maj. dec. Clay Carlson, 14-4
149 – Brock Mauller (MU) dec. Hunter Marko (SDSU), 8-2
157 – Keegan O'Toole (MU) pinned Cade DeVos (SDSU), 2:10
165 – Peyton Mocco (MU) maj. dec. Kenny O'Neil (SDSU), 11-1
174 – Sean Harman (MU) dec. Cade King (SDSU), 10-4
184 – Jeremiah Kent (MU) pinned Nick Casperson (SDSU), 1:47
197 – Tanner Sloan (SDSU) pinned Canten Marriott (MU), 2:37
285 – Zach Elam (MU) dec. Blake Wolters (SDSU), 6-0
Referee: Gabe Mooney
Attendance: 668
 
Missouri 38, North Dakota State 3
125 – Noah Surtin (MU) pinned Ryan Henningson (NDSU), 3:47
133 – Kellyn March (NDSU) dec. Trey Crawford (MU), 7-4
141 – Josh Edmond (MU) maj. dec. Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 14-5
149 – Brock Mauller (MU) maj. dec. Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU), 12-3
157 – Jarrett Jacques (MU) dec. Jared Franek (NDSU), 5-2
165 – Peyton Mocco (MU) dec. Luke Weber (NDSU), 11-5
174 – Sean Harman (MU) dec. Austin Brenner (NDSU), 9-3
184 – Jeremiah Kent (MU) tech. fall Gary Wokojance (NDSU), 16-0 (4:54)
197 – Wyatt Koelling (MU) maj. dec. Michael Nelson (NDSU), 9-1
285 – Zach Elam (MU) pinned Brandon Metz (NDSU), 4:30
Referee: Gary Wade
Attendance: 668
 
South Dakota State 20, Oregon State 12
125 – Brandon Kaylor (OSU) dec. Daniel Vega (SDSU), 9-5
133 – Zach Price (SDSU) dec. Devan Turner (OSU), 6-3
141 – Grant Willits (OSU) dec. Clay Carlson (SDSU), 3-0
149 – Hunter Marko (SDSU) dec. Lane Stigall (OSU), 3-1
157 – Hunter Willits (OSU) dec. Cade DeVos (SDSU), 4-3 (TB-1)
165 – Kenny O'Neil (SDSU) dec. Dillon Ulrey (OSU), 9-5
174 – Cade King (SDSU) dec. Colton Beisley (OSU), 8-6 (SV-1)
184 – Ryan Reyes (OSU) dec. Nick Casperson (SDSU), 8-4
197 – Tanner Sloan (SDSU) tech. fall JJ Dixon (OSU), 17-0 (6:31)
285 – Blake Wolters (SDSU) dec. Brian Barnes (OSU), 4-1
Referee: Gabe Mooney
Attendance: 668
 
Missouri 43, Oregon State 0
125 – Connor Brown (MU) dec. Brandon Kaylor (OSU), 8-6
133 – Matt Schmitt (MU) maj. dec. Devan Turner (OSU), 12-0
141 – Allan Hart (MU) pinned Grant Willits (OSU), 0:36
149 – Brock Mauller (MU) dec. Lane Stigall (OSU), 9-5
157 – Jarrett Jacques (MU) dec. Hunter Willits (OSU), 3-2
165 – Peyton Mocco (MU) inj. def. Dillon Ulrey (OSU), 4:21
174 – Sean Harman (MU) dec. Colton Beisley (OSU), 7-2
184 – Jeremiah Kent (MU) dec. Ryan Reyes (OSU), 4-3
197 – Wyatt Koelling (MU) pinned JJ Dixon (OSU), 3:36
285 – Zach Elam (MU) by forfeit
Referee: Gary Wade
Attendance: 668
 
Extra matches
133 – Jason Shaner (OSU) maj. dec. Ryan Ripplinger (NDSU), 20-8
149 – Riley Gurr (OSU) dec. Michael Weber (NDSU), 7-5 (SV-1)
184 – Jackson McKinney (OSU) dec. Gary Wokojance (NDSU), 9-5
125 – Tanner Jordan (SDSU) dec. Noah Surtin (MU), 7-6
133 – Trey Crawford (MU) dec. Trayton Anderson (SDSU), 4-2 (SV-1)
141 – Josh Edmond (MU) dec. Daniel Kimball (SDSU), 9-4
157 – Keegan O'Toole (MU) tech. fall Jack Thomsen (SDSU), 18-3 (7:00)
165 – Austin Brenner (NDSU) dec. Colten Carlson (SDSU), 9-4
174 – Martell Boone (MU) dec. Jesse Shearer (NDSU), 8-6
197 – Colton Hawks (MU) dec. Cole Witzig (NDSU), 6-3
184 – Duwayne Villalpondo (MU) maj. dec. Noah Cressell (NDSU), 13-0
141 – Rylee Molitor (SDSU) maj. dec. Sam Stuhl (NDSU), 8-0
184 – Colton Hawks (MU) dec. Jacob Schoon (SDSU), 1-0
141 – Josh Edmond (MU) dec. Rylee Molitor (SDSU), 15-8