BROOKINGS, S.D. – No. 15-ranked Jared Franek won both matches at 157 pounds, including the first pin of his career, to help the North Dakota State wrestling team defeat Air Force 28-19 and Utah Valley 25-12 on Saturday, Feb. 13, in Frost Arena.
 
NDSU freshman 197 Owen Pentz added the second and third pins of his career to clinch both victories for the Bison, who finished their dual meet schedule with a 7-3 overall record and 5-2 against Big 12 Conference opponents.
 
Franek, the sophomore from West Fargo, N.D., won his first match of the day 8-2 over Air Force's Parker Simington. It was one of six NDSU victories against Air Force including a first-period pin at 165 pounds by Luke Weber.
 
After the Falcons won at 125 by technical fall, No. 26-ranked 133 Kellyn March recorded an injury default after the first period to give NDSU a 6-5 lead. No. 32-ranked 141 Dylan Droegemueller added an 11-1 major decision to extend the Bison lead to 10-5.
 
Weber's second pin in two weeks put NDSU ahead 19-8, but Air Force answered with a technical fall at 174 before the Bison clinched the win with Michael Nelson's 4-0 decision at 184 pounds and Pentz's pin.
 
Utah Valley jumped out to a 9-3 lead with Droegemueller's 6-3 decision at 141 pounds the only NDSU win in the first four bouts. Franek's pin 2:02 into the first period tied the score and the Bison pulled away late winning the final three matches.
 
Nelson's 12-4 major decision at 184 pounds broke a 12-12 tie, Pentz's pin at 197 put the match out of reach, and the Bison closed it with a 3-1 decision by heavyweight Brandon Metz.
 
North Dakota State has added a round-robin event to its schedule next Saturday, Feb. 20, and will return to Brookings to wrestle in the Last Chance Challenge beginning at 2 p.m. in Frost Arena.
 
North Dakota State 28, Air Force 19
125–#30 Cody Phippen (AF) tech. fall McGwire Midkiff, 17-0 (4:59)
133–#26 Kellyn March (NDSU) inj. def. #13 Jared Van Vleet, 3:00
141–#32 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU) maj. dec. Bradley Bitting, 11-1
149–Dylan Martinez (AF) dec. Jaden Van Maanen, 10-9
157–#15 Jared Franek (NDSU) dec. Parker Simington, 8-2
165–Luke Weber (NDSU) pinned Vincent Dolce, 2:15
174–Cody Surratt (AF) tech. fall Riley Habisch, 17-0 (5:56)
184–Michael Nelson (NDSU) dec. Calvin Sund, 4-0
197–Owen Pentz (NDSU) pinned Kayne Hutchison, 2:09
285–#28 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) pinned #17 Brandon Metz, 2:46
Extra Matches
141–Garrett Bowers (AF) dec. Ryan Ripplinger, 10-4
184–Sam Wolf (AF) dec. TJ Pottinger, 12-5
184–TJ Pottinger (NDSU) maj. dec. Brock Jennings, 10-2
197–Cole Witzig (NDSU) maj. dec. Cole Forrester, 10-2
197–Kayne Hutchison (AF) pinned Cole Witzig, 3:21
197–Cole Witzig (NDSU) dec. Garrett Henigin, 7-4
 
North Dakota State 25, Utah Valley 12
125–Kase Mauger (UV) dec. Ryan Henningson, 9-5
133–#19 Ty Smith (UV) dec. #26 Kellyn March, 11-7
141–#32 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU) dec. Nicholas Rino, 6-3
149–#27 Cameron Hunsaker (UV) dec. Jaden Van Maanen, 7-2
157–#15 Jared Franek (NDSU) pinned Danny Snediker, 2:02
165–Luke Weber (NDSU) dec. Koy Wilkinson, 2-0
174–#5 Demetrius Romero (UV) dec. Austin Brenner, 11-6
184–Michael Nelson (NDSU) maj. dec. Hunter Morse, 12-4
197–Owen Pentz (NDSU) pinned Jacob Armstrong, 4:10
285–#17 Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec. Chase Trussell, 3-1
Extra Matches
157–Brigg Hoopes (UVU) pinned Canon Swanson, 5:50
 
North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State
Extra Matches
157–Kenny O'Neil (SDSU) dec. Canon Swanson, 7-5