NDSU Wrestling Falls to #17 SDSU in Dual Finale

Sunday, February 19

Fargo, N.D.

2 p.m.

North Dakota State

South Dakota State

NDSU Notes

Photo by: Zachary Lucy

NDSU Wrestling Falls to #17 SDSU in Dual Finale

2/19/2023 5:26:00 PM | Wrestling

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FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State Wrestling fell in a tight battle to No. 17 South Dakota State 19-17 in front of 1,154 spectators at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon to wrap up the dual schedule for the 2022-23 season.

The Bison (11-3, 6-2 Big 12) fell behind early, as South Dakota State (12-4, 6-2 Big 12) took the opening three matches of the dual. No. 29 Tanner Jordan defeated Ryan Henningson by major decision at 125 pounds to give the Jackrabbits a 4-0 lead.

South Dakota State extended the lead as Derrick Cardinal won in sudden victory over McGwire Midkiff 5-3 at 133 pounds. No. 11 Clay Carlson then defeated Gavin Drexler 7-4 at 141 pounds to extend the lead to 10-0.

The Bison would rally and win four of the next five matches, starting with a 10-9 decision from No. 16 Kellyn March over Alek Martin in the 149-pound match. March had a takedown in the first and then a reversal in the second to tie the match at 4-4. In the third, he would add a takedown and a reversal and held on to win with a riding time point.

The Bison then scored bonus points in the next two matches. No. 3 Jared Franek picked up a tech fall victory over Caleb Gross, winning 21-6. Franek had five takedowns in the first before securing a four-point nearfall to take a 14-4 lead. Franek then added an escape and three takedowns in the second period to end the match.

In the next match, the Bison took the lead as No. 10 Michael Caliendo secured a pin in the third period over Connor Gaynor in the 165-pound match. Caliendo had a pair of takedowns in the first for a 4-1 lead and then added two more in the second to go up 8-3. Caliendo then worked a reversal into a fall 30 seconds into the third period to put NDSU up 14-10.

South Dakota State would pick up a win at 174 pounds, as No. 23 Cade DeVos picked up a 7-4 decision over Gaven Sax.

At 184 pounds, the Bison would extend the lead to four points as No. 28 DJ Parker picked up a 4-2 decision over Bennett Berge in the final win of the afternoon for NDSU.

With NDSU leading 17-13, No. 9 Tanner Sloan defeated No. 11 Owen Pentz 8-2, to cut the gap to one point, setting up a winner-take-all final match.

No. 14 AJ Nevills then secured three takedowns in the heavyweight match to pick up an 8-3 win over Juan Mora to clinch the dual for the Jackrabbits.

With the SDSU win, the Battle for the Border Bell evens up at 5-5 as the Jackrabbits retain the bell for the second-straight year.

The Bison close the season tied for fourth in the Big 12 Dual match standings, one game behind Oklahoma State, Missouri and Iowa State.

North Dakota State will now set their focus on the Big 12 Championships, which will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 4-5.

Full Results:
#17 South Dakota State 19, #15 North Dakota State 17
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023 | Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse | Fargo, N.D. | Att: 1154
125: #29 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) over Ryan Henningson (NDSU) (MD 9-0); SDSU 4-0
133: Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) over #33 McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) (SV-1 5-3); SDSU 7-0
141: #11 Clay Carlson (SDSU) over Gavin Drexler (NDSU) (Dec 7-4); SDSU 10-0
149: #16 Kellyn March (NDSU) over Alek Martin (SDSU) (Dec 10-9); SDSU 10-3
157: #3 Jared Franek (NDSU) over Caleb Gross (SDSU) (TF 21-6); SDSU 10-8
165: #10 Michael Caliendo (NDSU) over Connor Gaynor (SDSU) (Fall 5:30); NDSU 14-10
174: #23 Cade DeVos (SDSU) over Gaven Sax (NDSU) (Dec 7-4); NDSU 14-13
184: #28 DJ Parker (NDSU) over Bennett Berge (SDSU) (Dec 4-2); NDSU 17-13
197: #9 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) over #11 Owen Pentz (NDSU) (Dec 8-2); NDSU 17-16
285: #14 AJ Nevills (SDSU) over Juan Mora (NDSU) (Dec 8-3); SDSU 19-17