Franek Advances to Quarterfinals at NCAA Championships; Three Bison Alive in Consolation Brackets

Thursday, March 16

Tulsa, Okla.

11 a.m./6 p.m.

North Dakota State

NCAA Championships

NDSU Notes

Photo by: Sam Janicki

Franek Advances to Quarterfinals at NCAA Championships; Three Bison Alive in Consolation Brackets

3/16/2023 9:40:00 PM | Wrestling

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TULSA, Okla. – North Dakota State's No. 4-seeded Jared Franek won both of his matches on the opening day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday, advancing to the quarterfinals of the 157-pound bracket for the third straight year.

Franek, a West Fargo HS product, opened Thursday with a 10-1 major decision over Corbyn Munson of Central Michigan. In the second round, he posted a 5-3 decision over No. 13 seed Trevor Chumbley of Northwestern.

Franek improved to 24-1 this season and will meet No. 5 seed Josh Humphreys of Lehigh in the quarterfinal round on Friday.

The Bison have three wrestlers alive in the consolation brackets after a pair of matches on Thursday – Kellyn March (149), Michael Caliendo (165), and Owen Pentz (197).

At 149 pounds, NDSU's Kellyn March dropped his opener in a 4-3 decision to Graham Rooks of Indiana, but March rebounded with a pin of Bucknell's Dylan Chappell in 4:14 to advance in the wrestlebacks.

NDSU redshirt freshman Michael Caliendo – seeded seventh at 165 – won his first round match by 6-1 decision over Brevin Cassella of Binghamton. No. 10 seed Carson Kharchla of Ohio State posted an 8-3 decision over Caliendo in the second round to send the Bison to the consolation side.

Bison junior Owen Pentz won his 197-pound opener by injury default over Braxton Amos (Wisconsin), but lost to No. 1 seed Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) by 8-2 decision in the second round.

NDSU's two other national meet qualifiers – 133-pounder McGwire Midkiff and 184-pounder DJ Parker – both went 0-2 on Thursday and were eliminated. Parker wrestled No. 4 seed Trey Munoz of Oregon State to a tough 2-1 decision in the first round.

The NCAA Wrestling Championships will resume at 11 a.m. on Friday with Session 3, featuring the quarterfinals and the consolation second and third rounds.

Quarterfinals
157 | Jared Franek | 2-0 | 3.0 pts
W over #29 Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan); MD 10-1
W over #13 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern); Dec 5-3
#5 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh)

Consolation Second Round
149 | Kellyn March | 1-1 | 2.5 pts
L to #20 Graham Rooks (Indiana); Dec 4-3
W over #29 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell); Fall 4:14
#14 Austin Gomez (Wisconsin)

165 | Michael Caliendo | 1-1 | 1.0 pts
W over #26 Brevin Cassella (Binghamton); Dec 6-1
L to #10 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State); Dec 8-3
#8 Matthew Olguin (Oregon State)

197 | Owen Pentz | 1-1 | 3.0 pts
W over #17 Braxton Amos (Wisconsin); Inj. 1:38
L to #1 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh); Dec 8-2
#18 Tanner Harvey (Oregon State)

Eliminated
133 | McGwire Midkiff | 0-2
L to #33 Ethan Oakley (Appalachian State); Dec 5-3
L to #30 Ethan Rotondo (Cal Poly); Dec 7-2

184 | DJ Parker | 0-2
L to #4 Trey Munoz (Oregon State); Dec 2-1
L to #13 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska); Dec 7-1