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NDSU Begins Season with Daktronics Open

November 6, 2009

FARGO, N.D. - The 2009-10 North Dakota State wrestling team will look to improve on last year’s 5-10-1 overall record and 2-4 mark in Western Wrestling Conference action.

“It’s the beginning of a new era,” said head coach Bucky Maughan. “We’re not an established Division I power, so it’s been hard trying to get those elite recruits, however, we are making progress and will be able to turn things around.”

Maughan has nine true freshmen on this year’s squad, along with six redshirt freshmen.

The Bison graduated two starters in Adam Aho and Gabriel Mooney, but will look to lone senior Ryan Adams, a two-time NCAA qualifier, to lead the team this year. The Bison also return seven regular starters from last year’s squad.

Maughan is excited about the addition of Roger Kish to the coaching staff. Kish was a two-time All-American and NCAA runner-up at Minnesota before graduating in 2008.

“He was a great college wrestler out of one of the country’s top programs and has brought in some new training methods,” said Maughan. “He’s a great help, especially in the upper weights. Since he’s from Michigan, he’s also helping to expand our recruiting area.”

Last year, the process for qualification into the NCAA championships changed. Wrestlers now are ranked on a power index, which takes into account the number of ranked wrestlers performed against as well as the results of those matches. The same system, with minor tweaks, will also be in place this year.

The Bison will have plenty of chances to improve their shot at the NCAA Championships due to the challenging slate the coaches have put together.

NDSU will face off against Big 12 champion Nebraska as well as Pac-10 champion Boise State this year. Both teams finished the 2008-09 season ranked in the top 10.

“This schedule is extremely demanding and we made it as tough as we could,” said Maughan. “We have to wrestle quality opponents in order to help our athletes in their quest for nationals.”

Over the course of the season, the Bison will wrestle four teams from the Pac-10, two CAA teams, and one team apiece from the MAC, ACC and Big 12.

The Bison will kick off the season with the Daktronics Open Nov. 7 and the Bison Open Nov. 14. NDSU will also compete in the Kaufman-Brand Open and the Dragon Open before starting dual action.

The Bison will host the Dakota Duals on Dec. 13 and wrestle against Northern Illinois, Oregon State and MSU Moorhead. After winter break, the team will hit the road for most of January, traveling all across the country.

On Jan. 3, the squad will travel to Lincoln, Neb. and take on North Carolina State as well as host Nebraska. The Bison will then head to California for matches against Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly. The team will then compete against Boise State in Bozeman, Mont. on Jan. 15.

Western Wrestling Conference action will begin with a match at Northern Colorado on Jan. 17. The Bison will then travel to the Northeast for matches against Boston University and Sacred Heart.

The Bison will host Air Force on Jan. 31 and Wyoming on Feb. 7 in WWC matches and then travel to Northern Iowa, the defending conference champion, on Feb. 14. NDSU will close out the regular season at home against South Dakota State Feb. 18.

The NCAA West Regional will be held in Brookings, S.D. on March 6.

125 pounds

Sophomore Justin Solberg will look to continue the success he had at the end of last season. He finished third at the NCAA West Regional after posting a 4-2 record in dual meets. Solberg could also potentially wrestle at 133 pounds.

Freshmen Phil Levine, an NHSCA All-American, and Jake Love, a three-time Montana state runner-up, will also compete at 125 pounds.

133 pounds

The Bison will look to sophomore Trent Sprenkle at 133 pounds. Sprenkle spent most of last season at 125 pounds, before moving up to 133 at the end of January. Sprenkle went 10-17 in his freshman campaign.

Redshirt freshman Brian Ham will push Sprenkle. Ham competed in three open tournaments as an unattached wrestler last year and posted a 6-6 record.

141 pounds

After spending his first three years competing at 149 pounds, Ryan Adams will drop a weight class for his senior season. The two-time NCAA qualifier will look to reach the national championships for a third time. Last year, Adams led the squad with 26 wins.

Junior Geoff Martin, redshirt freshman Mark Erickson and freshman Trevor Johnson will back up Adams. Martin competed at two open tournaments last year, while Erickson competed in three as an unattached wrestler. Erickson finished second at the Dragon Open. Johnson, the younger brother of 165-pounder Tyler, is a two-time North Dakota state champion.

149 pounds

Junior Andrey Patselov will look to lock down a spot in the starting lineup at 149 pounds. The Fargo native posted an 8-7 record as a sophomore and competed at 149, 157 and 165.

A trio of talented freshmen will push Patselov. Jordan Engen is a five-time Minnesota state participant, while Nash Hallfrisch is a three-time Montana state champion. Steven Monk won the Wisconsin state title as a senior.

157 pounds

Junior Vince Salminen aims for his first NCAA bid at 157 pounds. He posted a 17-15 record last year, but closed the year with four straight dual victories. He finished third at the Bison Open and went 2-2 at the NCAA West Regional.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Wells will also compete at 157 pounds. Wells went 11-5 as an unattached wrestler last year and finished fifth at the Bison Open.

165 pounds

Sophomore Tyler Johnson finished last season second on the team in wins with 19 and will look to continue that success this year. He finished third at the NCAA West Regional and earned All-Western Wrestling Conference third team honors.

Freshman Brady Burgess, a three-time Wyoming state champion, could compete at 165 or 174. Fellow freshman Jacob Hagen was a four-time all-conference selection out of Minneapolis.

174 pounds

Sophomore Trent Sovde will compete with redshirt freshman Mac Stoll at 174 pounds. Sovde finished the 2008-09 season with a record of 7-13. He also finished fourth at the Bison Open.

Stoll went 7-4 as an unattached wrestler competing in three open tournaments. He won the Dragon Open with a 4-0 record.

184 pounds

Junior Kenny Moenkedick returns at the 184 pound spot for the Bison. Moenkedick posted a record of 16-11 as a sophomore and finished 2-2 at the NCAA West Regional.

Redshirt freshman Eric Croatt will back up Moenkedick. Croatt joined the team this fall after two Minnesota state appearances in high school.

197 pounds

Returning starter Drew Ross will compete with redshirt freshman Will Johnson at 197 pounds. Ross started every match as a freshman and went 13-21.

Johnson competed in three tournaments at 174 pounds last year. His best finish was fifth at the North Country Open.

Heavyweight

The Bison will turn to true freshman Joe Arthur at heavyweight. He is the only heavyweight wrestler on the roster. Arthur posted a career record of 133-22 out of Bloomington North High School in Bloomington, Ind. He was also a five-time folkstyle national champion.