FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State wrestling team will play host to No. 16 Nebraska Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Bison Sports Arena. This will be NDSU’s (1-1) second match with a ranked team this season after falling to Minnesota in November. Nebraska comes into the weekend with an unblemished 5-0 record.
On the web
Live video of the dual will be available by subscription to NDSU All Access on GoBison.com. Prices are $9.95 for a monthly subscription, $29.95 for four months, and $79.95 annually.
Series history
The Huskers lead the all-time series with the Bison, 8-3-1 and have won the last five meetings. The teams last met Jan. 3, 2010 with Nebraska claiming a 33-9 win in Lincoln. NDSU’s last win in the series came during the 1987-88 season as the Bison defeated the Huskers, 24-16.
Scouting the Huskers
No. 16 Nebraska is coming off a 19-15 win over then-No. 14 Wyoming. The Huskers will wrestle South Dakota State Saturday before traveling to Fargo for a third straight dual against a Western Wrestling Conference opponent. Nebraska has six wrestlers ranked in the InterMat top 20, including No. 5 Robert Kokesh at 165 pounds. Head coach Mark Manning is in his 11th year at the helm of the program.
NDSU against ranked opponents
Since the beginning of the 2009-10 season, the Bison have amassed a record of 2-6 against teams ranked in the top 25. The record includes upsets of two top 10 opponents. Last year, the Bison knocked off No. 9 Central Michigan 24-17, while during the 2009-10 season, NDSU claimed a 25-22 win over No. 6 Boise State.
Bison handle South Dakota State
North Dakota State won eight of 10 bouts to claim a 32-9 win over South Dakota State in the Western Wrestling Conference opener Tuesday, Dec. 6. The Bison won their home opener for the fourth time in five years as Trent Sprenkle, Justin Solberg, Mark Erickson, Steven Monk, Tyler Johnson, Kurtis Julson, Mac Stoll and Evan Knutson picked up conference victories.
Monk moves up in InterMat rankings
North Dakota State senior Trent Sprenkle is ranked No. 16 at 125 pounds and sophomore Steven Monk is No. 15 at 157 pounds in the latest version of the InterMat rankings released Dec. 13. Sprenkle falls two spots from No. 14 last week after an idle weekend. Monk moved up two places from No. 17 last week. Sprenkle is No. 15 in the D1CollegeWrestling.com rankings, No. 14 in WIN Magazine’s rankings and No. 17 in WrestlingReport.com’s rankings. Monk is also No. 13 in WIN Magazine’s rankings, No. 14 in WrestlingReport.com and No. 15 in D1CollegeWrestling.com’s rankings. Redshirt freshman Kurtis Julson is No. 29 at 174 pounds in the WrestlingReport.com rankings.