Bison go 1-1 at Northern Duals; Gray pins no. 11 Morse of NIU
DEKALB, Ill. – The North Dakota State wrestling team split a pair of duals on Saturday, Nov. 23, falling to No. 17-ranked Northern Iowa 29-12 before defeating host Northern Illinois 21-16 at the Northern Duals.
NDSU (1-2) dropped six of the 10 matches to Northern Iowa, with four of those coming to Panther wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in the nation. The Bison won three straight matches between 157 and 174 pounds, with freshman Matt Gray earning a 7-5 decision over Jarrett Jensen at 157 to get NDSU started.
No. 5-ranked Steven Monk posted a 4-2 overtime decision over No. 15-ranked Cooper Moore at 165 pounds, and No. 19-ranked Hayden Zillmer recorded a 5-1 decision for NDSU over No. 18 Cody Caldwell at 174. Sophomore heavyweight Evan Knutson won the final match of the day for the Bison, taking a 6-4 decision over UNI’s Blaize Cabell.
Northern Illinois opened up an 11-3 lead on NDSU in the day’s final dual, but Gray registered a first-period pin of Andrew Morse – ranked No. 11 in the nation at 157 pounds – to spark the Bison. Monk, Zillmer and 184-pound junior Kurtis Julson followed up with decisions to build an 18-11 lead for NDSU.
Leading 18-16 heading into the final match against the Huskies, Knutson held on for a 4-3 decision over Jarred Torrence on riding time advantage following the second tiebreaker period.
Gray, Monk, Zillmer and Knutson all went 2-0 for NDSU on the day.
NDSU will travel to Brookings, S.D., on Nov. 30 for a non-conference dual with South Dakota State.
No. 17 Northern Iowa 29, North Dakota State 12
125 – No. 9 Dylan Peters (UNI) pinned Hunter Weber (NDSU), 1:48
133 – No. 9 Joe Colon (UNI) tech. fall Clay Cathey (NDSU), 18-2
141 – No. 9 Joey Lazor (UNI) pinned Devin Wolf (NDSU), 2:14
149 – Gunnar Wolfensperger (UNI) dec. Tyler Diamond (NDSU), 5-4 (OT)
157 – Matt Gray (NDSU) dec. Jarrett Jensen (UNI), 7-5
165 – No. 5 Steven Monk (NDSU) dec. No. 15 Cooper Moore (UNI), 4-2 (OT)
174 – No. 19 Hayden Zillmer (NDSU) dec. No. 18 Cody Caldwell (UNI), 5-1
184 – No. 3 Ryan Loder (UNI) dec. Kurtis Julson (NDSU), 4-3 (OT)
197 – Basil Minto (UNI) won by forfeit
285 – Evan Knutson (NDSU) dec. Blaize Cabell (UNI), 6-4
North Dakota State 21, Northern Illinois 16
125 – Hunter Weber (NDSU) dec. Braun Marquez (NIU), 1-0
133 – Nick Smith (NIU) dec. Clay Cathey (NDSU), 7-3
141 – Tyler Argue (NIU) tech. fall Devin Wolf (NDSU), 17-1
149 – Gabe Morse (NIU) dec. Tyler Diamond (NDSU), 9-7
157 – Matt Gray (NDSU) pinned No. 11 Andrew Morse (NIU), 1:16
165 – No. 5 Steven Monk (NDSU) dec. Shaun’Qae McMurtry (NIU), 6-0
174 – No. 19 Hayden Zillmer (NDSU) dec. Billy Chancey (NIU), 8-2
184 – Kurtis Julson (NDSU) dec. Caleb Busson (NIU), 3-1
197 – Shawn Scott (NIU) tech. fall Colt Castlebury (NDSU), 21-4
285 – Evan Knutson (NDSU) dec. Jared Torrence (NIU), 4-3 (TB2, riding time)