NDSU Drops Air Force 31-6 to Win Sixth Straight
FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State won its sixth straight dual with a 31-6 victory over Air Force in a Big 12 Conference dual on Sunday, Feb. 16, on Senior Day before 447 spectators in SCHEELS Center. All four seniors in the lineup posted wins
NDSU (9-3, 5-1 #Big12WR) wrestles at South Dakota State (11-5, 6-2 #Big12WR) on Friday, Feb. 21, in Frost Arena.
Half of North Dakota State’s wins included four bonus points, but the Bison also earned a pair of one-pointers during the first three bouts. At 125 pounds, McGwire Midkiff (10-5, 4-3) rallied with a reversal and kept his riding time over a minute in the third period to defeat No. 14-ranked Sidney Flores 8-7.
The first senior to take the floor was No. 17-ranked 133 pounder Cam Sykora, who flirted with his first tech fall since Jan. 2, but was all business in a 14-2 major decision over Jared Van Fleet. Sykora improved to 12-4 overall and 8-3 in duals.
Dylan Droegemueller (12-7, 4-3) faced his second straight ranked opponent at 141 pounds, but this outcome had a better result. Droegemueller built his riding time with a reversal and takedown in the third period good for five points and another 8-7 finish over No. 33 Lenny Petersen.
Jaden Van Maanen (11-12, 5-7) broke a 3-3 deadlock after two periods and made it a double-win weekend with his 8-4 decision at 149 pounds. No nonsense NDSU No. 16-ranked 157-pounder Jared Franek (22-6, 10-2) recorded his second tech fall of the season by the score of 16-0 at 3:58. That was followed by the sound of the team-leading eighth pin of the winter by No. 10-ranked 165 Andrew Fogarty (17-3, 10-1) to get back on track. The Bison won the first six to lead 24-0.
Air Force (4-7, 1-6 #Big12) then picked up a pair of wins, Cody Surratt downed Luke Weber 10-4 at 174 pounds, while Jake Thompson outlasted Noah Cressell 3-2.
North Dakota State closed strong with a pair of seniors. Four-year starter Cordell Eaton grinded out a 6-1 decision at 197 pounds, while Dan Stibral was solid in the 11-1 major decision.
North Dakota State 31, Air Force 6
125— McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) dec #14 Sidney Flores (AFA), 8-7
133— #17 Cam Sykora (NDSU) major dec Jared Van Fleet (AFA), MD 14-2
141— Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU) dec #33 Lenny Petersen (AFA), 8-7
149— Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) dec Dylan Martinez (AFA), 8-4
157— #16 Jared Franek (NDSU) tech fall Trey Brisker (AFA), TF 16-0 3:58
165— #10 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) fall Vincent Dolce (AFA), 3:58
174— Cody Surratt (AFA) dec Luke Weber (NDSU), 10-4
184— Jake Thompson (AFA) dec Noah Cressell (NDSU), 3-2
197— Cordell Eaton (NDSU) dec Casey Jumps (AFA), 6-1
285— Dan Stibral (NDSU) major dec Kayne Hutchison (AFA), MD 11-1
Dual started at pounds
Attendance— 447
Referee—Derek Lark
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