FARGO, N.D. – No. 17 North Dakota State wrestling will host a pair of Big XII duals this weekend at the Scheels Center, hosting Wyoming on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Utah Valley on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Series History
The Bison face Wyoming for the 22nd time in head-to-head competition, holding an 8-13 record against the Cowboys. NDSU claimed a 22-14 win over Wyoming last season. NDSU is 12-3 all-time against Utah Valley, winning the last three meetings overall, including a 25-12 win in Brookings in February of 2021, the last time the two met.
Tickets
Tickets are available online at GoBison.com/tickets or by visiting or calling the Bison Ticket Office in the south lobby of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex at (701) 231-6378 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be available on Saturday night and Sunday at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 3-17.
On the Xtra
Friday’s dual against Minnesota will be televised live on WDAY Xtra. Cullen Holt (play-by-play) and Jack Maughan (color) will have the announcing duties.
Dual Coverage
While Friday’s dual will be televised, both duals will be streamed live on NDSU All-Access. The duals will also have live results through TrackWrestling. Links for coverage will be available on GoBison.com.
Caliendo Named Big XII Wrestler of the Week
Michael Caliendo became the second Bison to be named Big XII Wrestler of the Week this season after his win over #2 Shane Griffith in a dual at Stanford last week. He joins Jared Franek, who picked up the honor on December 12. Caliendo is the seventh Bison overall to win Big XII Wrestler of the Week.
Highest Ranking In Program History
Earlier this season, the Bison climbed to No. 15 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, the highest official ranking in the program’s Div. I history. Prior to this season, the Bison had never been ranked higher than 19. In the InterMat poll this week, NDSU climbed one spot to No. 14, which marks the highest the Bison have ever been in any poll in Div. I.
New Program Record for Individual Rankins
The Bison have eight wrestlers receiving ranking recognition in FloWrestling and InterMat. The previous Div. 1 era high was seven, last season. Jared Franek also becoming the highest ranked wrestler at in the Div. 1 era at No. 2.
Bison Second In First NWCA Mid-Major Poll
While the Bison are ranked No. 14 by InterMat and No. 17 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, NDSU also picked up a ranking of second in the first NWCA Mid-Major Top 20 poll, behind only Cornell.
Freshman Caliendo Makes Strong Statement with Battles Against NCAA Champions
Redshirt freshmen Michael Caliendo (14-2) took runner up at the Southern Scuffle, losing 3-2 to #2 Shane Griffith (Stanford), 2021 NCAA Champion. Caliendo avenged the loss last week, defeating #2 Griffith 6-3. Caliendo’s only other loss this season came to #1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri), the 2022 NCAA Champion. In the loss, Caliendo secured two takedowns and held a lead before falling 15-8. O’Toole has only allowed three takedowns all season.
Program Hits 600
In the dual victory at Stanford, NDSU wrestling secured program victory No. 600 in dual competition.
The Bison at Home
NDSU holds a 283-121-8 (.697) record at home over the course of the program’s 65-year history. Since January of 2019, the Bison are 17-6 (.739) with five of the six losses coming against ranked opposition.
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