Strong Starts Lifts Bison Wrestling to Win Over Utah Valley
FARGO, N.D. – The No. 17 North Dakota State wrestling team extended its win streak to four duals with a 31-12 victory over Utah Valley Sunday afternoon in Big XII competition at the Scheels Center.
#17 Kellyn March started the dual strong for the Bison (8-2, 3-1 Big XII) as he secured his second pin of the season with a fall over Utah Valley’s (1-7, 1-4 Big XII) Isaiah Delgado just 61 seconds into the 149-pound match the started the dual.
The Bison would add more bonus points in the 157-pound match as #2 Jared Franek recorded five takedowns to defeat Tyson Humpherys by a 12-4 major decision. Franek had two takedowns in the first before adding three in the third, including one just before the final whistle.
In the 165-pound match, #13 Michael Caliendo extended the Bison lead with a 10-4 win over Danny Snediker. Caliendo had two takedowns in the first and added another in the second and third periods.
The Bison would pick up their second fall of the afternoon in the 174-pound match, with Gaven Sax recording the victory over Cameron Haddock. Sax had a takedown and a two-point nearfall in the first, before he turned a reversal into a pin at the start of the second, recording the fall at 3:10.
In the final match before the intermission, #28 DJ Parker would add a fourth bonus-point victory for the Bison, as he secured a first-period tech fall over Hunter Morse at 184 pounds. After an early takedown, Parker secured four different four-point nearfalls, with the final triggering the tech fall at 2:59 with an 18-0 score.
Coming out of halftime, Utah Valley would secure three-straight wins, with Spencer Mooberry (197), Juan Mora (285) and Ryan Henningson (125) falling. Mora fell in the tiebreaker by riding time criteria, while Mooberry lost 8-3 and Henningson was pinned.
McGwire Midkiff would turn things around for the Bison and secure the dual victory for the Bison, scoring a major decision win over Kobe Nelms at 133 pounds. Midkiff had a takedown in the first and second periods before a pair of takedowns in the third to pick up a 10-2 win.
The Bison wrapped up the dual with Sean Solis making his first career dual start for the Bison, and the freshman secured an 11-5 win over James Emmer in the 141-pound match to cap off the victory. Solis came from behind after giving up two takedowns in the first period. Solis would get a takedown in the second to cut the deficit to 5-4 and then after an escape in the third, he recorded a takedown and a four-point nearfall late for the victory.
Mason Gode wrestled in an extra match for the Bison after the conclusion of the dual. Gode would defeat Kyler Lake 13-7 with a reversal, two takedowns and a four-point nearfall providing the majority of his scoring.
The Bison will have a week off before a trip to Colorado for the final Big 12 road duals of the season. The Bison will be at Air Force on February 3 and at Northern Colorado on February 4.
Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023 | Scheels Center | Fargo, N.D. | Att: 381
#17 North Dakota State 31, Utah Valley 12
149: #17 Kellyn March (NDSU) over Isaiah Delgado (UVU) (Fall 1:01); NDSU 6-0
157: #2 Jared Franek (NDSU) over Tyson Humpherys (UVU) (MD 12-4); NDSU 10-0
165: #13 Michael Caliendo (NDSU) over Danny Snediker (UVU) (Dec 10-4); NDSU 13-0
174: Gaven Sax (NDSU) over Cameron Haddock (UVU) (Fall 3:10); NDSU 19-0
184: #28 DJ Parker (NDSU) over Hunter Morse (UVU) (TF 18-0 2:59); NDSU 24-0
197: Jack Forbes (UVU) over Spencer Mooberry (NDSU) (Dec 8-3); NDSU 24-3
285: Chase Trussell (UVU) over #28 Juan Mora (NDSU) (Dec 2-2; TB Criteria RT); NDSU 24-6
125: Kase Mauger (UVU) over Ryan Henningson (NDSU) (Fall 2:56); NDSU 24-12
133: McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) over Kobe Nelms (UVU) (MD 10-2); NDSU 28-12
141: Sean Solis (NDSU) over James Emmer (UVU) (Dec 11-5); NDSU 31-12
Extra Match:
157: Mason Gode (NDSU) over Kyler Lake (UVU) (Dec 13-7)
Check out Bison Wrestling at gobison.com and on Twitter. Buy Bison Tickets