FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State wrestling head coach Obenson Blanc announced the addition of 11 student-athletes to the roster for the upcoming 2023-24 season on Friday, Sept. 1. The class includes ten freshmen and one junior college All-American.
“I am very excited and honored to have this group of young men join our Bison Wrestling family,” said Blanc. “This is my first recruiting class as a head coach and my staff and I are eager to help mold these young men into future leaders within their communities. This is a very talented and hard-working group from eight different states and I am proud to say that their character, values, and mentality align well with our team culture and expectations on and off the mat.”
Luke Barker | 174 | Fr. | Dodge City, Kan. | Dodge City HS
HIGH SCHOOL: No. 99 overall recruiting class ranking from InterMat … Three-time state champion overall, as well as a four-time state finalist under Tate Lowe at Dodge City … Wrapped up career with perfect 49-0 record for the 2023 Kansas 6A 175-pound State Championship, including three tech falls and a fall in his four championship events … Claimed the 2022 Kansas 6A State Championship after a 41-1 season as a junior … Won the NHSCA National Championship and was an All-American at the USA Wrestling Showcase … Posted a career record of 163-12 … Helped lead team to a pair of third-place finishes in the state championships … Member of the National Honor Society and earned WAC All-Academic Team honors …
PERSONAL: Son of Lou Ann and AC … AC was a wrestler at Fort Hays State … Has one sister; Nina … Has one brother; Dalton … Majoring in Sports and Exercise Psychology …
Aidan Brenot | 184 | Fr. | Clarksville, Tenn. | Clarksville HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time Tennessee State Champion under Tom Huddleston at Clarksville … Capped off high school career with undefeated 52-0 season at 182 pounds for his second straight title … Was named most outstanding wrestler at the state championships as a senior … Finished his high school career with a 179-24 record, including three appearances in the state finals … Claimed his first state title as a junior after a 40-3 campaign culminating in the 160-pound title … As a sophomore, posted a 31-7 record, finishing runner-up at the TSSAA state championships at 152 pounds …
PERSONAL: Majoring in Entrepreneurship …
Adam Cherne | 174 | Fr. | Medina, Minn. | Wayzata HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-time Minnesota state qualifier, including three placing finishes for Wayzata under Eric Swensen … Finished out his high school career with a 43-6 record, including 26 pins, finishing as the championship runner-up at class AAA 170 pounds … Class AAA 170-pound fourth-place finisher in 2022 as a junior, capping season with a 49-5 record … Placed fourth at 160 pounds as a sophomore after going 27-8 … State entrant at 132 pounds as a freshman, finishing season 36-12 … Five-time all-conference selection earning the honor beginning in his eighth-grade season … Won sectional championship his final four seasons … Finished third on the all-time wins list at Wayzata … Also lettered in football …
PERSONAL: Son of Michelle and Derek … Both parents were college athletes at Wisconsin-River Falls, with Michelle running track and Derek playing football … Has two sisters; Maya and Tessa … Major is undecided …
Devon Dawson | 285 | Jr. | Brooklyn Park, Minn. | Goddard HS | Pratt CC
PRATT CC: Wrestled three seasons for Pratt … Three-time NJCAA All-American and a NJCAA National Finalist at heavyweight for the Beavers, wrapping up his career with Pratt at 84-16 … Helped lead Pratt to the program’s first-ever KJCCC team title in 2021 … In his final season with Pratt, took third overall at the NJCAA National Championships after a 32-5 season … In 2022, recorded a national runner-up finish after a 25-6 campaign … In 2021, Dawson placed fifth at the NJCAA National Championships after finishing with a 27-5 record …
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a two-time state placer, first in Georgia and then finishing up in Kansas for head coach Brett Means at Goddard at heavyweight … As a senior in 2020, posted a 44-6 record to finish third overall in the 5A KSHSAA State Championships at heavyweight … Helped lead team to the 2020 5A team state championship … As a sophomore, wrestled for Fayette (Ga.) County, placing sixth in the 2018 GHSA State Championship at 5A 170-pound division, finishing the year with a 27-9 record … Qualified for the state championship as a freshman at 152 pounds …
PERSONAL: Son of Anthony and Latisha … Has one brother; Anthony … Has one sister; Liana … Majoring in Sport Management …
Bailey Flanagan | 157 | Fr. | Orlando, Fla. | Lake Highland Prep
HIGH SCHOOL: Wrestled for Lake Highland Prep under head coach Mike Palazzo posting a career record of 61-11 with two state placing finishes … As a junior in 2020, claimed the FHSAA State Championship for 1A 170 pounds after a 42-9 season … Ranked No. 17 a junior at 170 pounds … Earned All-American honors at the Doc Buchanan Prep Invitational in California during the junior season … Following his junior season, took seventh overall at Ironman in folkstyle and fourth in the Michigan Grappler, both at 170 pounds … Took third overall as a freshman in 2018, posting a 19-2 record … Following freshman and junior season, earned All-American honors at NHSCA Nationals …
PERSONAL: Son of Tracey and Sean … Has one sister; Kiersten … Has one brother; Logan … Majoring in Business …
Boeden Greenley | 157 | Fr. | Lisbon, N.D. | Lisbon HS
HIGH SCHOOL: No. 139 overall recruiting class ranking from InterMat … Five-time State Champion under Richard Lacina and Kevin McCleary at Lisbon … Claimed the 170-pound Class B North Dakota State Championship and became the seventh North Dakotan all-time to do so after a 47-0 season. As a junior he lifted the 160-pound Class B title after a 43-0 season … Has a 255-11 career record … Posted a third-place finish at the state championships as a seventh grader … Took sixth overall at the USMC Fargo Nationals Junior Freestyle … Holds the state record for most consecutive wins at 219 … School record in most consecutive wins, career wins, single season wins, career takedowns, and career pins … Also letters in football and track … Two-time All-State running back with over 2500 all-purpose yards … Multiple time state placer in track and field in the 4×400 and 4x800m relays …
PERSONAL: Son of Jamie and Randall … Both parents are alums of NDSU … Jamie is class of ’99 … Randall is class of ’97 … Has two brothers; Drake and Griffin … Majoring in Crop and Weed Science …
Macray Klohs | 285 | Fr. | Bufalo, Minn. | Buffalo HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time state qualifier and a state placer at Buffalo under Jeff Granrud … Two-time Fargo Nationals qualifier … Wrapped up senior season with a fifth-place finish at 195 AAA at the MSHSL State Championships, finishing season at 34-8 … As a junior, finished 21-9, taking third overall at 170 pounds at the MSHSL 8AAA State Prelims … Posted a career high school record of 64-42 … Also lettered in football, earning all-conference honors as a senior …
PERSONAL: Son of Dana and Jason … Father Jason wrestled for the University of Minnesota and Team USA … Grandfather played collegiate football at Wyoming … Majoring in Business …
Zane Licht | 149 | Fr. | Praire Du Sac, Wis. | Lodi HS
HIGH SCHOOL: No. 156 overall recruiting class ranking from InterMat … Two-time Wisconsin State Champion and three-time finalist at Lodi under head coach Cody Endres … Capped career with 58-0 record as a senior to lift the 152-pound title … Set school record with 380 takedowns in senior season, while not giving up a single takedown … Claimed first Wisconsin State Championship after a 50-1 junior season … Named the Capital Conference Wrestler of the Year as a junior and senior … Recorded a second-place finish at the state championships as a sophomore … Placed fourth overall at the 17U US Open Championships …
PERSONAL: Son of Rhonda and Jamie … Has one sister; Zoe … Has one brother; Zach … Majoring in Business …
Amantee Mills | 125 | Fr. | Fort Pierce, Fla. | Mill Creek HS
HIGH SCHOOL: No. 187 overall recruiting class ranking from InterMat … Four-time GHSA State Champion and a 2023 NHSCA National Champion and three-time NHSCA All-American … Posted a career high school record of 208-3, culminating with a Georgia 7A state title at 132 pounds as a senior … Was also named the outstanding wrestler of the 7A State Championships … Earned All-American honors at the NHSCA National Tournament with fifth and eighth place finishes before claiming the national title as a senior … As a freshman at Stone Mountain HS, became Dekalb (GA) County’s first freshman state champion, claiming 106-pound title … As a sophomore for Stone Mountain, claimed 126-pound title … Set program records for wins, pins and takedowns … Four-time county, area and sectional champion …
PERSONAL: Son of Lisa and Antonio … Has 19 brothers and sisters … Majoring in Communications …
Thomas Moralez | 141 | Fr. | Bentonville, Ark. | Bentonville West HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Wrestled four seasons for Bentonville West, claiming a state championship and a career record of 75-18 with 56 falls under the direction of Jared Henning … Claimed the Arkansas State Tournament Championship for 6A 152 pounds as a junior, capping the season off with a 28-8 record and 25 falls … Posted a 37-3 record with 24 falls as a senior before missing the state tournament … As a freshman, posted a 10-3 record … Following senior season, claimed the 2023 Arkansas State Freestyle and Greco junior individual titles at 145 …Also claimed the 2022 Arkansas State Greco junior individual title at 145 … Three freestyle and three Greco state championships in amateur career … In all competitions over the last year, recorded a 68-9 record with 52 pins, six tech falls and five major decisions …
PERSONAL: Son of Carol and Tomas … Has one sister; Ava … Has two brothers; Joaquin and Xavier … Majoring in Journalism …
Markell Rivera-Cain | 197 | Fr. | Glendale, Ariz. | Ironwood HS
HIGH SCHOOL: No. 132 overall recruiting class ranking from InterMat … Three-time AIA State Champion and four-time state finalist at Ironwood … Finished career with 171-6 record, including 65-0 dual record and 101 pins … Wrapped up his career with third-straight undefeated season and state title, claiming the AIA D2 190-pound State Championship following a 52-0 season with 26 falls, including falls in all four state championship matches … As a junior, claimed the D2 170-pound title with a 37-0 record and 26 falls … Claimed first state title as a sophomore, completing a shortened 21-0 season with a D2 170-pound title and 13 pins … As a freshman, finished runner up at 132 pounds following a 61-6 record that included a school record of 36 pins …
PERSONAL: Son of Annemarie and LC … Has one sister; Makayla … Has one brother; Mikael … Majoring in Art …
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