I think this season the Bison of North Dakota State qualify 6 to the NCAA's, with one a strong candidate to be an All American.
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| 133 Kellyn March Freshman Record: 7-8 |
Despite the losing record, March had some very impressive victories last season. He dismantled PAC-12 champion Devan Turner of Oregon State 14-5 and he stuck Northern Iowa's Jack Skudlarcyzk in 3:41 seconds. Will be an NCAA qualifier for the Bison this season.
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| 141 Dylan Droegemueller Sophomore Record: 32-23 NCAA: 20'NQ BIG 12: 20'4th, 21'6th |
An NCAA qualifier in 2020 and one match shy of NCAA qualification last season, I feel pretty confident that Droegemueller finds himself back at the NCAA's this season.
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| 157 Jared Franek Sophomore Record: 50-14 NCAA: 20'NQ, 21'R12 BIG 12: 20'3rd, 21'2nd CKLV: 20'R12 SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 20'7th |
Franek finished BIG 12 runner-up last season and he'll contend with Jarrett Jacques of Missouri, Wyatt Sheets of Oklahoma State and Justin Thomas of Oklahoma in an effort get back to the finals against David Carr of Iowa State again this season. Franek should prove to be the Bison's best bet on an All American this season.
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| 165 Luke Weber Senior Record: 90-36 NCAA: 21'R12 BIG 12: 19'6th, 20'8th, 21'1st SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 20'5th |
I say that Franek is the Bison's best bet for an All American this season, but the way Luke Weber wrestled at last year's BIG 12 tournament, maybe he is. Reclaiming the BIG 12 title isn't going to be easy. Demetrius Romero of Utah Valley, Keegan O'Toole of Missouri and Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State. That's three incredibly tough opponents to get past to reclaim conference gold. Yet Weber already proved he's capable of an upset. He defeated Wittlake 5-3 sudden victory at last year's BIG 12's. He also owns a 2-1 decision over Thomas Bullard of North Carolina State. Seeing him top 12 as of right now, but he keeps pulling off wins like those, he'll move into a top 8 status within a short time.
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| 197 Owen Pentz Freshman Record: 9-6 NCAA: 21'NQ BIG 12: 21'WC |
Every now and again you see someone wrestle and the end conclusion is, "I wanna see how good they really are." Pentz's two best victories last year, as of right now I have an * next to. He defeated Northern Colorado's Jacob Seely 14-2, which on paper is extremely impressive, but I felt all season long there was something deathly wrong with Seely. Then Pentz stuck Eric Schultz of Nebraska, but to be honest I felt it was a "caught him on his back moment." I'm not trying to take anything away from Pentz. 2022 NCAA qualifier for sure, but before I make too much more of an analysis on him, I need to see him in more matches. I think that's fair.
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| HWT Brandon Metz Junior Record: 62-34 NCAA: 20'NQ, 21'NQ BIG 12: 20'7th, 21'5th CKLV: 20'R12 SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 20'4th |
We don't see a whole lot of big heavyweights anymore and it's fun to see one every now and again out on the mat. Metz finished 5th at last year's BIG 12 tournament and that's about where I see him finishing again this year. Even though Iowa State's Gannon Gremmel has deferred his final year of eligibility, A.J. Nevills of South Dakota State (formally of Fresno State) will be back. Being 0-5 Vs Brian Andrews of Wyoming and then 0-2 Vs both Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force and Zach Elam of Missouri, all three of those are matches I don't see him winning. Now Carter Isley of Northern Iowa, who he is 2-3 against, I can see him winning that match. So BIG 12 wise, 4th is also a possibility.
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125 - NQ
133 - DNQ
141 - NQ
149 - DNQ
157- All American
165 - R12
174 - DNQ
184 - DNQ
197 - NQ
HWT - NQ
NDSU could end up being a little better than I initially predict. I can admit that. I already know how good Franek is, and I know Weber's good, but maybe he's even better than I'm thinking right now. The jury is undecided upon Pentz. Need more evidence first.
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