BY Nolan P. Schmidt
Mat Pack
Why you need to take in a Bison wrestling dual this year... am a big time wrestling nerd. Part of that stems from a true love for professional wrestling in my youth. Now, that enjoyment I once had for “fake” wrestling has transitioned into an appreciation for amateur wrestling. I have said it time and time again, wrestlers are a different breed of human being. They put their body on the line and push it to its limits, all for a seven minute match.
I
Within that seven minutes, two opponents battle in a true test of strength, endurance and talent. The work that goes into being a successful wrestler is already awe-inspiring to someone like me. These are real athletes, folks and there is really no other way to put it. I believe that North Dakota State has something special in its wrestling program. Historically, we know the program has seen tremendous highs under the tenure of longtime coach Bucky Maughan. The success seen in the Division II era has also translated to Division I for the Bison. While NDSU has not captured a team national championship in Division I, the program is quickly rising in a competitive Big 12 Conference.
54
BISON ILLUSTRATED D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1
The pieces are in place for this program to really make some noise in the near future. That being said, I do believe that everyone (especially if you call yourself a Bison fan) should take in a home wrestling dual at some point. The atmosphere is fun and it’s just a great and unique way to spend an afternoon or evening. With the season humming along, there are only a few home duals remaining before tournament time. Here are just a few reasons why Bison wrestling is worth your time.
the Trojans offer a program that is still in its relative infancy. 2021-22 will be the school’s third year fielding a wrestling program. On top of that, Little Rock brings back a familiar name for Bison wrestling fans. Paul Bianchi is still currently wrestling for the Trojans at 133 pounds. NDSU fans will remember Bianchi as an NCAA qualifier in 2018 as a member of the Bison. While that makes for a good storyline, it is worth noting that Little Rock is a program on the rise. Primetime Mat Rats
Marquee Matchups If you want to see high-level wrestling, going to a Bison dual will provide that. Of the remaining four home duals left this season, three of those four are Big 12 Conference match-ups. Bouts with West Virginia, Air Force and Northern Colorado are always tough matchups for NDSU and its wrestlers. The Mountaineers are paced by their 125 pounder Killian Cardinale, who at the time of this piece is ranked eighth in the country in that weight class. Even NDSU’s lone match-up against a non-Big 12 school is interesting. Their February 11 dual welcomes Little Rock to the Sanford Health Athletic Conference. Wrestling out of the Pac 12 Conference,
While we are only a few years removed from Cam Sykora’s epic run to the Big 12 133 pound title, it seems as though the Bison are on the cusp of having multiple conference champs. The first name that comes to mind is Jared Franek. The local 157 pounder is currently ranked ninth in the country at that weight class and everyone inside the Bison wrestling room is excited to see what Franek can do in Tulsa this year. The daunting part is what stands in Franek’s way, mainly Iowa State’s David Carr. Long regarded as the best 157 pounder in the country, Carr beat Franek in last year’s Big 12 title match. Redemption has to be at the forefront of Franek’s mind and he may just get another shot at Carr come March.