Bison primed under Maughan

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 11/05/2003

Now in his 40th season, Bucky Maughan has built the best NCAA Division II program in the last 25 years. The Bison will move to Division I beginning next season, but that doesn’t mean the head coach is going to retire.

“I’m saying ‘no,’” he said.

NDSU will begin a four-year reclassification period next year. The Bison will not be eligible for postseason tournaments, something that is so important to wrestling.

But like he did when he first took the job in 1964, Maughan wants to be there for the building process.

“I want to at least get if off on the right foot,” Maughan said. “I want to make sure wrestling is taken care of. I want to make sure everything we’ve built doesn’t fall apart.”

His program is off on the right foot this season. The Bison were ranked first in North Central Conference and NCAA Division II preseason polls.

They have experience back at nine of the 10 weight classes, including defending national champion Paul Carlson at 157 pounds. Four others who have attained All-American status in prior years: Lucas Christianson at 141, Mike Fiedler at 165, Thad Pike at 174 and Brian Kraemer at 197.

Plus, in the preseason NCC rankings, Nick Magee is ranked second at 133, Zach Stevens first at 141, Matt Hermann third at 184 and Joe Bryce second at heavyweight.

“These young guys are getting old and obviously better,” Carlson said. “It looks tough on paper and hopefully pretty tough on the mat, too.”

Nationally, Carlson and Kraemer are ranked first, Fieldler and Pike second and Bryce and Christianson seventh.

“There’s a lot of talent in the room,” Kraemer said.

The one weight without experience, 125, is not without notoriety. Eric Sanders from Wabasha, Minn., and Mike Meger from Owatonna, Minn., were two highly touted preps. Two brothers from Pelican Rapids, Minn. -- Cole and Jake Anderson -- could threaten to take the spot.

The Bison open their season Saturday with the 34th Bison Open at the Sports Arena. NDSU then travels to the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha on Nov. 22, the Las Vegas Invitational and St. Cloud State Invitational in December.

They start their last NCC dual season in January.

“This is the last chance,” Maughan said. “It will be a few years before we start the season a No. 1 team.”

The last NCC go-around is not without note, either. The Bison team poster has a similar theme.

“You can see everybody wanting it with this being the last year,” Carlson said. “And this may be the last year there will be this many good wrestlers in the room for a while.”

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546