Forfeits, Bison overwhelm Mary

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 01/22/2004

Any electricity between the University of Mary (N.D.) and North Dakota State was cut by 40 percent before the wrestling match began Wednesday night. The Marauders forfeited four of the 10 weight classes.

It made for short work for the Bison. They defeated the Marauders 43-3 at the Bison Sports Arena to improve to 7-0 in duals.

It was NDSU’s 12th straight win, although this one was a foregone conclusion after the Marauders forfeited one weight class because of the failure to make weight and three because of injury. That included Aaron Hartnell, the NAIA defending national champion and No. 1-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds. He injured his ankle last Satur day.

A Marauder forfeit at 174 pounds also left NDSU’s Thad Pike, ranked first in Division II, as a spectator.

NDSU’s Zach Stevens and Mary’s Mike Champagne then became the marquee matchup. Stevens has ascended to No. 2 and Champagne came in fifth.

It wasn’t decided until late in the third period.

Stevens got a takedown with 18 seconds left to take a 6-3 victory.

With the match tied 3-3, but with Stevens holding more than one minute of riding time, Stevens and Mary’s Mike Champagne appeared deadlocked on a takedown before Stevens ended up on top to earn two points.

“I think a lot of us started off a little slow,” Stevens said.

Stevens improved his dual record to 7-0 and his overall mark to 19-5.

After taking second in the North Central Conference tournament last year, Stevens is on pace to improve his 1-2 finish in nationals. He had an 18-15 record, but just 7-7 in duals.

“A little older, I know what I’m doing more,” Stevens said. “And I know what college wrestling is all about now.”

NDSU lost its shutout bid at 184 when Mary’s Elijah Simburger outlasted Matt Hermann 5-2. It came one match after NDSU’s topranked Paul Carlson survived an upset bid by freshman Andy Passmore.

Passmore came in 1-4 in duals, but had Carlson tied 3-3 well into the third period. But Carlson got by on an escape and a riding time point for a 5-3 win.

“The hardest guys to beat are the ones that just try to keep it close,” said NDSU head coach Bucky Maughan.

Brian Kraemer finished off the abbreviated match with a pin at 197.

“I just wish we could have brought a full team,” said Mary head coach Josh Kerbaugh. “Win or lose, it would have been nice to have a chance to compete.” Hwt.--Bryce, NDSU dec. Schweitzer, 11-2. 125--Sanders, NDSU, won by forfeit. 133--Magee, NDSU, won by forfeit. 141--Bitz, NDSU, dec. Boehm, 4-1. 149--Stevens, NDSU, dec. Champagne, 6-3. 157--Carlson, NDSU, dec. Passmore, 5-3. 165--Fiedler, NDSU, won by forfeit. 174--Pike, NDSU, won by forfeit. 184--Simburger, UM, dec. Hermann, 5-2. 197--Kraemer, NDSU, pinned Lindsley, 2:06.

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