Bison look to go out in style

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

“This is my fourth year and it’s always been us or them. It’s great competition,” says North Dakota State senior Brian Kraemer.

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 02/20/2004

North Dakota State and Nebraska-Omaha have staged some wrestling matches worthy of Pay-Per-View.

More of the same is expected tonight at 7:30 in the Bison Sports Arena when one of NCAA Division II’s best wrestling rivalries ends.

The Mavericks are favored in four matches, the Bison in four matches and two are tossups.

In the bigger picture, it’s NDSU’s last home dual as a Division II member. The Bison will begin a Division I transition next season.

Throw in that NDSU is going for an undefeated dual season and a North Central Conference title, and that some matches affect tournament seedings, and there’s plenty on the line.

“You hate to lose to them, that’s for sure,” Bison senior Brian Kraemer said. “This is my fourth year and it’s always been us or them. It’s great competition.”

NDSU edged Omaha 18-13 in January in the semifinals of the Division II National Dual Tournament. It was a typical Bison-Maverick matchup; the average differential in the final score since 1994 has been 5.1 points.

It’s no secret the teams don’t like each other.

In tournaments, it’s not uncommon for Bison fans to cheer for any wrestler facing Omaha. The same goes for Omaha fans.

“Omaha and NDSU in wrestling, it’s kind of like the Bison-Sioux in basketball and football,” said former Bison national champion Steve Saxlund. “We hate them and they hate us.”

The Bison are ranked No. 1 in the latest Division II coaches poll. Omaha is third. The Bison won six of 10 matches in the National Dual matchup, but only two were decided by more than two points.

It’s been like that over the years.

“We’ve had a lot of great matches,” said NDSU head coach Bucky Maughan. “I’m sure they aim for us every year. We both have completely different wrestling styles. Everything is different about the two programs.”

The two are not scheduled to meet next year. After that, NDSU is allowed to compete against only one non-Division I team. There are two potential replacements on NDSU’s most wanted list, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

SDSU, also moving to Division I, has fielded strong teams in the past.

Next year, the Bison will renew a matchup with Northern Iowa, a perennial Division II powerhouse in the 1970s.

“That’s definitely one people will want to watch,” said Lee Petersen, a Bison national champion in 1973. “They have a great tradition -- a powerhouse just like NDSU.”

Petersen was on teams that defeated Washington State and the University of Arizona in duals in Fargo. He said NDSU is overdue for the Division I move.

He points to NDSU’s top-20 finish at the Division I Las Vegas Invitational in December. The Bison did that, Petersen said, with half of the scholarships it will be allowed in Division I.

“The Bison have always had a Division I team,” he said. “They’re ready. We’re entirely capable of advancing to Division I and make a good showing of it.”

For now, it’s NDSU vs. Omaha in a dual -- once and for all.

“It’s the last dual in Division II, we have a lot of seniors and it’s our last dual at home,” Kraemer said. “It’s Parents Night. It’s a big one all the way around.”

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