Final chapter

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

North Dakota State’s Paul Carlson, the reigning NCAA Division II wrestling champion at 157 pounds, leads the No. 1-ranked Bison into this weekend’s national meet in Mankato, Minn.

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 03/12/2004

At the final whistle, after Paul Carlson won an NCAA Division II wrestling title in Wheeling, W. Va., last year, his mind traveled the speed of light.

It went across five states, hurdled the Red River to the Bison Sports Arena front door and up to North Dakota State’s McCormick wrestling room.

Right to the program’s Wall of Fame.

“That’s the first thing I thought about,” Carlson said. “Now every kid that steps in here will get to see it.”

Carlson will go for another national championship plaque this weekend at the national meet in Mankato, Minn. Carlson is a repeat favorite at 157 pounds and his team is favored to win its fourth title in six years.

The Bison qualified all 10 of their wrestlers, the only team in the tournament to do so. They’re led by five seniors -- all ranked in the top four of their respective weight classes.

Besides Carlson, Thad Pike is ranked first at 174. Mike Fiedler (165) and Joe Bryce (heavyweight) are ranked third and Brian Kraemer is fourth at 197. Bryce, who is a junior eligibility-wise, will graduate next semester and decided not to wrestle.

All have the chance to do what Carlson has already done: become a national champion and reserve their own space on the NDSU Wall of Fame.

“That’s the No. 1 reason I came here,” Kraemer said. “One of my goals besides us winning the national championship is to be up on that wall with all of those guys.”

Carlson did it last year by beating No. 2-ranked Brody Olson of Northern Colorado. He’s responded this year with a consistent 25-6 season, including 9-1 in his last 10 matches.

He’s tied for 11th with Fiedler on the NDSU career list with 111 victories. Kraemer is seventh with 99.

Carlson’s total includes a 15-17 record his freshman year when he moved down a weight to 149.

“It was kind of a mind thing,” he said. “I was losing to guys I shouldn’t have lost to.”

He reached the national title match his sophomore season. He led 5-1 before faltering in the third period. He made up for that last year.

This year, Carlson said he’s enjoyed the role of defending champion, but he also can see the end.

“It’s been a real weird year for me,” he said. “It was getting to me. It’s a can’t-waitto-be-done, don’t-want-tofinish type of deal. I know I’ll miss it, that’s why I want to go into coaching. But I want this step in my life to be over with.”

Kraemer, meanwhile, wants to keep competing. Depending on how his knee holds up -- he’s had reconstructive surgery -- he plans on joining the Minnesota Storm Greco-Roman team with the hopes of working out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

For now, the five seniors have work to do.

“At this level, it comes down to a mind game,” said head coach Bucky Maughan. “(Today) is a big day for us. You have to have a whole bunch of guys still alive on Saturday.”

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

Bison national qualifiers 125: Eric Sanders, Fr. (18-17) 133: Nick Magee, Jr. (18-5) 141: Mathias Bitz, So. (24-13) 149: Zach Stevens, So. (25-10) 157: Paul Carlson, Sr. (25-6) 165: Mike Fiedler, Sr. (26-6) 174: Thad Pike, Sr., (26-4) 184: Matt Herman, Fr. (22-12) 197: Brian Kraemer, Sr. (29-5) Hwt: Joe Bryce, Sr. (26-8) The contenders Number of qualifiers in parentheses: NDSU (10), Nebraska-Omaha (8), Pittsburgh-Johnstown (8), Findlay, Ohio (7), Central Oklahoma (7)