Six Bison advance to semis

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 03/13/2004

MANKATO, Minn. -- There was a time this season when North Dakota State put out an all-points bulletin for Matt Hermann’s mind. Even Hermann admitted there wasn’t a need to look for it on the wrestling mat.

He had his thinking cap on Friday during the first day of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. The Bison freshman was one of six to reach this morning’s semifinals, putting NDSU in position to claim the national championship.

NDSU’s senior stars came through. Paul Carlson at 157 pounds, Thad Pike at 174, Brian Kraemer at 197 and Joe Bryce at heavyweight all advanced. But the Bison also got valuable victorious days from Hermann (184) and Nick Magee at 133 pounds.

Magee has been steady since being inserted into the lineup after Christmas. But the fact Hermann is a semifinalist was a surprise considering he was benched in late January.

“I had my head somewhere else,” Hermann said. “It wasn’t on straight. I got benched a match and came back working even harder. And here I am right now.”

That hard work helped the Bison accumulate 57.5 points with seven wrestlers still alive. Second place Central Oklahoma has 51 points with six guys still going, including four semifinalists.

Magee continued his lateseason surge. The North Region champion wasn’t even the starter during the first half of the season. He was inserted into the lineup after the Christmas break.

“Since then, I’ve been wrestling every match like it’s my last one,” Magee said. “Plus I want to help win this championship and bring it back home.”

Bryce went the extra yards to help the cause. He scored a rare double-overtime pin against Evan Love of the University of Indianapolis in the first round, then followed that with an overtime win over Zach Majocha of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

“These things never go like you expect them to,” said Bison head coach Bucky Maughan. “You just roll with the punches and try and adapt.”

Senior Mike Fiedler ran into a defending champion at 165 pounds in the quarterfinals, but came back to win his consolation match.

“We would have liked to have Mike in there,” Maughan said.

Eric Sanders went 1-2 at 125. Mathias Bitz lost his first two at 141 and Zach Stevens, who at one time was ranked second in Division II, lost his first two at 149. Moreover, Stevens threw his headgear following a consolation round pin that cost NDSU a team point.

Minnesota State Moorhead had 184-pounder Ryan Kopiasz to carry its flag Friday. He will face Hermann in this morning’s semifinals.

The two didn’t meet during the year because that was the match Hermann was benched.

“I sat him out to wake him up,” Maughan said.

The Bison started Friday like they were still sleeping.

Three of the first four Bison to wrestle lost their opening-round matches. Then, Carlson -- the next guy on the mat -- was down 4-1 after the first period to Rick Rank of Colorado Mines.

Carlson rallied for a 7-6 victory and the Bison went on a winning streak to send seven wrestlers to the quarterfinals.

Hermann is glad he’s along for the ride.

“Every point counts,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this since high school, being an All-American. And our team seems to be wrestling well.”

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