Bison learn a lesson in D-I

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

NDSU’s 184-pounder Matt Hermann, left, locks up with Northern Iowa’s Dan Dunning during their match Thursday night. Hermann decisioned Dunning 7-4.

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 02/11/2005

Northern Iowa introduced North Dakota State to the world of NCAA Division I elite wrestling Thursday night. The Bison shook hands following a 31-12 defeat and said something to the effect: hope to be at your level in a few years. “UNI is a good solid program and that’s where we have to be,” said NDSU head coach Bucky Maughan. “We have a lot of recruiting to do and lot of weeding out.”
The Panthers, ranked No. 13 in the latest D-I top 15 poll, won seven of 10 weight classes against the first-year Division I Bison. As expected, it ended NDSU’s 20-match home dual winning streak that dated to the 2000-01 season when Division III power Augsburg earned a 19-12 victory.

At least the Bison didn’t let the 1,015 fans leave the Bison Sports Arena without a few highlights. Freshman Andy Pickar brought the decibel level to a top level with a first-period pin at 165 pounds -- a performance that further solidified his status as a potential Division I All-American.

“They’re one of the better teams in the nation and that’s what we hope to accomplish,” Pickar said.

Bison sophomore Matt Herman broke a third period tie with two takedowns in a 7-4 win at 184 and junior Tim Kraemer was consistently better in a decision at heavyweight.

Otherwise, the Panthers were the superior aggressors.

“It’s a mental attitude,” Maughan said. “We have some guys who don’t have that street-fighting mentality.”

It was easy pickings on the scoreboard for the Panthers, who got pins from two freshmen before they even got to their nationally ranked big guns -- Jeff Harrison at 149, Eric Hauan at 174 and Sean Stender at 197.

“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen today to be honest,” UNI coach Brad Penrith said.

“It’s difficult for Bucky right now with the transition. I know when we come back here in two or three years that it will be a different beast. I know that.”

Pickar was NDSU’s beast on Thursday.

He and UNI junior Mark Manchio -- who started because nationally-ranked Nick Baima broke his hand this week -- exchanged a couple of rolls on the mat before Pickar had Manchio in a hold with both wrestlers almost out of bounds.

Pickar, with both of Manchio’s arms locked, pulled him back toward center circle and pinned him with a cradle.

“I didn’t know what parts of us were still in bounds,” Pickar said.

That only dented the Panthers lead, which got big in a hurry. Freshman C.J. Ettelson’s first period pin against Lucas Christianson at 141 gave the Panthers a 15-0 lead and the rout was on. Freshman Adam Baumgartner turned a similar first period pin at 125 against Mike Meger.

UNI improved to 6-7, with all seven losses to teams ranked in the top 15.

NDSU, which has beaten six lower-tier Division I teams, fell to 7-3. “People shouldn’t look at the score and say UNI is that much better than North Dakota State,” Penrith said. “Overall, I’m happy but we understand that maybe he didn’t have his best wrestlers out there.” 125: Baumgartner, UNI, pin Meger, 2:51. 133: Osgood, UNI, dec. Magee, 6-4. 141: Ettelson, UNI, pin Christianson, 1:20. 149: Harrison, UNI, dec. Stevens, 8-1. 157: Bitetto, UNI, dec. Kelly, 9-4. 165: Pickar, NDSU, pin Manchio, 2:29. 174: Hauan, UNI, pin Dahlstrom, 4:24. 184: Hermann, NDSU, dec. Dunning, 7-4. 197: Stender, UNI, dec. Benz, 10-2. Hwt: Kraemer, NDSU, dec. Knoll, 5-3.

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