Future enticing for Bison wrestlers

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 02/25/2005

North Dakota State is putting its wrestling season to bed tonight against South Dakota State. When the Bison wake up Saturday morning, the future looks enticing.

NDSU is finalizing a home schedule that is expected to include Portland State, North Carolina State, American University, Wyoming, Air Force and Northern Colorado. Plus, head coach Bucky Maughan said he’ll be back for his 42nd season.

“I want to get this thing on solid ground before I turn it over,” he said.

A win against the Jacks and the Bison, despite redshirting several potential starters, will finish 10-4 in duals with all but one match against Division I competition.

It hasn’t been all rosy, however.

The Bison lost to UNC last weekend -- Maughan’s first loss to his son, UNC head coach Jack Maughan, in 19 meetings.

“They outhustled us and deserved to win,” Bucky Maughan said. “The last month has been horrible for us. Nobody has anything to work for.

“Our guys are used to being in tune for a run at a national championship.” Women look to recover

The SDSU women’s basketball team was blown out only once this year -- 86-52 at Wisconsin-Green Bay, which was ranked 23rd in the Division I top 25 poll last week. Four days later, the Jackrabbits shot 37 percent and lost at home to NDSU.

NDSU’s only loss this year was Tuesday night -- a blow out to Texas Christian, which was ranked 23rd earlier this year. Four days later, on Saturday night, the Bison face the Jacks.

See the parallel?

NDSU is hoping to avoid a post-rout letdown in addition to compensating for the loss of senior guard Amanda Krenz, who is out with a ligament tear to her knee.

“Not so much a letdown,” said NDSU head coach Amy Ruley. “Just more of a recovery than anything.”

Ruley said freshman Lisa Bue will start for Krenz, who had seven points, seven assists and hit key free throws down the stretch in the last meeting with SDSU.

“It changes things without her,” Ruley said. Hunt gets major award

NDSU senior Rob Hunt, who is preparing for the NFL Combine this weekend in Indianapolis, won the Division IAA Dave Rimington Award, which annually recognizes the outstanding college football center.

The 6-4, 290-pound Hunt played in the 2005 Hula Bowl. He was a four-year starter for NDSU and was named the Great West Football Conference offensive lineman of the year.

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