Sanders, NDSU trump Air Force

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 01/28/2006

Slowly but surely, North Dakota State is inching toward a quality NCAA Division I dual wrestling team. Friday night, Eric Sanders joined the national scene.

The Bison sophomore registered a confidence-boosting victory as NDSU defeated Air Force Academy 27-9 at the Bison Sports Arena.

NDSU, 3-3, may be ineligible for postseason competition until next season because of the Division I reclassification, but that’s not stopping its wrestlers from looking ahead.

“A lot of people say this is all for nothing,” Sanders said. “But in the end, it is for something. We have to beat these guys next year.”

Sanders got a good gauge of the national competition in his weight class. He outlasted Brandon Strong 7-6 at 133 pounds. Strong was a Division I Championships qualifier last year.

Strong moved up a weight class this year after Air Force’s regular 133-pounder quit the team. With the score tied 6-6 after two periods, Sanders kept his opponent on the mat the entire third period and won with the onepoint riding time advantage.

“We have a young team, but everyone is figuring out what they need to do,” Sanders said.

Sophomore Matt Wetterling really has it figured out. The 184-pounder pinned Zane Hershey in 51 seconds -- Wetterling’s 15th pin of the season.

“He just goes after it,” said Bison head coach Bucky Maughan. “He’s on a mission out there.”

Wetterling’s pin, NDSU’s third straight win of the match, gave the Bison a 12-6 lead. Jacob Bryce was within seconds of extending that advantage at 197.

Bryce was awarded a stalling point with 20 seconds left against Brendan McLean, but McLean registered a twopoint takedown 10 seconds later to win 3-2.

Heavyweight Mike Maresh, however, restored NDSU’s momentum with a convincing 11-4 decision over Frank McGrath. Maresh had three quick takedowns in the first period and the Bison were on their way.

The 15-9 lead looked ominous to the Falcons, 2-3, considering they still had to surrender a forfeit and were without 141-pounder Jake Kriegbaum, their leader in wins with 24. He did not make the trip because of a school commitment. “It was a tough match,” Maughan said. There is no time to rest for NDSU. The Bison take on Wyoming, a 26-18 winner over South Dakota State on Friday, this afternoon at 2. 149: Bridger Lord, AF, dec. Gabe Mooney, 7-4. 157: Zach Lord, AF, dec. Adam Aho, 10-6. 165: Zach Molitor, NDSU, dec. Greg Ford, 7-2. 174: Matt Hermann, NDSU, dec. Stephen Crozier, 9-8. 184: Matt Wetterling, NDSU, pinned Zane Hershey, :51. 197: Brendan McLean, AF, dec. Jacob Bryce, 3-2. Hwt.: Mike Maresh, NDSU, dec. Frank McGrath, 11-4. 125: Mike Meger, NDSU, won by forfeit. 133: 133: Eric Sanders, NDSU, dec. Brandon Strong, 7-6. 141: David Cunningham, NDSU, dec. Shane Manuel, 9-5.

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