Bryce propels Bison

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

NDSU’s Matt Hermann takes on Wyoming’s Dan Barrone in the 174-pound match Saturday. Hermann beat Barrone with an 8-4 decision.

North Dakota State’s Jacob Bryce, left, bleeding from a cut above his eye, battled back against Wyoming’s Malcolm Havens on Saturday at Bison Sports Arena. Bryce defeated Havens in the 197-pound match.

By Jeff Kolpack jkolpack@forumcomm.com
Sports - 01/29/2006

The body slam was something out of all-star wresting, only North Dakota State freshman Jacob Bryce wasn’t faking it.

He was stunned by the throw. His face was already red from a cut above the eye that required stitches and a bloody nose -- damage inflicted by University of Wyoming senior Malcolm Havens at 197 pounds.

“I don’t know what I was seeing for a while,” Bryce said.

Bryce responded with a strong third period and went on to decision Havens and the Bison defeated the Cowboys 18-15 Saturday afternoon at the Bison Sports Arena. It culminated a successful weekend for 4-3 NDSU, which beat Air Force on Friday night.

Bryce’s 8-3 victory was a signal of NDSU’s improving stature in Division I. He did it against a veteran wrestler while overcoming his cuts and bruises.

“That was inspiring to everybody on the team,” said NDSU heavyweight Mike Maresh. “You started to wonder if he was going to be able to finish it and he actually was better at the end of the match.”

The decision gave the Bison a six-point lead and meant Maresh only had to avoid getting pinned by Wyoming’s Dusty Hoffschneider. Maresh did, losing 11-6 to last season’s West Regional champion.

It was Maresh’s first loss of the season after five victories.

“He ran out of gas,” NDSU head coach Bucky Maughan said.

It appeared the Bison had little in their tank at the outset. With the exception of a pin by Eric Sanders at 133 pounds, Bison wrestlers spent the better part of the first five matches on the wrong end of riding time. The Cowboys consistently had the Bison looking for escapes rather than being on the attack.

But Zach Molitor changed that trend at 165 pounds. He rode Gary Dack -- a Division I national qualifier last year -- for almost four of the seven minutes in a 6-1 decision and NDSU pulled within 12-9.

“Molitor had a great weekend,” Maughan said.

Consecutive wins by Matt Hermann at 174 and Matt Wetterling at 184 put the Bison up 15-12. Wetterling toyed with a major decision, a victory by at least eight points that is worth four team points, before giving up a late takedown in a 12-8 win.

That brought Bryce to the plate. “I wasn’t about to give up anything,” Bryce said. The loss dropped Wyoming to 4-6. Both teams are expected to be part of a new wrestling league next year. “I think that will be great for our guys,” Wyoming head coach Steve Suder said. “I hope this conference comes together because (the Bison) are a bunch of class people.” 125: Bryce Leonhardt, W, dec. Mike Meger, 10-4. 133: Eric Sanders, NDSU, pinned Cody Grant, 1:37:. 141: Shaw Lawrence, W, dec. David Cunningham, 5-0. 149: Carter Downing, W, dec. Gabe Mooney, 11-6. 157: Dan Clum, W, dec. Andrew Quittschreiber, 7-4. 165: Zach Molitor, NDSU, dec. Gary Dack, 6-1. 174: Matt Hermann, NDSU, dec. Dan Barrone, 8-4. 184: Matt Wetterling, NDSU, dec. Preston Pavich, 12-8. 197: Jacob Bryce, NDSU, dec. Malcom Havens, 8-3. Hwt: Dusty Hoffschneider, W, dec. Mike Maresh, 11-6.

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