The 20th-ranked North Dakota State University wrestling team will compete in a pair of Western Wrestling Conference duals this weekend. The Bison will travel to Orem, Utah, to take on Utah Valley on Friday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (MT). On Sunday, Feb. 9, NDSU will wrestle Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., at 3 p.m. (CT)/2 p.m. (MT).
The Bison (7-4, 1-0 WWC) enter this weekend with their highest USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll ranking in school history at No. 20. NDSU’s only four dual losses this season are all to top-20 teams: No. 5 Northern Iowa, No. 9 Missouri, No. 15 Wisconsin and No. 17 Iowa State.
Senior 165-pounder Steven Monk (22-1) continues to lead NDSU in the individual rankings, coming in at No. 3 in both major polls. Sophomore 174-pounder Hayden Zillmer is ranked 13th by Intermat and 14th by Amateur Wrestling News. Junior 184-pounder Kurtis Julson is 19th in the AWN poll and 20th by Intermat.
NDSU is the defending 2012-13 WWC regular season champion after going an undefeated 5-0 in league duals last season.
Probable Matchups vs. Utah Valley
125: No. 17 Jade Rauser (4-1) vs. Hunter Weber (10-8)
133: Chasen Tolbert (9-8) vs. Justin LaValle (10-7)
141: Avery Garner (9-6) vs. Clay Cathey (15-12)
149: Trevor Willson (2-13) vs. Tyler Diamond (9-11)
157: Chase Cuthbertson (3-5) or Logan Addis (7-13) vs. Nick Olejnik (7-13)
165: Curtis Abner Cook (4-5) vs. No. 3 Steven Monk (22-1)
174: Monte Schmalhaus (6-8) vs. No. 13 Hayden Zillmer (20-5)
184: Ethan Smith (6-8) vs. No. 19 Kurtis Julson (15-7)
197: Derek Thomas (13-11) vs. Tyler Lehmann (9-2)
285: TBA vs. Evan Knutson (12-8) or John Gusewelle (9-9)
About Utah Valley
UVU enters the week with a 4-6 overall record, owning wins over Gardner-Webb, CSU Bakersfield, Grand Canyon and Boise State. The Wolverines will host South Dakota State on Thursday, Feb. 6, in their first WWC dual of the season. UVU 125-pounder Jade Rauser is currently ranked 17th in the nation.
Utah Valley Series
NDSU leads the all-time series with Utah Valley 7-1, with the lone Bison loss coming in 2009.
Last Year
The Bison posted wins in four of the final five weight classes to defeat the Wolverines 18-15 on Feb. 8, 2013 in Fargo.
No. 25 North Dakota State 18, Utah Valley 15
125 – No. 9 Trent Sprenkle (NDSU) wins by forfeit
133 – Chasen Tolbert (UVU) dec. Josh Rodriguez (NDSU), 5-0
141 – Avery Garner (UVU) dec. Mark Erickson (NDSU), 7-5
149 – Josh Wilson (UVU) dec. Joe Garner (NDSU), 6-0
157 – Ethan Smith (UVU) dec. Tanner Carlisle (NDSU), 9-4
165 – No. 6 Steven Monk (NDSU) dec. Abner Cook (UVU), 2-0
174 – Hayden Zillmer (NDSU) dec. Monte Schmalhaus (UVU), 5-4
184 – Mac Stoll (NDSU) dec. Derek Thomas (UVU), 6-1
197 – Kallen Kleinschmidt (NDSU) dec. David Prieto (UVU), 6-1
Hwt – Adam Fager (UVU) dec. Evan Knutson (NDSU), 3-2
Probable Matchups vs. Northern Colorado
125: Trey Andrews (18-4) vs. Hunter Weber (10-8)
133: Sonny Espinoza (8-13) vs. Justin LaValle (10-7)
141: Nick Adams (2-11) vs. Clay Cathey (15-12)
149: Nick Alspaugh (2-3) or Beau Roberts (8-11) vs. Tyler Diamond (9-11)
157: Mitchell Polkowske (19-4) vs. Nick Olejnik (7-13)
165: Charlie McMartin (6-7) vs. No. 3 Steven Monk (22-1)
174: Josh Van Tine (2-10) or Keith Johnson (0-0) vs. No. 13 Hayden Zillmer (20-5)
184: Nick Bayer (9-11) vs. No. 19 Kurtis Julson (15-7)
197: Cole Briegel (8-10) vs. Tyler Lehmann (9-2)
285: Henry Chirino (15-7) vs. Evan Knutson (12-8) or John Gusewelle (9-9)
About Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado enters the week with a 5-8 overall record, with Division I wins over VMI, Arizona State and Cal Poly. The Bears will host Wyoming on Friday, Feb. 7, in their first WWC dual of the season. UNC 157-pounder Mitchell Polkowske is currently ranked 20th in the nation.
Northern Colorado Series
NDSU leads the all-time series with Northern Colorado 31-5-1, but three of the five UNC victories have come since 2008.
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Last Year
All five seniors won matches for NDSU on Senior Day, and the No. 25-ranked Bison defeated Northern Colorado 36-8 to clinch at least a share of the WWC regular season title on Feb. 10, 2013 in Fargo. NDSU won eight of 10 matches and scored bonus points in six of the victories.
No. 25 North Dakota State 36, Northern Colorado 8
Hwt – Evan Knutson (NDSU) dec. Henry Chirino (NC), 3-2 (TB2)
125 – No. 9 Trent Sprenkle (NDSU) pinned Abe Fox (NC), 4:00
133 – Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) pinned Brandon Gallagher (NC), 4:02
141 – Mark Erickson (NDSU) maj. dec. Nick Adams (NC), 13-5
149 – Joe Garner (NDSU) tech. fall-4 Nick Alspaugh (NC), 22-7
157 – Mitchell Polkowske (NC) tech. fall Tanner Carlisle (NDSU), 16-1
165 – No. 6 Steven Monk (NDSU) pinned Iver Sandoval (NC), 2:31
174 – Jesse Nielsen (NC) dec. Hayden Zillmer (NDSU), 7-6
184 – Mac Stoll (NDSU) dec. Keith Johnson (NC), 10-3
197 – Kallen Kleinschmidt (NDSU) maj. dec. Cody McAninch (NC), 16-3
Live Video vs. Utah Valley | Live Results vs. Utah Valley
Live Results vs. Northern Colorado
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