Sykora beats Schwartz as North Dakota State wins Big 12 road match over Northern Colorado 25-12
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Cam Sykora of NDSU (bottom) keeps control in a scramble against Mosha Schwartz of UNC at 133 pounds. Photo by Patricia Fox.
GREELEY, Colo. – Winning seven of the 10 matches, North Dakota State claimed a road Big 12 victory over Northern Colorado, 25-12 on Saturday.
The Bison put together four straight wins in the early part of the dual meet, then three of the last five bouts to put together a solid win heading into the last portion of the season, moving its record to 5-3, and 2-1 in the Big 12.
After the dual meet had been clinched, in the final bout of the day, NDSU claimed the lone showdown between ranked wrestlers, as #10 Cam Sykora edged #17 freshman Mosha Schwartz, 12-10 in sudden death overtime. The fans got their money worth in an exciting and interesting battle.
The first period had its share of fireworks, with Schwartz leading 8-6. Schwartz scored the first two takedowns, followed by Sykora takedowns, to make it 4-2. Sykora got behind off a front headlock, then scored a two-point tilt, to lead 6-4. However, a Schwartz reversal and two-point near fall gave him the 8-6 edge.
The second period ended up tied at 9-9, with a Sykora escape and takedown followed by a Schwartz escape. In the third, Sykora rode Schwartz the entire period, but was hit with a stalling penalty making it 10-9. However Sykora’s riding time made it 10-10, forcing overtime. Sykora was able to get off the first good shot in sudden victory, converting the takedown for the high-drama victory.
The dual started at 141 pounds, and UNC came out on fire, when Brody Lamb followed up the initial takedown by locking up a cradle and pinning Dylan Droegemueller in 1:12.
The Bison bounced back hard and took control with four straight wins before intermission to lead 16-6.
The run started with an 8-5 overtime win by Jaden Van Maanen over Ethan Leake at 149 pounds. Van Maanen was tough on top sinking in the legs, but Leake scored a takedown with 20 seconds left to tie 5-5. Nickerson challenged the riding time, and the official took two seconds off, meaning Van Maanen missed riding time by the two seconds. In overtime, there was no takedown. Van Maanen scored an escape to make it 6-5, and then from the top in the next period, he scored a two-time tilt for the win.
NDSU then had two straight wins from ranked wrestlers. No. 16 Jared Franek scored a pair of first-period takedowns, added three more takedowns and secured 4:39 of riding time for a 13-2 major decision over Jordan Robison at 157.
Next up was No. 10 Andrew Fogarty at 165, who scored a takedown, sunk in legs, got a four-point near fall, then pressed Macoy Flanagan for a pin in 2:12.
NDSU coach Roger Kish moved Austin Brenner up a weight, where he was in command for a 7-3 win over Billy Higgins at 174. Brenner scored a pair of takedowns and added a third period reversal to keep the edge the entire bout.
The Bears came back from break, getting a solid 12-5 win at 184 by No. 22 Alan Clothier over Noah Cressell. The first takedown went to Cressell, but Clothier was able to escape and score a takedown for a 3-2 lead after one. A second period takedown put Clothier up 5-3. In the third, Clothier scored a pair of takedowns and attempted to secure a major decision, but could not get that final takedown, adding a stall point and riding time for the final 12-5 win.
At 197, Cordell Eaton of NDSU scored the only two takedowns of the match, holding Seth Bogulski to three escapes for a 5-3 victory.
No. 22 Brandon Metz clinched the dual meet win, for the Bison with a 4-2 win at heavyweight over Robert Winters, Jr. Metz scored the only takedown of the bout in the first period along with an escape and riding time, holding Winters to just two escapes.
The Bears won a close battle at 125, as Jace Koelzer scored a late takedown, with near fall points, to secure a clutch 5-2 win over McGwire Midkiff.
Then, closing out the battle was the back-and-forth match at 133 pounds, giving the fans an excellent match with talented athletes on display to close out the day.
All four of the Bison’s ranked wrestlers won their matches, something that will continue to help the program in the back stretch of the season.
It has tale of two seasons for Northern Colorado, which dropped to 1-6 in dual meets and 1-3 in Big 12 action. The Bears have had strong performances at big events such as the Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle to show some of the talent on the squad.
UNC Coach Troy Nickerson noted seven possible starters out of action today, including three nationally ranked stars, Andrew Alirez (149), Jacob Seely (197) and Dalton Robertson (285). Nickerson expects all of those injured to be back on the mat during the stretch of their final four dual meets, and ready for action in time for the Big 12 Championships next month.
Interviews with coaches Kish and Nickerson, plus an interview with UNC wrestlers Koelzer and Lamb, will be posted later today.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 25, NORTHERN COLORADO 12
At Greeley, Colo.,
141 -- Brody Lamb (UNC) pin Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 1:12
149 -- Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) dec. Ethan Leake (UNC), 8-5 OT
157-- #16 Jared Franek (NDSU) maj. dec. Jordan Robison (UNC), 14-2
165 -- #10 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) pin Macoy Flanagan (UNC), 2:12
174 – Austin Brenner (NDSU) dec. Billy Higgins (UNC), 8-3
184 -- #22 Alan Clothier (UNC) dec. Noah Cressell (NDSU), 12-5
197 -- Cordell Eaton (NDSU) dec. Seth Bogulski (UNC), 5-3
285 -- #27 Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec. Robert Winters Jr. (UNC), 4-2
125 -- Jace Koelzer (UNC) dec. McGwire Midkiff (NDSU), 5-2
133 -– #10 Cam Sykora (NDSU) dec. #17 Mosha Schwartz (UNC), 12-10 SV
GREELEY, Colo. – Winning seven of the 10 matches, North Dakota State claimed a road Big 12 victory over Northern Colorado, 25-12 on Saturday.
The Bison put together four straight wins in the early part of the dual meet, then three of the last five bouts to put together a solid win heading into the last portion of the season, moving its record to 5-3, and 2-1 in the Big 12.
After the dual meet had been clinched, in the final bout of the day, NDSU claimed the lone showdown between ranked wrestlers, as #10 Cam Sykora edged #17 freshman Mosha Schwartz, 12-10 in sudden death overtime. The fans got their money worth in an exciting and interesting battle.
The first period had its share of fireworks, with Schwartz leading 8-6. Schwartz scored the first two takedowns, followed by Sykora takedowns, to make it 4-2. Sykora got behind off a front headlock, then scored a two-point tilt, to lead 6-4. However, a Schwartz reversal and two-point near fall gave him the 8-6 edge.
The second period ended up tied at 9-9, with a Sykora escape and takedown followed by a Schwartz escape. In the third, Sykora rode Schwartz the entire period, but was hit with a stalling penalty making it 10-9. However Sykora’s riding time made it 10-10, forcing overtime. Sykora was able to get off the first good shot in sudden victory, converting the takedown for the high-drama victory.
The dual started at 141 pounds, and UNC came out on fire, when Brody Lamb followed up the initial takedown by locking up a cradle and pinning Dylan Droegemueller in 1:12.
The Bison bounced back hard and took control with four straight wins before intermission to lead 16-6.
The run started with an 8-5 overtime win by Jaden Van Maanen over Ethan Leake at 149 pounds. Van Maanen was tough on top sinking in the legs, but Leake scored a takedown with 20 seconds left to tie 5-5. Nickerson challenged the riding time, and the official took two seconds off, meaning Van Maanen missed riding time by the two seconds. In overtime, there was no takedown. Van Maanen scored an escape to make it 6-5, and then from the top in the next period, he scored a two-time tilt for the win.
NDSU then had two straight wins from ranked wrestlers. No. 16 Jared Franek scored a pair of first-period takedowns, added three more takedowns and secured 4:39 of riding time for a 13-2 major decision over Jordan Robison at 157.
Next up was No. 10 Andrew Fogarty at 165, who scored a takedown, sunk in legs, got a four-point near fall, then pressed Macoy Flanagan for a pin in 2:12.
NDSU coach Roger Kish moved Austin Brenner up a weight, where he was in command for a 7-3 win over Billy Higgins at 174. Brenner scored a pair of takedowns and added a third period reversal to keep the edge the entire bout.
The Bears came back from break, getting a solid 12-5 win at 184 by No. 22 Alan Clothier over Noah Cressell. The first takedown went to Cressell, but Clothier was able to escape and score a takedown for a 3-2 lead after one. A second period takedown put Clothier up 5-3. In the third, Clothier scored a pair of takedowns and attempted to secure a major decision, but could not get that final takedown, adding a stall point and riding time for the final 12-5 win.
At 197, Cordell Eaton of NDSU scored the only two takedowns of the match, holding Seth Bogulski to three escapes for a 5-3 victory.
No. 22 Brandon Metz clinched the dual meet win, for the Bison with a 4-2 win at heavyweight over Robert Winters, Jr. Metz scored the only takedown of the bout in the first period along with an escape and riding time, holding Winters to just two escapes.
The Bears won a close battle at 125, as Jace Koelzer scored a late takedown, with near fall points, to secure a clutch 5-2 win over McGwire Midkiff.
Then, closing out the battle was the back-and-forth match at 133 pounds, giving the fans an excellent match with talented athletes on display to close out the day.
All four of the Bison’s ranked wrestlers won their matches, something that will continue to help the program in the back stretch of the season.
It has tale of two seasons for Northern Colorado, which dropped to 1-6 in dual meets and 1-3 in Big 12 action. The Bears have had strong performances at big events such as the Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle to show some of the talent on the squad.
UNC Coach Troy Nickerson noted seven possible starters out of action today, including three nationally ranked stars, Andrew Alirez (149), Jacob Seely (197) and Dalton Robertson (285). Nickerson expects all of those injured to be back on the mat during the stretch of their final four dual meets, and ready for action in time for the Big 12 Championships next month.
Interviews with coaches Kish and Nickerson, plus an interview with UNC wrestlers Koelzer and Lamb, will be posted later today.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 25, NORTHERN COLORADO 12
At Greeley, Colo.,
141 -- Brody Lamb (UNC) pin Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 1:12
149 -- Jaden Van Maanen (NDSU) dec. Ethan Leake (UNC), 8-5 OT
157-- #16 Jared Franek (NDSU) maj. dec. Jordan Robison (UNC), 14-2
165 -- #10 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) pin Macoy Flanagan (UNC), 2:12
174 – Austin Brenner (NDSU) dec. Billy Higgins (UNC), 8-3
184 -- #22 Alan Clothier (UNC) dec. Noah Cressell (NDSU), 12-5
197 -- Cordell Eaton (NDSU) dec. Seth Bogulski (UNC), 5-3
285 -- #27 Brandon Metz (NDSU) dec. Robert Winters Jr. (UNC), 4-2
125 -- Jace Koelzer (UNC) dec. McGwire Midkiff (NDSU), 5-2
133 -– #10 Cam Sykora (NDSU) dec. #17 Mosha Schwartz (UNC), 12-10 SV
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