Bonus points lead to North Dakota State upset of #8 Nebraska in thriller in Lincoln

Photo by Benjamin Dishong

North Dakota State press release


LINCOLN, Neb. – The North Dakota State wrestling team opened up the 2022-23 season with a thrilling victory over No. 8 Nebraska Friday night, defeating the Huskers 20-16 at the Devaney Center.


The dual came down to a winner-take-all final match as NDSU led 17-16 headed into the heavyweight battle. Trailing 1-0, Juan Mora chose neutral headed into the third period and then secured a takedown in the final minute to take a 2-1 lead. Mora then rode out Nebraska's #28 Cale Davidson to secure victory for the Bison.


Both teams won five matches in the dual, but the Bison secured five bonus points to just one for Nebraska, as redshirt freshman Michael Caliendo secured a pin in his first collegiate dual at 165 and DJ Parker picked up a tech fall decision at 184 to give the Bison a 4-point edge.


Nebraska took the first two matches, as Carlos Negrete fell to #10 Liam Cronin 5-1 at 125 and McGwire Midkiff lost 6-2 to #24 Boo Dryden at 133.


#9 Dylan Droegemueller scored the first victory for the Bison, as he overcame an early takedown from #28 Brock Hardy to win a 10-4 decision at 141. Droegemueller responded with an escape and a takedown that led to a 4-point nearfall as he led 7-3 after the first. The senior then had an escape and takedown in the second period to help secure his victory.

Michael Weber then immediately followed with another big win, taking down Dayne Morton 3-2 in sudden victory to tie the match at 6-6. After a scoreless first, Weber rode out Morton in the second, securing two minutes of riding time. In the third Weber escaped early, securing a riding time point for a 2-0 lead, but Morton picked up a takedown in the final second to force overtime. After a scoreless overtime, Weber picked up a quick escape and ultimately won 3-2 in the tiebreaker round.


Nebraska took a lead headed into overtime, as #4 Peyton Robb picked up a 7-4 decision over #9 Jared Franek.


Coming out of the halftime break, #19 Michael Caliendo swung momentum in the favor of the Bison as he secured a pin just 1:20 into the 165-pound match to lift the Bison into their first lead of the match, 12-9.


Nebraska would go back in front as #3 Mikey Labriola picked up a major decision win at 174 over Gaven Sax, winning 15-7 as Nebraska went up 13-12.


However, #31 DJ Parker would get the Bison back in front, this time for good, as he secured three 4-point nearfalls, including two in the final period to pick up a 17-2 win by tech fall over Brandyn Van Tassel at 184 pounds, as NDSU went up 17-13.


Nebraska would win at 197 as #27 Silas Alred defeated #21 Owen Pentz 4-2 in a sudden victory to set up the winner-take-all final match at heavyweight.


The Bison win snapped a six-dual losing skid to Nebraska, including two duals in the Division I era for NDSU.


North Dakota State also picked up their first ranked win since defeating #21 Stanford 28-13 on February 15, 2020 in Fargo. It is the second-highest ranked win in the program's D1 history, behind only a 25-22 win over No. 6 Boise State on January 15, 2010. It is the highest ranked win in a true road dual in program history.


Th Bison will now open up the home slate with the annual Bison Open on Saturday, November 12. The event will begin at 9 a.m. inside the Scheels Center. North Dakota State will jump back in to dual action on Friday, November 18 against Binghamton, also at the Scheels Center.

North Dakota State 20, Nebraska 16

Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 | Devaney Center | Lincoln, Neb.

125: #10 Liam Cronin (NEB) over Carlos Negrete Jr (NDSU) (Dec 5-1); NEB 3-0

133: #24 Boo Dryden (NEB) over McGwire Midkiff (NDSU) (Dec 6-2); NEB 6-0

141: #9 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU) over #28 Brock Hardy (NEB) (Dec 10-4); NEB 6-3

149: Michael Weber (NDSU) over Dayne Morton (NEB) (TB-1 3-2); Tied 6-6

157: #4 Peyton Robb (NEB) over #9 Jared Franek (NDSU) (Dec 7-4); NEB 9-6

165: #19 Michael Caliendo III (NDSU) over Jagger Condomitti (NEB) (Fall 1:20); NDSU 12-9

174: #3 Mikey Labriola (NEB) over Gaven Sax (NDSU) (MD 15-7); NEB 13-12

184: #31 DJ Parker (NDSU) over Brandyn Van Tassel (NEB) (TF 17-2 7:00); NDSU 17-13

197: #27 Silas Alred (NEB) over #21 Owen Pentz (NDSU) (SV-1 4-2); NDSU 17-16

285: Juan Mora (NDSU) over #28 Cale Davidson (NEB) (Dec 2-1); NDSU 20-16

Nebraska press release


Lincoln, Neb. - Despite five victories on the night in front of a crowd of 3,097 at the Devaney Center, the Huskers dropped their season-opening dual against NDSU, 20-16.


#20 Liam Cronin (125) started the night out with a win over Carlos Negrete Jr., 5-1. The two remained scoreless throughout the first period, but Cronin earned two points in the second with an escape and stalling called against Negrete Jr. In the third period, Negrete Jr. had an escape, but Cronin secured the victory with a takedown and the riding point.


In #24 Boo Dryden's (133) Husker debut, he secured a 6-2 decision over McGwire Midkiff. Dryden recorded three points in the second period with an escape and a takedown. Midkiff answered with a takedown of his own to enter the third period 3-2. With another takedown and the riding time point, Dryden cruised to the win.


#28 Brock Hardy (141) scored a quick takedown to open the match, but #9 Dylan Droegemueller answered with an escape, a takedown and near-fall points to go up 7-2. Droegemueller went on to record an additional takedown and escape to take the match, 10-4.


For the 149 weight-class, Dayne Morton and Michael Weber battled in the fourth bout of the night into 30-second tiebreakers. Weber had a takedown, but Morton had a big takedown as time expired in the third period. Weber's riding time point sent the wrestlers into sudden victory, where they went scoreless. In the extra periods, Weber pulled away with an escape to win the match, 3-2.


In the lone top-ten matchup of the night, #4 Peyton Robb (157) got on the board quickly with a takedown in the first 30 seconds. Robb stayed ahead of #9 Jared Franek throughout the three periods to seal the 7-4 victory. Maintaining control throughout, Robb had the riding time point secured at the end of the second period. Franek brought the score within one point in the final period with a takedown and escape, but Robb's final escape and riding time point put him ahead by three as time expired.


Jagger Condomitti (165) struck first with a takedown over #19 Michael Caliendo, but was pinned with 1:20 left in the first period.


Next, #3 Mikey Labriola (174) cruised to a major decision over Gaven Sax to bring the overall team score to 13-12. In the first period, Labriola had a pair of takedowns, while Sax answered with a pair of escapes to bring the score to 4-2. Sax had a stall warning and locked hands penalty to hand Labriola two more points. With another takedown, Labriola entered the second period up 8-3. Sax had an escape to open the final period, but Labriola overpowered him with a pair of takedowns, a four-point near fall and stalling called against Sax.


Brandyn Van Tassel (184) fell in a tough battle with #31 DJ Parker in the next bout. Entering the third period, Parker was ahead, 6-2. He used near-fall points to pull away and record the technical fall, 17-2.


#27 Silas Allred (197) powered himself to an upset over #21 Owen Pentz with a 4-2 win in sudden victory. Allred took the first points with a takedown in the last seconds of the first period. Pentz had an escape and the riding time point to tie it as the clock winded down in the third period. Allred's sudden victory takedown gave him the 4-2 edge to get the Big Red back on track.


With the Huskers trailing 17-16 overall, #28 Cale Davidson (HWT) took the mat against Juan Mora. Davidson had an escape in the second period, but Mora's takedown in the third helped him to win the match and seal the team win for North Dakota State.


NU will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 12 for the Journeymen Wranglemania. The team is set to face Army and NC State, beginning at 12 p.m. (CT).