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2003 Cliff Keen/NWCA National Dual Meet Championships
January 19, 2003 at St. John Arena - Columbus, Ohio
North Dakota State registered a pair of major decisions and Bison heavyweight Joe Bryce earned his second pin of the tournament as No. 3-ranked NDSU defeated seventh-ranked South Dakota State 26-16 for seventh place at the NWCA National Duals on Sunday at Ohio State University's St. John Arena.
The Bison rebounded from a disappointing 36-8 loss Saturday night to No. 8 San Francisco State in which NDSU had one wrestler disqualified and the Bison forfeited the final three bouts.
NDSU opened a 9-0 lead early on SDSU thanks to a forfeit at 125 pounds and a 6-0 decision at 133 by Nick Magee. The Jackrabbits pulled within three points on back-to-back 7-2 wins by fourth-ranked Jeremy Roe and Jared Barnes at 141 and 149, respectively.
Paul Carlson answered with a major decision at 157, Mike Fiedler pulled off a 14-11 win at 165, and Thad Pike rolled up a 12-2 win at 174 to extend the Herd's lead to 20-6.
North Dakota State was just a few individual wins away from the consolation semifinals and a subsequent shot at the third-place match midway through Saturday night's dual with San Francisco State.
Carlson's 17-1 romp over Cleveland Berto at 157 pulled NDSU within a point at 9-8 halfway through the battle. But Josh McDonald outlasted Fiedler by a 1-0 count at 165 and Pike was disqualified at 174, pushing SFSU's lead to 18-8.
The Bison conceded victory at 184 when SFSU sent No. 1-ranked and defending NCAA champion Mauricio Wright to the mat. Facing a 16-point deficit, NDSU forfeited the final two bouts.
North Dakota State and South Dakota State will square off again Friday night when the teams return to North Central Conference action at the Bison Sports Arena. Action begins at 7:30 p.m.