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2/2/04
North Dakota State will be looking to extend its North Central Conference wrestling record to 4-0 on Saturday night when the Bison travel to Brookings to face South Dakota State at Frost Arena. Matches begin at 7 p.m. It will be the beginning of a slower stretch of schedule for the Bison, who have a 10-0 record since Jan. 11.
THE SERIES: This will be the 47th meeting between the Bison and Jackrabbits. North Dakota State leads the series 30-16 and has won seven in a row, including two meets last year. South Dakota State‚s last win was a 24-10 decision in Fargo during the 1996-97 season.
ABOUT SDSU: The Jackrabbits are 3-7 overall and 1-2 in the North Central Conference, tied for fourth place with Augustana. SDSU is young. There are 11 underclassmen in the probable lineup for Saturday night. Jason Liles is in his 11th year as the Jacks‚ head coach. He has a record of 104-58-1 at SDSU and a career coaching record of 193-93-1 including nine years at Montana State-Northern.
LONG-AWAITED REST: After wrestling 10 times since Jan. 11, the Bison have only one dual meet in the next 12 days. After Saturday‚s meet at South Dakota State, the Bison will be off until the following weekend when they travel to the Air Force Academy and Northern Colorado.
BRYCE KEY CONTRIBUTOR: Bison heavyweight Joe Bryce has been a stronghold in the NDSU lineup the past few weeks. Bryce has won 12 of his last 14 matches with the only losses coming to the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked wrestlers in Division II. Bryce is third in the latest rankings. His 5-1 overtime win at Augsburg on Tuesday ensured NDSU‚s 18-13 win over the Auggies, and his pin Sunday against Augustana helped the Bison pull away from a one-point lead to a 24-15 win over the Vikings.
KRAEMER SLIPS TO FOURTH: Three-time NCAA All-American Brian Kraemer (197) slipped to fourth in the Division II rankings issued last Wednesday issued by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Kraemer‚s 4-3 loss to No. 3-ranked Kevin Lochner of Central Oklahoma at the National Duals prompted that change.
CAREER WIN LIST CHASE: Three senior Bison wrestlers this season are closing in on NDSU‚s top 10 list for career victories. Brian Kraemer (91-44), Paul Carlson (89-36) and Mike Fiedler (87-34) are the wrestlers in reach of the top 10 at North Dakota State. Tenth place is 97 wins, belonging to Matt Strawser (1999-2003).
BISON WINNING STREAKS: The Bison have a 15-match overall winning streak intact dating back to last season. North Dakota State is 4-0 on its home mat this year and the Bison have won 16 straight duals at the Bison Sports Arena dating back to the 2000-01 season when Division III power Augsburg defeated NDSU 19-12 in Fargo.
NCC WINNING STREAK: North Dakota State is 3-0 in the North Central Conference this year, and the Bison have won 19 straight matches in the conference dating back to a 22-12 loss at Nebraska-Omaha in 2000-01.
AROUND THE NORTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE: North Dakota State holds first place with only two conference meets remaining. NDSU and SDSU have the only scheduled NCC dual this week. Nebraska-Omaha will be at Central Oklahoma in a featured non-conference affair.
*North Central Conference duals