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Pike Places 4th, Kraemer 6th as Bison finish 13th at Las Vegas Invitational
December 6, 2003
LAS VEGAS, NV--North Dakota State's wrestling team had two placewinners in the Las Vegas Invitational this weekend for the first time in six years.
The Bison finished 13th in the final team standings--higher than any other Division II team in Las Vegas for the fourth straight year.
Senior All-American THAD PIKE (Hayfield, MN) was fourth at 174 pounds. He lost a 5-3 decision to nationally ranked Nate Yetzer of Division I Edinboro (PA) in Saturday's third-place match. Pike dropped to 4-2 on the season, while Yetzer upped his record to 15-1 with the victory.
Three-time All-American BRIAN KRAEMER (Cold Spring, MN) finished sixth at 197 pounds for the Herd. Kraemer (9-4) won by forfeit early Sunday before defeating Illinois‚ Jason Potter 9-8 and then forfeiting the fifth-place match.
Pike, ranked second in Division II, is NDSU's top finisher in the Las Vegas Invitational since three-time NCAA champion Steve Saxlund placed second at 184 pounds in 2000.
Pike was 3-0 entering Saturday's semifinal round after a thrilling win by fall over highly rated Illinois wrestler Pete Freidl on Friday night.
Pike lost by fall to Missouri's Ben Askren in 2 minutes, 19 seconds in his first match Saturday and rebounded to defeat Arizona State's Ron Renzi 8-4 in the consolation bracket to move into the final round.
Kraemer, who placed eighth in Las Vegas a year ago, was 5-2 with two pins in this year's tournament. He was 5-3 with four pins en route to last year's finish.
North Dakota State's top-20 finish is the Herd's fourth straight at the Las Vegas Invitational. The Bison were 16th in 2000 and 2001 before an 18th place last year.
NDSU has not placed two wrestlers at Las Vegas since 1997 when Ryan Wolters was sixth at 190 pounds and Wayne Mooney was seventh at 150.
Only four of the 40 wrestlers in the final session were from non-Division I teams. Pike was one of three Division II wrestlers joined by 197-pound champion Emmett Willson of NAIA Montana State-Northern.
The Bison are at the St. Cloud State Invite on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Final Team Scores