On Friday night, North Dakota State Wrestling headed south for Greeley, Colorado, to pick up their second win on the season in a 29-12 domination of the Northern Colorado Bears, who rank 26th nationally in the latest AP poll. The Bison would only suffer three losses to their seven wins. Eighth-ranked 125 wrestler Stevo Poulin defeated NDSU’s Tristian Daughtery in a 6-3 decision. 25th-ranked Kyle Burwick would pick up five points for the Bison in his 15-0 tech fall over the Bears Mikai Alirez. Next, at 141 NDSU, Gideon Cole would fall to second nationally ranked Andrew Alirez at 2:30. It was a tough draw for the Bison to get such a decorated wrestler with a 100% win rate during the season.

Gavin Drexler, who ranks 29th nationally in his class, defeated Benji Alanis in an 8-0 major decision to secure the final 4 points for North Dakota State. Maxwell Peterson secured the Bison’s first four points with a 12-2 major decision at 157 over Northern Colorado’s Roman Cruz. Boeden Greenley would secure back-to-back wins for the Bison with his 12-5 decision over Clayton Ulrey at 165 to increase the Bison’s lead to 7-0. At 174, Devin Wasley increased NDSU’s lead to 13 with his 3:13 fall over Aydin Rix-McElhinney. For the Bison’s fourth win in a row, Aidan Brenot secured a 12-2 major decision over the Bears AJ Heeg at 184. Northern Colorados Franklin Cruz would give North Dakota State their first loss of the meet with his 12-5 major decision over Tayshaun  Glover. Cruz secured Northern Colorado’s first three points with this win. And finally, at 285, big man Drew Blackburn-Forst got NDSU back on the winning wagon with his 7-3 decision over the Bears Jose Valdez. 

The 29-12 victory is the second win for the Bison this season after securing a 22-16 victory over Campbell in Florida over winter break. Also, on that trip in the warm weather, NDSU fell short by just one point of the West Virginia Mountaineers 21-22 in a heartbreaking defeat over a nationally ranked team. 

Then, on Sunday afternoon, North Dakota State headed to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy. The Bison would win this meet 25-12 to secure a successful road trip to Colorado. The Bison dominated the military academy with seven wins, with Tristan Daughtery securing an 8-1 sudden victory win over Bubba Wright to secure the Bison three points. Kyle Burwick picked up five points over Gavin Caprella in a 15-0 tech fall. Gideon Cole would suffer the Bison’s first loss as Carter Nogle secured a fall victory at 4:11 to make the 8-6. Gavin Drexler secured a 12-6 major decision victory over Alec Viduya, adding 4 points to NDSU’s total. 

Max Petersen beat EJ Beloncik with a 17-6 major decision. Boeden Greenley won a 7-4 narrow decision to add to the North Dakota State lead. Devin Wasley won another close bout with a 7-3 decision to give the Bison a 22-6 lead over the Falcons. Aidan Brenot and Andrew McMongale both suffered losses via decision. The final match was Drew Blackburn-Forst, who would pick up the final victory for NDSU with an 8-3 decision to secure the Bison’s undefeated road trip to Colorado. 

NDSU has three home meets coming up: Wyoming, Utah Valley, and Northern Iowa, all coming to the Scheels Center between the 29th of January and the 8th of February.