January 23, 2008

Wrestling Hosts North Dakota State

Jan. 23, 2008

Weekly Release: North Dakota State Get Acrobat Reader

 

Dual #9

North Dakota State (6-7, 0-0 WWC) at Northern Colorado (3-5, 1-1 WWC)

Saturday, January 26 • Greeley, Colo. • Butler-Hancock • 2:00 p.m.

 

Rematch

Northern Colorado will wrestle North Dakota State for the second time this season when they host the Bison on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. At the Northern Quadrangular on Nov. 24, the Bears fell 23-16 to the Bison in the first dual meet of the year. North Dakota State hosts South Dakota State before traveling to take on Northern Colorado on Saturday.

 

Series History

The Bison and Bears are very familiar with each other's programs as this will be the 31st meeting all-time with North Dakota State holding the 27-2-1 lead in the series. Head Coach Jack Maughan is 1-19-1 against the Bison and his father, NDSU head coach Bucky Maughan.

 

Evening The Record

Northern Colorado evened its record in Western Wrestling Conference action after falling 36-6 at Northern Iowa on Saturday. The Bears got victories from sophomore 125-pounder Tony Mustari and senior heavyweight Reece Hopkin, but were unable to win any of the other eight weight classes against the Panthers. Northern Iowa is back in the national rankings at #25 after the wins over NC and Wyoming.

 

Western Wrestling Conference

This is the second year of the Western Wrestling Conference, which includes Air Force, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley State and Wyoming. Last year, the Bears posted a 2-4 record and are 1-1 this season.

 

It's An Honor

Junior 149-pounder Daniel Prater was named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week, marking his first career honor. Prater, a 149-pounder from Pratt, Kan., posted a perfect 6-0 record in Oregon. He began the trip to the Northwest with a fall in 6:10 over Portland State's Alan Dickey. Against Oregon, he won a 2-0 decision over Jeremy McLaughlin to help the Bears defeat the Ducks 18-16. At the Oregon Classic, he won the 149-pound division, winning his opening bout with a pin in just 2:47 over Mike Sandoe. He then posted decisions in the quarterfinals and semifinals over wrestlers from Simon Fraser before winning by major decision in the finals, 13-2 over Norman Richmond. 

 

Unofficial Champions

Most of the sports at Northern Colorado compete in the Big Sky Conference, but the league does not sponsor wrestling, therefore the Bears are members of the Western Wrestling Conference. The only other Big Sky team to field a wrestling squad is Portland State, and with the Bears' 41-6 victory last week against the Vikings, Northern Colorado is the unofficial Big Sky Wrestling Champions for the second straight year.

 

Working His Way

The win over Dustin Bauman of Northern Iowa marked the 90th win of senior heavyweight Reece Hopkin's career.  He now sports a career record of 90-30, with a 20-5 mark this season. His next victory will tie him for sixth all-time at Northern Colorado with D.J. West (1978-83) and Marshall Hahn (1997-01). Two more wins will place him in a tie for fifth with Ted Gallegos (1990-94).

 

Honored

Senior heavyweight Reece Hopkin was named the Western Wrestling Conference wrestler of the week after posting a perfect 3-0 record at the Northern Quadrangular. 

 

That's Outstanding!

Sophomore Tony Mustari was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Old Chicago's Northern Colorado Open. Mustari won the 125-pound division, posting a perfect 4-0 record on the day, with two wins coming on pins. 

 

A New Bear

Head Coach Jack Maughan announced the signing of Ray Hall to a National Letter of Intent. Hall will enroll at Northern Colorado in Fall, 2008.

 

Ray Hall, 160-pounds, Kansas City, Mo. (Oak Park HS)

Hall has earned 10 letters for Oak Park High School, with three to date in wrestling and track & field and four in football. He currently has a record of 116-22 for the Northman and won the 2007 Missouri state championship after placing third as a sophomore and second as a freshman. At the 2007 Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach, Hall took fourth place and he is a four-time All-American. He is projected to wrestle at either 157 or 165 for the Bears.

 

A Look Ahead

After hosting North Dakota State on Saturday, the Bears will take 12 days off from competition, returning to the mats on February 8 hosting Utah Valley State in Butler-Hancock at 7:00 p.m.