Photo: IAwrestle

If the North Dakota State coaching staff went into this summer with the goal of adding Iowa talent, head coach Roger Kish must be pretty happy with the early returns.  This evening, the Bison received a verbal from McGwire Midkiff of Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, a three time state place winner and state runner up at 113 pounds last season.  Midkiff is the second Iowa prep wrestler to commit to NDSU for the class of 2017, joining Creston’s Chase Schiltz.  Midkiff is the second Council Bluffs Jefferson wrestler to commit to North Dakota State in the last year.  When he arrives on campus in 2017, Midkiff will be reunited with high school teammate Colton Clingenpeel, who is a freshman for the Bison this season.

On the mat, Midkiff was eighth as a freshman and fifth as a sophomore before his runner-up finish last season.  He has a career record of 145-23, and is currently ranked by IAWrestle.com as the #22 overall wrestler in the state.  Other schools on his short list were  Northern Iowa, Columbia, and Lindenwood.  IAWrestle spoke with Midkiff this evening and asked about his decision to join the Bison:

“I chose NDSU because it was very clear that the coaching staff is just as committed to me as I am to them. I plan to be a big part of their program for the next five years and they have the same plan for me”