There should be a lot of new faces in the lineup for North Dakota State next season, and for those fans looking for a sneak peek at where this years redshirts-plus incoming freshman recruit Jared Franek- stand against the nation’s best wrestlers at their age group, look no further than UWW Junior Nationals this weekend.  11 wrestlers with Bison ties are entered to compete this weekend including three West Fargo High School graduates.  Brandon Metz and Jesse Shearer, fresh off strong redshirt seasons with the Bison, are entered at 125 KG and 79 KG respectively.  Four time North Dakota state champion, Cadet national champion and Junior national runner-up Jared Franek will compete at 70 KG.  Metz is the lone member of the Bison Wrestling Club competing in both the Greco Roman and Freestyle portions of the Junior tournament. The former USA junior national champion will look to grab double titles in a strong field that will include highly touted California high schools senior Seth Nevills among others.  Franek’s 70 KG weight class should be the most intriguing of the tournament.  Highly ranked high school stars Brayton Lee, David Carr, and Jacori Teemer will be joined by super-redshirts Austin O’Connor (North Carolina) and Brady Berge (Penn State) to make the weight a true gauntlet for a wrestler of Franek’s caliber to navigate.

Minnesota State Moorhead is also sending two wrestlers with their Dragon wrestling club in 2X North Dakota State champion Mason Schulz and 125 Cole Jones.  Both are entered in Greco and Freestyle portions of the tournament.

What: 2018 Marine Corps – UWW Junior Nationals
When: Thursday April 26th – Saturday April 28th
Where: South Point Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada

In Greco – Winners of the Junior Nationals event at each weight class will earn an automatic berth to the best-of-three wrestle-off against the challenge tournament champion.  The 2018 UWW Junior Greco World Team Trails will take place June 8th, 2018 in Indianapolis, IN

UWW Junior Freestyle

57 KG Cole Jones MSUM Dragons

57 KG Paul Bianchi Bison Wrestling Club

61 KG McGwire Midkiff Bison Wrestling Club

61 KG Sawyer Degen Bison Wrestling Club

65 KG Austin Braun Bison Wrestling Club

65 KG Gavin Sutton Bison Wrestling Club

65 KG Mason Schulz MSUM Dragons

70 KG Jaden Van Maanen Bison Wrestling Club

70 KG Jared Franek Unattached

74 KG Nicholas Knutson Bison Wrestling CLub

79 KG Jesse Shearer Bison Wrestling Club

86 KG Michael Otomo Bison Wrestling Club

125 KG Brandon Metz Bison Wrestling Club

UWW Junior Greco

55 KG Cole Jones MSUM Dragons

63 KG Mason Schulz MSUM Dragons

125 KG Branon Metz Bison Wrestling Club