Jared Franek’s time in the Bison lineup appears to be upon us.  Franek used a beautiful fireman’s carry to take a 7-5 lead in the third period against last year’s 157 Luke Weber to get the Green/Gold scrimmage victory.  Franek scored the match’s first takedown, but Weber countered with a takedown of his own when Franek went erred in rushing a cradle on a go-behind attempt.  Weber made Franek pay for his error and knotted the match heading into the third period, but in the end Franek’s neutral positioning was too much. Though there is no obligation in using this result to dictate the starting lineup, it now seems likely that West Fargo product Franek will make his Bison debut at home to Cal State-Bakersfield Sunday, November 3.  Bakersfield is looking at three wrestlers to fill their 157 slot, so expect Franek to potentially put on a show.

Missouri native Jimmy Noel came out of nowhere to win the four-man bracket at 174.  Noel defefated NCAA qualifier Lorenzo De La Riva via injury default before edging West Fargo’s Jesse Shearer 7-5 in the final.  Shearer edged Michael Otomo to get the spot.  Sawyer Degen navigated the four man bracket to win at 141.  Degen defeated Sam Stuhl 3-2 and Dylan Droegemueller 5-2 along the way.

Green 27, Gold 24
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019
Scheels Center / Fargo, N.D.
1-141—Sawyer Degen (GOLD) dec Sam Stuhl (GREEN), 3-2
2-141—Dylan Droegemueller (GREEN) dec Sam Hampton (GOLD), 8-5
3-157—Luke Weber (GREEN) dec. Nick Knutson (GOLD), 6-2
4-174—Jimmy Noel (GOLD) inj. def. #24 Lorenzo De La Riva (GREEN), INJ 2:12
5-174—Jesse Shearer (GOLD) dec Michael Otomo (GREEN), 7-5
6-125—McGwire Midkiff (GREEN) dec Corey Gamet (GOLD), 8-2
7-149—Jaden Van Maanen (GREEN) major dec Austin Braun (GOLD), MD 10-0
8-165—#8 Andrew Fogarty (GREEN) dec Austin Brenner (GOLD), 6-5
9-184—TJ Pottinger (GOLD) sudden victory-1 Noah Cressell (GREEN), SV-1 7-5
10-197—Cordell Eaton (GREEN) dec Cole Witzig (GOLD), 5-2
11-285—#27 Brandon Metz fall (GREEN) fall Michael Nelson (GOLD), 2:33
12-141—Sawyer Degen (GOLD) dec Dylan Droegemueller (GREEN), 5-2
13-174—Jimmy Noel (GOLD) sudden victory-1 Jesse Shearer (GREEN), SV-1 7-5
14-157—Jared Franek (GOLD) dec Luke Weber (GREEN), 7-5
15-149—Jaden Van Maanen (GREEN) dec Michael Nelson (GOLD), 3-0
Attendance—203
Referee—Guy Kimball
# Track Wrestling rankings