NDSU 2014-15 Wrestling Schedule

FARGO, N.D.—Home dual matches with Big Ten heavyweights, the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin, and the NCAA West Regional Championships highlight the 2014-15 North Dakota State University wrestling schedule.

There are nine home dates overall for NDSU this season including the 44th annual Bison Open on Saturday, Nov. 8, in the Fargodome. The Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse will serve as site for NDSU’s eight remaining home dates.

North Dakota State head coach Roger Kish returns six of 10 starters from last season including NCAA tournament qualifiers, seniors Kurtis Julson (174) and Evan Knutson (285), and Hayden Zillmer (184). The Bison went 11-7 in dual matches last season including a 4-1 record in the Western Wrestling Conference. NDSU won the NCAA West Regional and placed 21st at the NCAA Championships with 20.5 points behind the third place finish from All-American Steven Monk.

"We wanted to put together a tough schedule that would challenge our guys and help them prepare for the postseason," said Kish. "Our goal is to have the guys wrestle some tough opponents during the year and ultimately have them ready to perform at the NCAA Championships."

"We're confident that this schedule will allow our guys to be physically and mentally prepared going into the NCAA Tournament," said Kish.

North Dakota State takes on the Badgers at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. NDSU lost 23-17 at nationally-ranked Wisconsin in Madison last season. The Bison also host South Dakota State at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, the first of two meetings between the two rivals. NDSU closes out the regular season at SDSU on Feb. 22.

Minnesota visits North Dakota State at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, in the first round of the 16-team National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals. The National Dual winners advance to the University of Iowa for an eight-team bracket. The Gophers have won the last three National Duals.

North Dakota State opens Western Wrestling Conference action against the University of Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16. The Bison host Boise State at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, and Cal Poly at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23.

Prior to the National Duals, North Dakota State travels to conference foes Air Force (Jan. 30) and Wyoming (Feb. 1). The Bison entertain Utah Valley at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.

North Dakota State will be the host site for the 2015 NCAA West Regional Championships on Saturday, March 7 at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

The Bison crank things up on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Warren Williamson Daktronics Open, hosted by South Dakota State University, the first of four pre-conference tournaments.  NDSU also competes at the competitive Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Invitational on Dec. 5-6, and the Midlands Championships on Dec. 29-30, hosted by Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

North Dakota State’s early schedule also includes dual matches at the University of Virginia at 6 p.m. (CT), Saturday, Nov. 15, and at Virginia Tech with Gardner-Webb (N.C.) at 1 p.m. (CT) Sunday, Nov. 16.

Tickets for the Bison Open (Nov. 8), NWCA National Duals (Feb. 15) and NCAA West Regional (Mar. 7) are $12 for adult general admission and $5 for youth general admission (ages 3-17). Dual match tickets are $8 for adult general admission and $5 for youth general admission. Season tickets are $50 for adult general admission and $40 for youth general admission. NDSU students receive free admission by presenting your valid NDSU student ID at the door.

For more information, call the ticket office at (701) 231-6378 or (888) 231-6378 or email ndsu.bisontickets@ndsu.edu.

2014-15 North Dakota State University Wrestling Schedule

Date                       Meet                                               Location                                    Time

Nov. 2                    at Daktronics Open                   Brookings, S.D.                   All Day

Nov. 8                    Bison Open (Fargodome)       Fargo, N.D.                          All Day

Nov. 15                 at Virginia                                      Alexandria, Va.                    6 p.m.

Nov. 16                 at Virginia Tech                           Blacksburg, Va.                    1 p.m.

Nov. 16                 vs. Gardner-Webb                    Blacksburg, Va.                    1 p.m.

Nov. 30                 Wisconsin                                     Fargo, N.D.                            7 p.m.

Dec. 5-6                at Cliff Keen Invitational          Las Vegas, Nev.                  All Day

Dec. 14                  South Dakota State                   Fargo, N.D.                            2 p.m.

Dec. 29-30            at Midlands Championships  Evanston, Ill.                        All Day

Jan. 16                   * Northern Colorado                Fargo, N.D.                            7 p.m.

Jan. 18                   Boise State                                   Fargo, N.D.                            2 p.m.

Jan. 23                   Cal Poly                                          Fargo, N.D.                            7 p.m.

Jan. 30                   * at Air Force                               USAF Academy, Colo.       8 p.m.

Feb. 1                    * at Wyoming                              Laramie, Wyo.                      1 p.m.

Feb.  7                   * Utah Valley                              Fargo, N.D.                            7 p.m.

Feb. 15                  NWCA National Duals            Fargo, N.D.                            2 p.m.

                                 Minnesota                                   

Feb. 22                  * at South Dakota State          Brookings, S.D.                    2 p.m.

Mar. 7                    NCAA West Regional               Fargo, N.D.                          All Day

Mar. 19-21           at NCAA Championships         St. Louis, Mo.                      All Day

All times Central

Home dates in Bold

Bison Open at the Fargodome, other home dates at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse

* Western Wrestling Conference dual