North Dakota State reclaims Border Bell with 20-13 victory at South Dakota State
NDSU rallied to win the final three matches, including an upset at 197 pounds, to beat No. 19 South Dakota State Sunday in Brookings.
BROOKINGS, S.D. — North Dakota State defeated No. 19 South Dakota State 20-13 Sunday at First Bank & Trust Arena.
No. 26 Ezekiel Witt opened the dual for the Bison with a 17-6 major decision at 125 pounds, recording takedowns in each period and a riding-time point to build the early margin.
South Dakota State answered with a sudden-victory win at 133 by Cale Seaton and a 10-5 decision at 141 from No. 17 Julian Tagg to move the Jackrabbits in front midway through the lineup.
North Dakota State regained momentum with a pair of bonus victories. Max Petersen, listed among the rankings at 149, posted a 16-7 major decision at 149. Gavin Drexler followed with a 6-3 decision at 157 over a ranked opponent, giving NDSU the lift it needed heading into the later weights.
South Dakota State struck back in the middle of the card when Marcus Espinoza-Owens scored a 16-4 major decision at 165, but the Bison closed the dual with three straight wins to take the dual.
Aidan Brenot produced an 8-2 decision at 184 to put North Dakota State ahead 14-13. Devin Wasley then turned the biggest result of the day, upsetting No. 4 Bennett Berge at 197, 9-5. According to bout timing data, Wasley recorded a second-period takedown (clock 35) and added a third-period takedown (clock 54), and Berge’s late reversal with 2 seconds remaining did not change the outcome.
With NDSU leading 17-13, Shilo Jones closed the dual at 285 with a 10-6 decision that included a late riding-time point to preserve the final margin.
The victory reclaimed the Border Bell trophy for North Dakota State and ended a multi-dual skid to their rival. The dual was contested Feb. 22 at South Dakota State University’s First Bank & Trust Arena.
The dual combined a string of ranked matchups—No. 26 Witt’s major decision and Wasley’s win over No. 4 Berge among them—with late-match takedowns and riding-time points deciding several bouts and swinging the team score in the Bison’s favor.
North Dakota State improved its result in the rivalry with the win; South Dakota State recorded individual wins in the early and middle weights but could not stop NDSU’s run in the final three bouts.