NDSU Wrestling Falls in Dual Finale to SDSU

Fargo, N.D. – North Dakota State wrestling fell in the final dual of the season on Sunday, dropping a Big 12 match with South Dakota State, 23-10.
 
The Bison started the dual strong, picking up victories in the opening two matches of the day. Ezekiel Witt claimed a massive upset win at 125 before senior Kyle Burwick claimed a win at 133 in his final match in his home state of North Dakota.
 
In the 125-pound match, Witt knocked off No. 14 Tanner Jordan with a 3-2 decision. After an action packed scoreless first period, Jordan scored a reversal late in the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Witt then secured a takedown in the final seconds of the third period to win the match.
 
Burwick then secured another ranked win for the Bison as he took down No. 32 Derrick Cardinal with a major decision, winning 18-7. Burwick started the scoring with a takedown and rideout in the first. He then added a four-point nearfall to start the second. Following a couple takedowns from Cardinal in the third, Burwick secured the match with a takedown and another four-point nearfall and rideout to end the match.
 
South Dakota State would go on a run, taking the next seven matches, but several Bison nearly forced overtime against their ranked opposition. Boeden Greenley secured a takedown against No. 12 Drake Rhodes in the final minute, but Rhodes pulled out a late escape to win 6-5 at 165 pounds.
 
Aidan Brenot also had a third period takedown against No. 5 Bennett Berge to tie his match at 4-4, but Berge escaped in the final 30 seconds and Brenot could not finish a shot in the final seconds, falling 5-4 at 184 pounds. Tayshaun Glover also had a reversal and a takedown against No. 14 Zach Glazier, but was unable to find a late takedown in an 8-6 loss at 197 pounds.
 
Drew Blackburn-Forst wrapped the dual with another upset for the Bison, as he secured a takedown and two reversals to defeat No. 27 Luke Rasmussen 7-5 in the heavyweight match.
 
With the conclusion of the dual schedule, the Bison will set their sights on the 2025 Big 12 Wrestling Championships. NDSU will make the trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma and the BOK Center for the Big 12 Championships, hosted March 8-9.
 
#13 South Dakota State 23, North Dakota State 10
February 23, 2025 | Scheels Center | Fargo, N.D. | Att: 609
125 | Ezekiel Witt (NDSU) over #14 Tanner Jordan (SDSU), Dec 3-2; NDSU 3-0
133 | #23 Kyle Burwick (NDSU) over #32 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU), MD 18-7; NDSU 7-0
141 | #25 Julian Tagg (SDSU) over Michael Olson (NDSU), Dec 5-0; NDSU 7-3
149 | Avery Allen (SDSU) over Gavin Drexler (NDSU), Dec 7-4; NDSU 7-6
157 | Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) over Clay Radenz (NDSU), MD 14-5; SDSU 10-7
165 | #12 Drake Rhodes (SDSU) over Boeden Greenley (NDSU), Dec 6-5; SDSU 13-7
174 | #8 Cade DeVos (SDSU) over Devin Wasley (NDSU), MD 14-2; SDSU 17-7
184 | #5 Bennett Berge (SDSU) over #31 Aidan Brenot (NDSU), Dec 5-4; SDSU 20-7
197 | #14 Zach Glazier (SDSU) over Tayshaun Glover (NDSU), Dec 8-6; SDSU 23-7
285 | Drew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU) over #27 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU), Dec 7-5; SDSU 23-10