FARGO, N.D. – Utah Valley wrestling defeated North Dakota State on Saturday night, 24-19, inside the Sheels Center. UVU (6-7, 2-4) won four consecutive matches by major decisions led by No. 4 Terrell Barraclough before Mark Takara, Caleb Uhlenhopp, and Kael Bennie added major decisions. NDSU (3-8, 2-4) picked up all three of their four wins with ranked wrestlers.
 
"A back-and-forth battle tonight against a gritty NDSU team ended our way. We caught a lot of momentum in the second half, thanks to Terrell Barraclough getting us rolling. We are excited to finally be back home next week and eager to put on a show for our fans. Go Wolverines!" said head coach Adam Hall.
 
Bridger Ricks fought Tristan Daugherty through a scoreless first before choosing bottom to start the second and going up 1-0 after an escape. Later in the period, the lead was extended to 4-0 with a takedown. Each competitor scored a point in the final frame, with NDSU picking one up via a penalty point and UVU earning the riding time point.
 
Two-time NCAA qualifier at Wisconsin and currently No. 24 Kyle Burwick got the Bison on the board with their first of three wins by ranked wrestlers on the night. He defeated Kase Mauger by pin in 4:10. No. 19 Haiden Drury completed a 2-0 weekend with a technical fall. He pulled away during a ten-point third period that featured three takedowns and a riding time point. With the win tonight, Drury moved into the Top 10 in dual victories. It's his 26^th career dual victory.
 
North Dakota State trailed 8-6, heading to 149, with No. 25 Gavin Drexler entering the dual, having three straight matches by major decision. He built a 6-1 lead after two periods before a five-point third period pushed the win into the 2024 NCAA qualifier's fourth straight major decision.
 
No. 33 Maxwell Petersen was Ryker Fullmer's fourth consecutive ranked foe. Early on, the talented UVU freshman pulled in front 3-2 before Petersen answered back in the second period. Fullmer battled back to tie the bout but fell on riding time. Fullmer has held close to his last three opponents, losing by two points or less in all three.
 
Barraclough won his third straight match with bonus points going back to his tech fall last week over Cooper Voorhees. Tonight, Barraclough recorded five takedowns, with three in the first period, to take a commanding lead early. The four team points narrowed the Bison lead to one, at 13-12.
 
The next three wins all came from the Wolverines and included bonus points. 174-pounder Takara led 3-1 early before three takedowns in the second period pushed his lead to12-3. NDSU's Devin Wasley could only score on escapes through two and couldn't come back. Uhlenhopp went up 3-0 before adding penalty points after stalling against NDSU's Andrew McMonagle. In the final period, he put it away with six points to push a decision into a 10-0 major decision and bonus points for UVU.
 
Bennie has won five of his last six matches, with his only loss since Cliff Keen came to No. 10 Joey Novak of Wyoming. Tonight, he led from start to finish, with a takedown in the first period before a reversal extended his lead to 5-0. In the final two minutes, the redshirt freshman earned bonus points after NDSU's Tayshaun Glover was called for stalling before one final takedown and riding time moved the final score to 10-1.
 
The Bison took the night's final bout at heavyweight as Andrew Blackburn-Forst pinned Jack Forbes.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley has three duals left on the regular season slate starting on Thursday, Feb. 6, against No. 21 West Virginia at Layton High School. They will return to Lockhart Arena on Friday, Feb. 7, for Air Force and (RV) Northern Colorado on Friday, Feb. 14.
 
Full Results
125 – Bridger Ricks (UVU) over Tristan Daugherty (NDSU), DEC 5-2                  3-0 UVU
133 – No. 24 Kyle Burwick (NDSU) over Kase Mauger (UVU), Fall (4:10)           6-3 NDSU
141 - #19 Haiden Drury (UVU) over Gideon Abel-Cole (NDSU), TF 20-4 (6:08)   8-6 UVU
149 - #25 Gavin Drexler (NDSU) over Smokey McClure (UVU), MD 11-1            10-8 NDSU
157 - #33 Maxwell Petersen (NDSU) over Ryker Fullmer (UVU), DEC 10-9         13-8 NDSU
165 – #4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) over Boeden Greenley (NDSU), MD 17-4     13-12 NDSU
174 – Mark Takara (UVU) over Devin Wasley (NDSU), MD 17-8                          16-13 UVU
184 – Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU) over Andrew McMonagle (NDSU), MD 10-0        20-13 UVU
197 – Kael Bennie (UVU) over Tayshawn Glover (NDSU), MD 10-1                     24-13 UVU
285 – Andrew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU) over Jack Forbes (UVU), Fall (1:58)        24-19 UVU
Ex: - Clay Radenz (NDSU) over Tyler Jones (UVU), MD 10-1