FARGO, N.D. – Sophomore Tyler Johnson and junior Kenny Moenkedick led a strong North Dakota State contingent at the 39^th annual Bison Open Saturday, Nov. 14.  Johnson captured the 165 pound title, while Moenkedick shared the 184 pound title with his brother, Phil Moenkedick of Concordia.  The Bison had eight wrestlers finish in the top six at today’s meet.

At 165 pounds, Johnson won his second straight open title.  He also won the Daktronics Open last weekend.  He opened with a win by fall over Mary’s Tyler Nagel before defeating Northern State’s Donnie Bowden in a 12-6 decision.  He faced off against Minnesota’s Alec Ortiz (unattached) in the final.  With the match tied at 6-6 going into the third period, Ortiz earned a point on an escape, but then Johnson earned a point on the second stalling warning on Ortiz.  Johnson then used a last second takedown to clinch a 9-7 victory.

At 184 pounds, Moenkedick won a 7-3 decision over Minnesota State Moorhead’s Brian Woefel.  In the seminfinals, Moenkedick claimed a 8-2 decision over CD Johnson of Southwest Minnesota State.  For the second straight year, both Moenkedick brothers advanced to the final and shared the title.

Sophomore Trent Sprenkle (unattached) finished second at 125 pounds, dropping a 17-7 major decision in the final to Minnesota’s Zach Sanders (unattached).  Fellow sophomore Justin Solberg (unattached) was third at the same weight, defeating Corey Ulmer of Minnesota State Moorhead in the final, 7-1.

Senior Ryan Adams faced off against teammate junior Andrey Patselov at 149 pounds in the third place bout.  Adams got the better of Patselov, winning a 6-1decision.

At 157 pounds, redshirt freshman Tyler Wells finished second for the second straight meet.  After winning three straight decisions, he fell to Justin Skillings of St. Olaf’s (unattached) in the final by a 16-4 major decision.

Sophomore Drew Ross placed fourth at 197 pounds, losing to Mary’s Dusty Vliem by fall in the third place bout.

The Bison next travel to Omaha, Neb. for the Kaufman-Brand Open Saturday, Nov. 21 beginning at 10 a.m.