Sprenkle Tops No. 5 Thorn of Minnesota, Earns WWC Wrestler of the Week

North Dakota State senior 125-pounder Trent Sprenkle has been named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week following a 3-0 day at the Bison Quad on Nov. 24 in which he defeated the nation's No. 5-ranked wrestler, David Thorn of Minnesota.

Sprenkle defeated two returning NCAA qualifiers on Nov. 24 in Minnesota's Thorn and Jared Germaine of Eastern Michigan. He opened the day with a pin of Julian Valhuerdi of Itasca Community College in 2:58.

In a showdown of two wrestlers ranked among the nation's top six, Sprenkle scored an escape with five seconds remaining to defeat the No. 5-ranked Thorn of top-ranked Minnesota, 4-3. Sprenkle closed out the day with an 8-3 decision of Germaine, a 2012 NCAA Championships qualifier.

In the dual with Minnesota, Sprenkle sparked NDSU to four match victories and 12 team points - the most totaled by any team against the top-ranked Gophers this season.

With the undefeated day at the Bison Quad, the Billings, Mont., native ran his season record to 8-0 with five pins.

The WWC honor is Sprenkle's first of the season and second of his career.

Sprenkle owns 83 career victories for NDSU, leaving him just 17 shy of becoming the eighth wrestler in North Dakota State history to compile 100 or more wins.

The Bison travel to Las Vegas this weekend for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational on Nov. 30-Dec. 1.