Monk and Sprenkle Knocked Out of NCAA Championships

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - North Dakota State's Steven Monk and Trent Sprenkle were both eliminated from the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Friday, March 16.  Both wrestlers came up one win shy of obtaining All-America honors.

Sprenkle took on No. 2 seed Zach Sanders of Minnesota in sixth round of the 125 pound consolation bracket.  Sprenkle struck first, scoring a takedown less than 30 seconds into the bout.  Sanders scored an escape, but Sprenkle responded with a second period escape to take a 3-1 lead.  Sanders earned another escape and tied the match on a takedown at 4-4 in the third.  Sanders clinched the 5-4 win thanks to a bonus point for one minute five seconds of riding time.

Sprenkle finished the tournament with a 3-2 record for the second straight year.  He finished the year with a 33-12 record.

At 157 pounds, the 12th seeded Monk wrestled the No. 11 seed James Green of Nebraska in the sixth round of the consolation bracket.  After a scoreless first period, Green struck first with a takedown with 41 seconds to go in the second period.  Monk scored an escape early in the third, but was unable to score a tying takedown.  Green picked up a point for riding time for the final 3-1 margin.

Monk finished his first tournament appearance with a 3-2 record.  He finished the year with a team-best 35-9 overall record.