NDSU Wrestling to Open Season in Virginia

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State wrestling program will open up the 2024-25 season on Friday, November 1, as the Bison make the trip to Charlottesville, Virginia to take on the Cavaliers. The dual is set for a 4 p.m. ET start on opening day of the NCAA Wrestling season.
 
The Bison will then head to Salem, Virginia for their first-ever appearance at the Southeast Open on Saturday, November 2. The event, hosted by Virginia Tech, will have multiple divisions with 14 Bison set to compete. NDSU will also send seven wrestlers to the Jimmie Open in Jamestown, N.D. on Saturday.
 
Coverage
Friday’s dual will not be streamed. The dual will have live results. Saturday’s trip to the Southeast Open will have live video and live results available through FloWrestling and FloArena. Links for coverage will be available on GoBison.com.
 
The Series
The Bison and Cavaliers meet for the seventh time in program history on Friday, with the first-ever dual coming on January 14, 2005. Virginia holds the series lead 4-2, including a 21-18 win in Fargo last season on December 2. It will be just the second all-time meeting in Charlottesville, with No. 10 Virginia winning 20-15 in the only other meeting on November 15, 2014. NDSU’s last win came against the No. 24 Cavaliers on January 13, 2017, with the Bison winning 27-13 at the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Virginia.
 
Three Bison in the Rankings
North Dakota State will have three wrestlers start the 2024-25 season in the national rankings. Returners Kellyn March and Max Petersen are each ranked, with March at No. 30 at 141 pounds and Petersen at No.31 at 149 pounds. Bison newcomer Kyle Burwick begins the season at No. 30 at 133 pounds.
 
Who’s Back?
The Bison return seven starters from the 2023-24 squad, including Kellyn March (141), Gavin Drexler (149), Max Petersen (149), Brendan Howes (165) and Adam Cherne (197). Boeden Greenley (157) and Aidan Brenot (184) also made starts last season as redshirts. The Bison have 11 total wrestlers returning from last season’s squad.
 
March Returns
Kellyn March will make his full return this week after missing the majority of last season with an injury. In his last full year, March was 25-9, including 5-9 against ranked competition. He recorded nine dual victories and also had seven pins, including one in the NCAA Championships. March has a 47-29 career record with 14 career falls. He has scored 91 dual team points for the Bison and enters the year with 377 career match points.
 
A Return Home for One Final Season
Five-time North Dakota state champion, Kyle Burwick, returns to his home state for his final year in 2024-25. Burwick wrestled his last two seasons at Nebraska after being a two-time NCAA qualifier at Wisconsin. Burwick has a 46-39 career record with nine career falls and 10 career tech falls. He has amassed over 540 match points heading into his final season.
 
Several New Bison Set to Make NDSU Debut
Eight of the 14 Bison making the trip to Virginia have joined North Dakota State this season, and will be up to make their debuts for the Bison, including three true freshmen (Tyler Secoy, 165; Max Magayna, 174; Andrew McMonagle 184). The Bison have three senior transfers (Tristan Daugherty, 125; Kyle Burwick, 133; Michael Baker; 197) in the projected lineup, along with two sophomores (Devin Wasley, 174; Drew Blackburn-Forst, 285).
 
TV Time
All six of NDSU’s home duals this season have been selected as television games for WDAY Xtra. The duals will be televised live and broadcast across the state of North Dakota, Eastern Montana and Western Minnesota on WDAY Xtra. Check GoBison.com for full channel listings and coverage areas.
 
Bison Face Strong Schedule
At the beginning of the season, the Bison are set to face six programs that start the 2024-25 season ranked in the top 25 of the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. The Bison also have six traditional Power 4 programs on the schedule as well, with all six of those duals coming in the first two months of the season.
 
Up Next
Bison wrestling will open up the home schedule next week, as North Dakota State welcomes in Oregon State for a dual Friday, November 8, at the Scheels Center at 7 p.m. NDSU will then host several programs for the 53rd annual Bison Open wrestling tournament on Saturday, November 9. The event is set to get underway at 10 a.m. inside the Scheels Center.