TULSA, Okla. – North Dakota State wrestling’s Aidan Brenot and Devin Wasley qualified for the NCAA Championships on day one of the 2026 Big 12 Championships presented by Allstate at the BOK Center.
Five Bison wrestlers advanced to the second day of the Big 12 Championships, with Ezekiel Witt, Max Petersen and Gavin Drexler joining Brenot and Wasley on day two.
Witt and Petersen reached the semifinals on Friday, with Witt topping #11 Jett Strickenberger of West Virginia 9-6 to reach the semis and Petersen topping Oklahoma’s Hunter Hollingsworth 6-0 and #20 Josh Edmond of Missouri 9-5 to reach the semis.
In the semis Friday night, Witt fell to #10 Stevo Poulin of Iowa State 9-3, while Petersen fell to top seeded #9 Casey Swiderski of Oklahoma State 16-3.
Brenot and Wasley worked their way through wrestlebacks on Friday to reach the placing rounds and qualify for nationals with both 184 and 197 having eight qualifications spots. Brenot started with a 17-3 win over Brian Burburija of Air Force. After falling to top seed and #3 Aeoden Sinclair of Missouri, Brenot topped David Alonso of California Baptist with a takedown in sudden victory to secure his second bid to nationals in two seasons. Brenot then closed out the night with a 7-3 win over Utah Valley’s Caleb Uhlenhopp to reach the consi semis on Saturday.
Wasley had a bye in the opening round and then fell to top seed #2 Rocky Elam of Iowa State in his first match, Wasley then scored a major decision win over Eli Sheeren of California Baptist to secure his first bid to the NCAA Championships. Wasley fell to #6 Bennett Berge of South Dakota State in his final match on Friday.
At 157 pounds, Gavin Drexler went 3-1 on the day to reach the consi semis. Drexler’s day started with his first collegiate pin against Lincoln Gregersen of Air Force. After a loss to #8 Ty Watters of West Virginia, Drexler secured wins over Mark Takara of Utah Valley, 11-2, and Jared Hill of Wyoming, 19-12.
Drexler joins Petersen and Witt in the consi semis with a win in either of their final two matches earning qualification for the NCAA Championships with 125, 149 and 157 all allocated five automatic bids.
Shilo Jones had one of the biggest upsets of the day as he took down #11 Christian Carroll of Wyoming in the first round. However, Jones was disqualified after a technical violation in his second match and eliminated from the tournament.
NDSU sits in 10th place on 39.5 points in the team competition.
The Bison will return to action on Saturday with all five wrestlers competing in session three. Session three of the Big 12 Championships will begin at noon from the BOK Center.
NDSU Wrestling Results
125 | Ezekiel Witt | 1-1
W over #11 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia), Dec 9-6
L to #10 Stevo Poulin (Iowa State), Dec 9-3
#21 Brady Roark (South Dakota State)
149 | Max Petersen | 2-1
Hunter Hollingsworth (Oklahoma), Dec 6-0
#20 Josh Edmond (Missouri), Dec 9-5
#9 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State), MD 16-3
#10 David Evans (Utah Valley)
157 | Gavin Drexler | 3-1
W over Lincoln Gregersen (Air Force), Fall 4:34
L to #8 Ty Watters (West Virginia), MD 14-3
W over Mark Takara (Utah Valley), MD 11-2
W over Jared Hill (Wyoming), Dec 19-12
#19 Cael Swensen (South Dakota State)
184 | Aidan Brenot | 3-1
W over Brian Burburija (Air Force), MD 17-3
L to #3 Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri), TF 23-7
W over David Alonso (California Baptist), SV 5-2
W over Caleb Uhlenhopp (Utah Valley), Dec 7-3
#12 Isaac Dean (Iowa State)
197 | Devin Wasley | 1-2
L to #2 Rocky Elam (Iowa State), MD 9-1
W over Eli Sheeren (California Baptist), MD 8-0
L to #6 Bennett Berge (South Dakota State), Dec 7-2
Karson Tompkins (Air Force)
Eliminated Wrestlers
133 | Tristan Daugherty | 0-2
L to Cale Seaton (South Dakota State), Dec 4-1
L to Garrett Grice (Iowa State), Dec 5-2
141 | Michael Olson | 0-2
L to #2 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State), MD 9-0
L to #33 Jesse Vasquez (California Baptist), Dec 7-2
165 | Boeden Greenley | 0-2
L to Sloan Swan (Wyoming), SV 2-1
L to Sasha Gavronsky (West Virginia), MD 11-3
174 | Max Magayna | 0-2
L to #16 Brody Conley (West Virginia), TF 15-0
L to Mason Espinoza (California Baptist), MD 14-4
285 | Shilo Jones | 1-2
W over #11 Christian Carroll (Wyoming), SV 4-1
L to #33 Luke Rasmussen (South Dakota State), DQ
L to Tristan Kemp (California Baptist), FFT
