For Immediate Release
Monday, January 9, 2023
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Wrestler of the Week
Nick Novak (157 lbs., So., New Prague, Minn. / New Prague HS) – St. Cloud State
- Went 4-0 at 157 pounds to help SCSU to the NWCA National Dual team title
- Recorded two major decisions
- Opened the weekend with a 12-0 major decision over Max Stedeford of Mercyhurst
- Followed with a 16-2 major decision over Jackson Rolfs of Upper Iowa
- Won a 5-2 decision over two-time All-American No. 9 Braydon Huber of UMary
- Recorded a late takedown on Central Oklahoma's No. 2 Gabe Johnson for a 6-5 decision
Other Top Performances
Tyler Wagener (AUGIE) went 3-1 at the NWCA National Duals. He defeated No. 4 Ty Lucas of Central Oklahoma by way of 3-2 decision in his first match and defeated his Mercyhurst opponent with a fall at 1:02. He logged a 17-0 technical fall over his Colorado Mesa opponent with two takedowns and three four-point nearfalls.
Reece Barnhardt (UMary) finished the weekend with a perfect 4-0 as the 11th ranked Marauders placed third at the NWCA National Duals. He opened with a pin at 1:36 against his Ashland opponent. He followed with a 3-1 win over No. 11 Joseph Airola, as the Marauders defeated No. 2 and defending NCAA champion Nebraska Kearney 21-12. He opened Sunday with an 8-3 win over Sam Spencer of SCSU and finished the weekend with a 12-0 major decision over Matt Englehardt as UMary defeated No. 4 West Liberty 37-3.
Mike Smith (MSU) was the champion at 174 pounds at the Central Under Armour Invitational. He went 4-0 at tournament with three pins and an 8-3 decision. He won the first-place match with pin at 2:50.
Brendan Barnes (MINOT) picked up seven wins on the weekend, including four straight in the Western Colorado Open to finish 3rd at 165 pounds. Barnes won four straight in the consolation bracket, including three wins by pin, to finish third. Saturday in the Tracy Borah Duals, he added 3 more wins in 4 matches, picking up two more wins by pin.
Landen Fischer (NSU) led Northern State with a pin in their dual victory over No. 25 Concordia Moorhead. He defeated Kie Anderson at 5:44 in the match, opening the dual with six points for the Wolves. He held an 8-1 lead prior to the pin to record his seventh win of the season.
Chase Luensman (UIU) posted a 4-0 record at the NWCA National Duals to improve to 17-1 overall this season at 165 pounds. He scored three decisions including wins over Matt Ortiz of McKendree (5-4), No. 10 Anthony Herrera of St. Cloud State (5-4) and Kaden Hart of Nebraska Kearney (10-8) and a win by fall over Blaise Ronnau of Fort Hays State in a time of 6:10. UIU went 3-2 at the National Duals including a 21-14 win over No. 2 Nebraska Kearney to place sixth at the prestigious event.
NSIC Wrestling Pages
NSIC Wrestlers of the Week
11/7/22: Caleb Meekins – St. Cloud State
11/14/22: Caden Steffen – SMSU
11/21/22: Eric Faught – Upper Iowa
12/5/22: Tyler Wagener - Augustana
12/12/22: Shane Gantz - Parkside
12/19/22: Caden Steffen – SMSU (2)
1/9/23: Nick Novak – St. Cloud State
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 96 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit
NCAA.org.
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