FARGO, N.D. - Senior Vince Salminen (37-5) and sophomore Trent Sprenkle (29-9) will represent North Dakota State at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 17-19 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.* This will be Salminen?s second straight trip to the championships, while Sprenkle will be making his first appearance.* Salminen earned his spot by winning the 157 pound NCAA West Regional title and Sprenkle earned an at-large bid at 125 pounds.

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Salminen?s opponents

In the 157 pound bracket, Salminen will open against 11th seeded Walter Peppelman of Harvard.* Peppelman finished fifth at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships and has an overall record of 29-6.* The winner of that bout will face the winner of sixth-seeded Derek St. John (19-4) of Iowa and Frank Hickman (25-9) of Bloomsburg.

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Sprenkle?s opponents

At 125 pounds, Sprenkle will take on 11th seeded Frank Perrelli of Cornell in the opening round.* Perrelli locked up a spot in the championships by winning the EIWA crown.* He has an overall record of 30-11.* The winner will be up against sixth seeded Nicholas Bedelyon (23-3) of Kent State or Princeton?s Garrett Frey (27-10).

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Championship schedule

Thursday - Session I (Pigtails & 1st Round) - 10 a.m.

Thursday - Session II (Consolation Prelims, 1st Round) - 5:30 p.m.

Friday - Session III (Championship Quarterfinals, Consolation 2nd & 3rd Rounds) - 9:30 a.m.

Friday - Session IV (Championship Semis, Consolation 4th & 5th Rounds) - 6 p.m.

Saturday - Session V (Consolation Semis, 3rd, 5th, 7th Place Matches) - 10 a.m.

Saturday - Session VI (Championship Finals) - 6:30 p.m.

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Online access

Updated brackets and team scores will be available at NCAA.com.* Live video streams will be available on ESPN3.com.

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Three Bison earn All-WWC honors

Senior Vince Salminen was named first team All-Western Wrestling Conference after winning the NCAA West Regional two weeks ago.* It is the second straight first team award for Salminen. Redshirt freshman Steven Monk earned second team honors, while senior Kenny Moenkedick was a third team selection.* Athletes earned spots on the respective teams with their finish at the 2011 NCAA West Regional on March 6.

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NCAA West Regional review

Vince Salminen claimed his second straight regional title as he led the Bison to a fourth place finish at the NCAA West Regional Sunday, March 6.* Salminen pinned Northern Iowa?s David Bonin in the 157 pound final.* Redshirt freshman Steven Monk finished second at 165 pounds after claiming a 7-6 win over Clayton Gable of Air Force in the true second place bout.* Senior Kenny Moenkedick was third at 184 pounds.* Senior Geoff Martin (141), sophomore Mark Erickson (149) and junior Drew Ross (197) all finished fourth.* Wyoming won its second straight team title.

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