THIS WEEK IN BLUE HAWK WOMEN'S WRESTLING
Blue Hawk women's wrestling is headed to Minot State University this weekend for a full slate of competition at the Beaver Bash Duals, Friday November 21st, followed the next day by the Beaver Bash Open. The Blue Hawks enter the weekend ranked 6th in the Heart of America Conference, matching their position from the previous ranking cycle, while also showcasing several athletes who climbed the individual conference rankings.
Head Coach Tyson Springer views the Minot trip as a major developmental checkpoint.
"We're pretty banged up right now, but that opens the door for other athletes to step in and get great matches," Springer said. "I'm excited to see what they can do with those opportunities."
FRIDAY – BEAVER BASH DUALS
Blue Hawks vs. University of Sioux Falls Cougars
Friday, Nov. 21 – 9:00 a.m. (MST)
DSU opens the weekend against the University of Sioux Falls, a young but increasingly competitive NCAA program in its third year. The Cougars enter the event with four Region 6 wrestlers ranked inside the top five, including 2024-25 national qualifier Zoë Adam at 207 pounds.
The Blue Hawks match up well across several weights thanks to strong early-season performances and numerous ranked athletes of their own. DSU now features ten conference-ranked wrestlers, including:
With two veteran wrestlers sidelined, DSU's younger lineup will have the opportunity to step forward. Springer highlighted several athletes trending in the right direction.
"Jazmine Turner has been phenomenal," Springer said. "Olivia Anderson at 160 and Bridgette Price at 180 have made huge strides. This is a great chance for some of our younger kids to jump into the deep end, and that experience helps them grow fast."
This will be the first-ever dual meeting between DSU and Sioux Falls.
Blue Hawks vs. University of Saskatchewan Huskies
Scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (MST)
(Time subject to rolling schedule)
The Blue Hawks' second dual features a rare international matchup with the University of Saskatchewan, ranked No. 6 in the USports polls and coming off a strong showing at the Dino Open.
The Huskies boast several high-level competitors:
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117 – Siera Mullin (2nd via USports)
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137 – Alexis Lavers (1st via USports)
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160 – Taebyn Tulp (2nd via USports)
Their freestyle-heavy background introduces unique stylistic challenges, something Springer believes will be valuable for his young team.
"Wrestling Saskatchewan is different because their kids grew up wrestling only freestyle," Springer said. "Our athletes come from folkstyle in high school and transitioned into freestyle at the collegiate level. It gives us different looks and prepares us for the variety of styles we may see throughout the season."
SATURDAY – BEAVER BASH OPEN
Saturday brings a deep field that includes Bismarck State, Chadron State, Jamestown, Minot State, Dakota Wesleyan, Sioux Falls, and Saskatchewan. The tournament will feature multiple nationally and regionally ranked competitors, highlighted by Chadron State's nationally ranked upperweights.
For DSU, the open is a major chance to:
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Build match volume
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Develop younger wrestlers stepping into larger roles
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Continue the upward movement seen in the conference rankings
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Gain momentum for the Doane Open and the core of the December slate
With ten conference-ranked Blue Hawks, including several who climbed in the newest rankings, Saturday sets the stage for meaningful individual progress.
BLUE HAWKS OUTLOOK
Despite early injuries, Springer has been encouraged by the team's growth and resilience.
"We've had some tough luck, wrestling is an unforgiving sport," he said. "But our kids are figuring out how to push through the grind. That's part of the growing pains in year three, and it's part of what builds championship programs."
As the Blue Hawks head into two days of competition in Minot, the coaching staff expects energy, improvement, and valuable experience, particularly from the younger athletes stepping into the spotlight.
UP NEXT
After the trip to Minot the Blue Hawks head to Hastings, Neb. for a dual against Hastings College set for Thursday, December 4th, at 5:00pm, followed the next day by a trip to Doane, Neb. for the Doane Open.
