NDSU placed 14 student-athletes on the 2021 Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling Team announced April 1 by the conference office. All 14 qualified for the first team with GPAs of 3.20 or better.

NDSU sophomore Jared Franek from Harwood, North Dakota, and redshirt freshman Riley Habisch from Buffalo, Minnesota, were two of 12 conference student-athletes on the first team with 4.0 grade-point averages.

The Bison have a pair of three-time Academic All-Big 12 wrestlers in junior Brandon Metz from West Fargo and senior Cole Witzig from Troy, Illinois.

Franek is one of eight two-time honorees from NDSU, including Austin Brenner, Dylan Droegemueller, McGwire Midkiff, TJ Pottinger, Jesse Shearer, Sam Stuhl and Jaden Van Maanen.

Habisch is one of four Bison who are first-time Academic All-Big 12 performers, including Michael Nelson, Luke Weber and Michael Weber.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the previous two semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Seniors who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

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