North Dakota
Franek provides example for other North Dakota wrestlers to follow
IOWA CITY – University of Iowa’s Jared Franek has said representation matters.
But, growing up in Harwood, N.D., and attending West Fargo High School, Franek didn’t have many examples of wrestlers blazing a trail from his area to the NCAA Division I level. He understands the impact he could have, filling that role for young wrestlers, especially from his home state.
“It’s always been super important for me,” Franek said during the team’s weekly media availability Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “Bigger than wins and losses is inspiring the next generation and trying to live the right lifestyle. Be a good example on and off the mat.”
Franek has produced a successful college career as a three-time NCAA qualifier and an All-American. He transferred to Iowa this season and has been a fixture in the top five of national rankings at 157-pounds.
No. 5 Franek will close the regular season when No. 4 Iowa faces No. 2 Oklahoma State Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
“Everyone of us has a good match, a big match,” said Franek, who is expected to wrestle No. 10 Teague Travis. “I’m excited. Nothing really changes in the approach besides being ready and continuing to make those little improvements and get ready for March.”
North Dakota hosts one of the nation’s top age-level freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments – Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D. The state doesn’t churn out a lot of NCAA D-I talent.
Franek was born after the storied competitive careers of Terry and Troy Steiner, who were from Bismarck, N.D. Terry was a three-time All-American and 1993 NCAA champion for the Hawkeyes and legendary coach Dan Gable. His twin brother, Troy, was a four-time All-American, two-time national finalist and 1992 NCAA champion.
Despite being before his time, Franek was exposed to their careers and accomplishments. He was inspired to be like them and was influenced by stories of their work ethic.
“I heard a lot of stories about them when I was younger,” Franek said. “They didn’t know much about wrestling and their first few matches they got beat up. It’s kind of crazy what hard work and dedication did for them.”
Former Minnesota three-time All-American and Big Ten Conference finalist Scott Schiller was much closer to his home and his age. Schiller also attended West Fargo and they were family friends.
“Scott Schiller was a really good example on and off the mat for me,” Franek said. “My dad grew up with his dad, so I got to know him pretty well. He was a class act on and off the mat. A lot of the way he approached the sport is the way he did it.
“Those were some good role models for me, growing up.”
Franek has produced a successful college career as well. He reached the round of 12 at two straight NCAA Championships and made placed fourth last year for North Dakota State.
As he contends for a national title and a second All-American finish, he wants to be a positive influence that might make a difference in an aspiring athlete. Franek has encouraged wrestlers at various camps and clinics and why he obliges young fans with autographs and pictures.
Those moments could propel a younger wrestler toward success, regardless of whether they reside in Iowa, North Dakota or elsewhere.
“Taking the time out to do that stuff is really important because at one point we were all that kid, wanting to achieve those goals and who knows what impact you might have,” Franek said. “That might be just enough to get a kid into it and they might have a great career out of it.”
Franek owns a 19-3 record, giving him 111 career victories. He immediately slid into the Hawkeyes lineup, climbing as high as No. 2 in the national rankings.
Franek has demonstrated stinginess in matches, allowing just 3.04 points per match. He is coming off a 17-point outburst in a technical fall over Wisconsin’s Luke Mechler last Sunday.
“It was big,” Franek said. “That’s how we want to wrestle. That’s how the guys on the team want to wrestle. Score points and dominate. It was good to get that flow back a little bit. I had a couple matches where I wasn’t scoring much, so get those points on the board and look to keep building that momentum.”
Iowa Coach Tom Brands said he possesses a strong “wrestling IQ” that likely blossomed under his dad, Shawn, a wrestling coach. Brands said Franek is not content or complacent, looking to consistently improve.
“I know that he knows there’s work to do,” Brands said. “That’s always good. He doesn’t rest. He’s ambitious. He’s energetic. He loves a challenge. He has thick skin.
“I wouldn’t say he’s never satisfied, but he knows that there’s always work to do.”
Franek described wrestling as a sport that can’t be perfected. Some aspect can always be tweaked, evolved and bettered. He was raised with that mentality, which is enhanced by a quest to be the best.
“I was always climbing for the next guy,” Franek said. “I was never the best at any age group. For me, that’s been a big motivation.
“I think there’s a lot left in my wrestling game to piece together here before March. I’m looking to keep improving on that and peak when it’s time.”
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
Greg Power, fisheries division chief with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, shares information about the new 2026-2028 Fishing Guide and a few new regulations starting April 1, 2026.
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SIOUX FALLS — Ali Stephens had 17 points and 13 rebounds and 8th-seeded Omaha defeated 9th-seeded North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League women’s tournament.
The Fighting Hawks had a tough time putting the ball in the hoop all night long, scoring just three points in the first quarter and having only marginally better luck from there.
UND (7-24) shot just 23.5 percent from the floor (12-for-51) and made 1-of-20 shots from outside the arc. Walker Demers and Mackenzie Hughes had 10 points each to lead the Hawks, with Demers adding eight rebounds.
Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live
Regan Juenemann had 10 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks while Avril Smith had seven points and 16 rebounds and Sarai Estupinan eight points, five assists and three rebounds. Omaha (6-26) shot the ball slightly better than the Hawks, going 16-of-53 from the field (30 percent) and 8-of-23 (35 percent) on 3-pointers.
With the win, the Mavs earn a date with top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bison won both regular season matchups by more than 50 points.
Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live
Oral Roberts 84, Kansas City 62 — Don’t look now but the team that started the conference season 0-10 and at one point lost 15 of 16 games might be the hottest in the Summit League.
Oral Roberts picked up their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night in the conference tournament opener, routing Kansas City at the Premier Center in the 8/9 “play-in” game.
Ty Harper had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (10-22), who took a 44-21 lead by halftime and never looked back. ORU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 13-of-27 3-pointers while the Kangaroos shot just 34 percent and made 6-of-24 from deep. Martins Kilups had 17 points for the Eagles and Connor Dow added 14.
Jayson Petty had 14 points to lead the Kagaroos, who finish the season 4-27. It was their final game under coach Marvin Menzies, whom the school announced earlier this season would not return next year.
With the win ORU advances to face top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles lost to NDSU 86-58 in Tulsa on Jan. 24 but they took the Bison to overtime in Fargo on Jan. 3 in a 79-77 loss.
Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.
North Dakota
The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor – North Dakota Attorney General
04 Mar The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor
in Opinions
March 4, 2026
Media Contact: Suzie Weigel, 701.328.2210
BISMARCK, ND – It is the opinion that federal law does not prevent the state from auditing P&A and even though P&A possesses confidential records, N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22.1 and 42 C.F.R. § 51.45(c) authorize the state auditor and the employees of the auditor’s office, to review the records without detriment to P &A.
Also, whether Rule 1.6 of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct for licensed attorneys prohibits P&A from disclosing to the State Auditor the contents of a client file for the purpose of conducting a non-financial performance audit under N.D.C.C. ch. 54-10 when the requested file includes information about individuals and businesses in the private sector who chose to contact P &A.
This issue was already addressed in a 1995 opinion of this office regarding P&A. The 1995 opinion highlighted that P&A has authority to contract with private attorneys to represent private individuals. 17 During that performance audit, auditors asked to see billings from the contracted attorneys. 18 P&A redacted the names of the individuals represented by the contract attorneys under the rules for attorney-client privilege or attorney-client confidentiality. 19 The names of individuals seeking services of P&A are protected under N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3. The opinion stated:
Thus, P&A’s records which indicate to whom its services were provided are available to the State Auditor for performance audit purposes. The State Auditor has
been given access by P&A to its records other than the attorney’s billings. Therefore, the State Auditor already has access to the names of the persons to whom P&A
provides services. State law requires that the State Auditor and his employees must keep such information confidential.
Here, P&A has not identified a specific record. Given that, I rely on the past opinions declaring that records made confidential by N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3-10 are available under N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22 to the State Auditor and the Auditor’s employees for audit purposes.
Link to opinion 2026-L-01
###
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