FARGO--Bismarck--one of the state's traditional high school wrestling powers--added another state title to its trophy case on Friday at the Fargodome.
The Demons capped an undefeated season with a 37-29 victory over crosstown rival Bismarck Century during the North Dakota Class A state team dual tournament championship match.
Bismarck led 33-24 entering the final two matches of the dual. Century scored bonus points at 132 pounds when junior Mason Schultz scored a tech fall to put the Patriots within four of the Demons heading into the 138-pound finale.
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The pressure was on Demons sophomore Devin Steidler, who rose to the occasion by posting a 10-0 major decision over Century's Trey Pajimula.
"I felt confident heading into the match, but it was still nerve-wracking having all the pressure on me," Steidler said. "Once I got the first takedown, my confidence grew more and more."
Bismarck has now won 13 team dual titles in the 17-year history of the tournament.
"Heading into the final two matches I was nervous, but heading into the last one I felt really good," Bismarck head coach Jeff Schumacher said. "I wasn't worried because (Devin) knows what to do and was in control."
The Demons (17-0) also lead in the team individual title race after the second day of the tournament with 178.5 points. Five Bismarck wrestlers advanced to the finals. Bismarck defeated Minot 60-9 in the semifinals to advance to the championship.
Valley City (16-4) dropped its semifinal dual with Century 48-22 earlier Friday and finished in fourth place after falling to Minot 46-17 in the third-place match.
"We fought hard," Valley City head coach Aaron Larson said. "We are still a young team, and these matches were good experience for us moving forward."
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West Fargo sends six to the finals
West Fargo advanced six wrestlers--sophomore Jared Franek (138), senior Jacob Franek (145), junior Jesse Shearer (182), junior Chase Teiken (195), junior Brandon Metz (285) and sophomore Justin Harms (106)--to the finals. The Packers have the most wrestlers in the finals, but trail Bismarck by 37 points in the team individual race.
"We ran into some tough competition, and the guys put in a couple good workouts (Friday) to get ready," West Fargo head coach Kevin Fynboh said. "A lot of the guys have been here before. They are used to these environments. Some people build these matches into big deals, but you have to try and take it like another match, and I think a lot the guys took that concept and applied it."
Bruins push two to title matches
A day after scoring an upset over the No. 2 seed at 138-pounds, Fargo South senior Rashidi Kikopa--a No. 7 seed--scored a 10-6 decision over No. 3-seeded Devin Steidler of Bismarck in the semifinals to advance to the finals.
Kikopa (28-11) will wrestle No. 1-seeded Jared Franek of West Fargo in the 138-pound title match Saturday. Individual championship matches in Class A and B begin at 3 p.m. Saturday.
"I wanted to show what I can do," said Kikopa, who is a three-year captain on the Bruins' boys soccer team. "I have been wrestling for three years, and I never thought I would get to this point."
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Joining Kikopa in the finals for the Bruins is senior Jonathan Fraase, who will wrestle Minot sophomore Brody Armstrong in the 120-pound championship match.
Takedowns
Wahpeton sophomore Aaron Deike scored a sudden victory overtime decision over Bismarck Century's Cameron Rants at 160 pounds. Deike advances to the championship and will face top-seeded Paxton Mewes, who is 51-1 this season. ... Fargo Davies senior Bryce Burnside--the top seed at 152 pounds--scored a 7-1 decision in his semifinals match to advance to the championship. ... Valley City seniors Jakob Ashline (132) and Jordan Magnuson (220) advanced to title matches on Friday.
Dual results
Championship
Bismarck 37, Bismarck Century 29
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106: Kroh, BC, pinned Kaseman, 1:47. 113: Ripplinger, B, pinned Coleman, 4:07. 120:
DeBoer, B, dec. Fleck, 3-1. 126: Spaulding, B, pinned Rader, 2:58. 132: Schulz, BC, tech. fall Perrin, 22-4. 138: Steidler, B, dec. Pajimula, 10-0. 145: Nein, B, pinned Volk, :54. 152: Wahl, B, dec. Bondeson, 6-3. 160: Bieber, B, dec. Rants, 10-7. 170: Rader, BC, pinned Schmitt, 1:23. 182: Werre, BC, pinned Curtis, 2:07. 195: Sanders, B, pinned Smith, 3:05. 220: Walter, BC, dec. Hall, 7-3. 285: Braun, BC, dec. Hintz, 5-0.
Third place
Minot 46, Valley City 17
106: Opatz, VC, dec. Armstrong, 5-2. 113: Larson, VC, pinned Goodman, 3:18. 120: Armstrong, M, dec. Undem, 12-3. 126: Leier, M, dec. Bjork, 12-2. 132: Strandberg, M, pinned Oestern, :33. 138: Stein, M, dec. Langer, 10-0. 145: Benham, M, dec. Erlandson, 10-0. 152: Peterson, VC, dec. Thompson, 9-2. 160: Rudolph, M, pinned Tangen, 2:55. 170: Rabe, M, pinned Kipp, :48. 182: Hamilton, M, dec. Kaber, 9-5. 195: Jones, M, dec. Oestern, 7-4. 220: Magnuson, VC, pinned Swartwout, 2:34. 285: Huff, M, won by forfeit.
Championship semifinals
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Bismarck 60, Minot 9
106: Kaseman, B, pinned Armstrong, 3:22. 113: Ripplinger, B, pinned Goodman, :40. 120: Armstrong, M, dec. DeBoer, 10-3. 126: Spaulding, B, pinned Folk, 1:30. 132: Perrin, B, pinned Strandberg, 1:25. 138: Steidler, B, dec. Stein, 6-0. 145: Nein, B, pinned Benham, 2:38. 152: Rudolph, M, dec. Wahl, 7-4. 160: Bieber, B, won by injury default over Thompson. 170: Schmitt, B, pinned Maragos, 2:47. 182: Bergquist, B, pinned Hamilton, 1:17. 195: Sanders, B, pinned Jones, 1:34. 220: Hall, B, dec. Swartwout, 9-3. 285: Huff, M, dec. Hintz, 5-2.
Bismarck Century 48, Valley City 22
106: Kroh, BC, pinned Opatz, 1:36. 113: Fleck, BC, dec. Larson, 8-4. 120: Bitz, BC, pinned Undem, 5:49. 126: Bjork, VC, dec. Rader, 3-1. 132: Schulz, BC, pinned Oestern, :19. 138: Ashline, VC, dec. Pajimula, 3-2. 145: Bondeson, BC, dec. Erlandson, 8-2. 152: Peterson, pinned Kress, :52. 160: Rants, BC, pinned Tangen, 3:24. 170: Rader, BC, pinned Kipp, :48. 182: Werre, BC, pinned kaber, :59. 195: Oestern, VC, pinned Smith, 5:30. 220: Magnuson, VC, dec. Walter, 10-0. 285: Braun, BC, won by forfeit.
Individual results
Team totals
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Bismarck 178.5, West Fargo 141.5, Bismarck Century 138, Minot 110.5, Valley City 86, Wahpeton 83.5, Fargo Davies 80, Williston 80, Mandan 75, Dickinson 71.5, Fargo South 63, Bismarck St. Mary’s 43, Jamestown 37, Grand Forks Red River 324, Turtle Mountain 30.5, Grand Forks Central 28, Bismarck Legacy 26, West Fargo Sheyenne 18, Devils Lake 7, Fargo North 3.
106 pounds
Semifinals
Harms, West Fargo, dec. Mosbrucker, Mandan, 5-3. Steidler, St. Mary’s, dec. Kaseman, Bismarck, 3-2.
Consolation
Eli, Turtle Mountain, pinned Weber, Davies, 1:29. Augustine, South, pinned Fish, Devils Lake, :23. Berger, Dickinson, pinned Gurung, South, 4:11. Oster, GFRR, dec. Fry, Davies, 9-2.
Eli, Turtle Mountain, dec. Opatz, Valley City, 16-2. Klienknecht, Mandan, pinned Augustine, South, 2:30. Barnhardt, St. Mary’s, pinned Oster, GFRR, 3:11.
113 pounds
Semifinals
Ripplinger, Bismarck, tech. fall Coleman, Century, 16-0. Fleck, Century, pinned Larson, Valley City, 4:34.
Consolation
Martin, Legacy, pinned Braswell, GFC, 4:46. Laducer, Turtle Mountain, dec. Kliner, North, 11-4. Hermanson, Sheyenne, dec. James, North, 21-11. Brower, GFC, dec. Gunther, Devils Lake, 17-3.
Johnson, Dickinson, dec. Martin, Legacy, 8-2. Braun, Jamestown, tech. fall Laducer, Turtle Mountain, 15-0. Fleck, Mandan, pinned Hermanson, Sheyenne, 2:35. Berg, Wahpeton, pinned Brower, GFC, 1:52.
120 pounds
Semifinals
Armstrong, Minot, dec. Balboa, GFC, 7-1. Fraase, South, won by disqualification over Berger, Mandan.
Consolation
Stremick, North, pinned Thiel, Wahpeton, 2:23. Loeks, St. Mary’s, pinned Egeland, GFRR, 1:24. Bowman, Jamestown, dec. Bitz, Century, 6-5. McKenzie, Williston, pinned Aguilar, North, 1:45.
Mohr, Davies, dec. Stremick, North, 2-1. Loeks, St. Mary’s, dec. Champagne, Turtle Mountain, 10-5. DeBoer, Bismarck, dec. Bowman, Jamestown, 13-1. Undem, Valley City, dec. McKenzie, Williston, 4-3.
126 pounds
Semifinals
Spaulding, Bismarck, pinned Mairs, Davies, 1:39. Leier, Minot, dec. Wiek, Wahpeton, 9-4.
Consolation
Bjork, Valley City, tech. fall Lunos, Wahpeton, 15-0. Thomas, South, dec. Gianakos, West Fargo, 9-2. Meschke, Dickinson, pinned Oestern, Valley City, 2:01. Folk, Minot, dec. Humble, GFC, 8-1.
Bjork, Valley City, dec. Schmidt, Bismarck, 11-5. Reisenauer, Mandan, pinned Thomas, South, 4:52. Luther, Williston, dec. Meschke, Dickinson, 9-0. Rader, Century, dec. Folk, Minot, 6-2.
132 pounds
Semifinals
Schulz, Century, tech. fall Perrin, Bismarck, 16-1. Ashline, Valley City, dec. Zerr, Turtle Mountain, 4-3.
Consolation
Kiromba, South, dec. Schwab, Davies, 14-6. Arndorfer, Mandan, dec. Oen, GFC, 11-6. Fehr, Wahpeton, pinned Fraase, South, :58. Vilandre, Devils Lake, pinned Bailly, Sheyenne, 2:15.
Strandberg, Minot, tech. fall Kiromba, South, 15-0. Isom, Williston, pinned Arndorfer, Mandan, 2:08. Nein, Bismarck, pinned Fehr, Wahpeotn, 2:48. Vilandred, Devils Lake, pinned Irwin, Dickinson, 4:52.
138 pounds
Semifinals
Franek, West Fargo, pinned Skaare, Davies, 1:11. Kikopa, South, dec. Steidler, Bismarck, 10-6.
Consolation
Haugen, GFRR, pinned Mullane, GFC, 2:01. Fleck, Mandan, dec. Langer, Valley City, 10-1. Stein, Minot, dec. Hettwer, West Fargo, 10-3. Dionne, Turtle Mountain, pinned Nordby, Dickinson, 3:47.
LeNoue, Wahpeton, pinned Haugen, GFRR, 1:58. Schaffner, St. Mary’s, dec. Fleck, Mandan, 10-2. Pajimula, Century, dec. Stein, Minot, 4-3. Rodriguez, Dickinson, dec. Dionne, Turtle Mountain, 3:47.
145 pounds
Semifinals
Nein, Bismarck, pinned Horswill, Williston, 3:28. Franek, West Fargo, dec. Meyer, Wahpeton, 3-2.
Consolation
Dralu, Davies, pinned Schlosser, Mandan, 4:49. Mohamed, South, dec. Bjornson, Devils Lake, 14-3. Brandon, GFC, dec. LaRocque, Turtle Mountain, 4-1. Benham, Minot, pinned Larimer, GFRR, 3:00.
Erlandson, Valley City, tech. fall Dralu, Davies, 16-0. Messmer, Legacy, pinned Mohamed, South, 1:51. Irwin, Dickinson, dec. Brandon, GFC, 5-4. Bondeson, Century, pinned Benham, Minot, 1:57.
152 pounds
Semifinals
Burnside, Davies, dec. Pederson, West Fargo, 7-1. Rudolph, Minot, dec. Lee, Dickinson, 5-2.
Consolation
LaFountain, Turtle Mountain, pinned Wohlgamuth, GFC, 1:54. Herz, Williston, pinned Dickhut, St. Mary’s, 4:13. Gravel, West Fargo, dec. Estenson, Devils Lake, 11-5. Peterson, Valley City, pinned Mostler, GFRR, 2:07.
Norton, Williston, pinned LaFountain, Turtle Mountain, 4:46. Wahl, Bismarck, dec. Herz, Williston, 4-0. Browning, Jamestown, dec. Gravel, West Fargo, 14-5. Wiek, Wahpeton, tech. fall Peterson, Valley City, 17-2.
160 pounds
Semifinals
Mewes, Jamestown, dec. Larimer, GFRR, 10-1. Deike, Wahpeton, dec. Rants, Century, 7-5 SV.
Consolation
Tangen, Valley City, dec. Morris, Davies, 4-2. Krance, Mandan, dec. Norpel, Williston, 9-6. Thompson, Minot, pinned Pursley, GFC, 1:40. Masumbuko, West Fargo, dec. Knowski, Devils Lake, 6-3.
Haugen, Dickinson, pinned Tangen, Valley City, 4-2. Horswill, Williston, pinned Krance, Mandan, 9-6. Siaway, South, dec. Thompson, Minot, 7-2. Bieber, Bismarck, dec. Masumbuko, West Fargo, 8-0.
170 pounds
Semifinals
Spilman, Mandan, dec. Bjugstad, Wahpeton, 9-4. Rader, Century, dec. Johnson, Davies, 14-0.
Consolation
Farmer, Sheyenne, pinned Gulland, West Fargo, 4:08. Wilkie, Turtle Mountain, dec. Juarez, South, 4-0. Mandt, Wahpeton, pinned Renville, North, 2:54. Perez, Williston, pinned Hettwer, GFRR, 3:22.
Farmer, Sheyenne, pinned Schmitt, Bismarck, 4:26. Lopez, Dickinson, pinned Wilkie, Turtle Mountain, 1:36. Rabe, Minot, dec. Mandt, Wahpeton, 15-2. Perez, Williston, dec. Smith, Legacy, 7-4.
182 pounds
Semifinals
Shearer, West Fargo, wins by disqualification over Bergquist, Bismarck. Turnquist, Williston, dec., Kaylor, Legacy, 2-1 (ot).
Consolation
Goulet, GFRR, dec. Spies, St. Mary’s, 15-1. Rohrich, Davies, pinned Bjugstad, Wahpeton, 1:43. LaRocque, Turtle Mountain, pinned Foltz, GFC, 1:57. Kaber, Valley City, pinned Omar, Davies, :28.
Goulet, GFRR, dec. Hamilton, Minot, 4-2. Werre, Century, pinned Rohrich, Davies, 1:58. Isler, GFC, dec. LaRocque, Turtle Mountain, dec. Isler, GFC, 12-0. Boehm, Mandan, pinned Kaber, Valley City, 2:50.
195 pounds
Semifinals
Teiken, West Fargo, dec. Brown, St. Mary’s, 5-2. Sanders, Bismarck, dec. Fleck, Mandan, 12-2.
Consolation
Jones, Minot, pinned DeMarce, Devils Lake, 4:51. Hernandez, GFC, pinned LaVallie, Turtle Mountain, 4:09. York, Davies, pinned Kennelly, Jamestown, :11. Owan, Williston, pinned Hanson, GFRR, 3:59.
Jones, Minot, dec. Thiel, Wahpeton, 5-2. Weber, Sheyenne, pinned Hernandez, GFC, 1:44. Meyer, Dickinson, dec. York, Davies, 4-0. Oestern, Valley City, pinned Owan, Williston, 2:00.
220 pounds
Semifinals
Magnuson, Valley City, dec. Goulet, GFRR, 6-0. Hall, Bismarck, dec. Swartwout, Minot, 8-2 (ot).
Consolation
Kubik, Dickinson, dec. Pudwill, Mandan, 4-2. Scholl, Sheyenne, dec. Grott, South, 7-3. Charboneau, Turtle Mountain, dec. Richter, St. Mary’s, 8-3. Bajumpaa, Wahpeton, pinned Jacobsen, Valley City, 2:30.
Evans, Williston, pinned Kubik, Dickinson, 4:03. Walter, Century, pinned Scholl, Sheyenne, 2:40. Terrill, GFC, pinned Charboneau, Turtle Mountain, :31. Baguma, Davies, pinned Bajumpaa, Wahpeton, 2:30.
285 pounds
Semifinals
Metz, West Fargo, tech. fall Huff, Minot, 19-4. Braun, Century, pinned Keck, Dickinson, :22.
Consolation
Goulet, Turtle Mountain, dec. Wilson, Dickinson, 11-1. Kimbrough, Davies, pinned Howe, GFC, 2:00. Harris, St. Mary’s, won by injury default over Hernandez, GFC. Willenbring, Minot, pinned Nguyen, North, 4:28.
Fraase, South, pinned Goulet, Turtle Mountain, :50. West, Davies, pinned Kimbrough, Davies, 2:00. Buelow, GFRR, pinned Harris, St. Mary’s, 1:21. Hintz, bismarck, dec. Willenbring, Minot, 5-3.
