West Fargo 3X state champion Jared Franek finished fourth in a bracket of fifty wrestlers at the United World Wrestling Cadet Nationals in Akron Ohio Saturday and Sunday.  Franek was competing in the 69 KG (152 pound) weight bracket.  The soon to be Packer senior from Harwood navigated through to the semifinals with four straight shutout technical fall victories, including a 10-0 win over top Michigan prospect Cameron Amine.  In the semis, Franek’s dream of making the Cadet World Team was lost when he fell to Will Lewan of Illinois 5-0.  Lewan scored the first point of the bout when Franek was put on the shot clock a minute in and was unable to score within the given thirty seconds.  Franek did get to his low single attack early in the thirty second shot clock period, but was unable to finish on the Lewan’s strong leg defense.  A short time later, Lewan got to a beautiful fireman’s carry that was scored four points feet-to-back.  The fireman’s gave Lewan a 5-0 lead going into the thirty second period break.  Though Franek did get to Lewans leg twice in the second period, he was unable to finish.

Franek won his consolation semifinal over Wisconsin’s Tyler Dow by 6-3 decision before falling in the third place match to Connor Brady of Ohio 11-3.  Brady frustrated Franek from neutral with scores from underhook and a nasty three-quarter nelson from the front headlock position.