Ten North Dakotans will wrestle in tomorrow’s semifinal round of the Rumble on the Red wrestling tournament held at the Fargodome.

Minot’s Kelby Armstrong, currently undefeated at 106 pounds and ranked first by NDwrestle, advanced to the semifinals from the third seed with a 9-2 major decision victory over Laconia’s Tyson Peitz.  Armstrong’s elder brother Brody, a two-time North Dakota state champion currently ranked first at 132 pounds, came up just short of his own semifinals bid.  Brody Armstrong was upended by St. Charles (MN) grappler Mark Buringa in a wild one.  With the match knotted at 7 entering the third period, the elder Armstrong scored a quick escape and found himself deep on a single leg, but Burringa was able to sit the corner and lock up a nearside cradle for two takedown and three nearfall.  Armstrong was able only able to muster a reversal and fell 12-10.  Minot’s Hunter Swartwout made a nice statement in his first tournament at 220 this season.  Swartwout advanced to the semis with a 7-3 decision over Luke Parzyck of White Bear Lake.

Two North Dakota wrestlers advanced to the semifinals at 113 and 120.  At 113, #1 ranked Chase DeBlaere of West Fargo Sheyenne and #2 ranked Reece Barnhardt of St. Mary’s advanced on opposite sides.  DeBlaere defeated #2 (A Minnesota) Brett Willaby of Windom/Mountain Lake 3-1, while Barnhardt handled #3 (AA Minnesota) Nic Cantu of Alber Lea 6-3).  In his first tournament of the year down to 120 pounds, Hettinger Scranton’s Kyle Burwick scored a 10-0 major decision over Taylor DeFrang of Dover/Eyota.  Burwick will wrestle Bismarck’s Laken Boese in the top half semifinal.  Boese beat previously undefeated Jackson Penk of Sartell-St. Stephens 11-6.  Penk is currently ranked third in AAA Minnesota at 126 pounds.

Bismarck’s Ryan Ripplinger score two pins and two major decisions on his way to the semifinals at 126.  Ripplinger defeated Tanner Kushner of St. Francis 11-1.  The Bismarck High 2X state champion will wrestle Scott West’s Jackson Stauffacher in the semifinals.

Mandan state champion Isaac Berger grabbed one of the biggest seeding upsets of day one, scoring a 5-3 win over Jackson County Central’s Jacob Tvinnereim. Tvinnereim is the second ranked wrestler at 152 pounds in Class A Minnesota.

West Fargo’s Jared Franek and Stoughton’s Tyler Dow both held serve on their way to what is the most anticipated potential finals matchup of the tournament.  Franek is currently ranked tenth in the nation by Flowrestling at 152 pounds, while Dow is ranked fifth at 160.  Franek has been dominant to this point, scoring two falls and two technical falls, while dow grabbed a 7-0 decision in the quarterfinals.

195 Matt Kaylor put Legacy into the semifinals with a three minute fall over Brennen Rutt of New Prague (MN).  Taylor will see Perhams’ undefeated Ty Moser in the semifinals.

North Dakotans in the Wrestlebacks

113: Clay Gerhardt (New Salem/Almont), Clay Radenz (Century),

120:  Will Kleiknecht (Mandan), Devin Schulz (Century), Ethan Bowman (Jamestown), Corey Hooker (Minot)

126: Drew Steidler (St. Mary’s Central), Riley Zachmeier (Rugby), Chandler Nagel (Linton-HMB)

132:  Ethan Fleck (Mandan), Adam DeBoer (Bismarck), Chauncey Dittis (New Salem/Almont), Izaiah Bitz (Century)

138: Cael Schalesky (Hettinger), Trevon McClaanahan (Minot), Josh Irwin (New Salem/Almont), JJ Harms (West Fargo)

145: Gavin LeNoue (Wahpeton), Austin Hendrickson (Carrington), Brody Mohr (Davies)

152:  Jaden Mairs (Davies)

160: Thomas Scheet (Legacy),

170: Cade Pederson (West Fargo), Parker Wahl (Bismarck), Isaac Anderson (Hettinger), Mark Hastings (Hillsboro/CV)

182:  Kaden Wolsky (Carrington), Connor Dennis (Watford City), Logan Erlandson (Valley City)

195:  Ronald Wilkie III (Turtle Mountain)

220:  Chase Dockter (Bismarck)

285:  Andre Baguma (Davies), Eli Huff (Minot), DJ Schnaible (Rugby),