The Lisbon Broncos have been the Class B front runner since the season began, and the East-West should finally tell Class B wrestling fans whether or not anyone is close enough to make the state tournament interesting from a team perspective.  With two wrestlers (220 Jordan Urbach and 145 Jordan Sours) likely to be top seeds when the tournament gets underway Friday in New Salem,  Lisbon has the firepower of favored champions coupled with a lineup capable of placing many others.

Lisbon’s depth is what sets them apart from the rest of the state this year.  East-West entrants Hettinger/Scranton, New Salem, Bowman County/Beach, Hillsboro, Bishop Ryan, Napoleon, all have multiple title favorites, and South Border and Velva boast strong teams top to bottom, but do any of those squads boast both.

Listed below is every ranked wrestler at the East-West based on the latest (January 10) NDwrestle rankings.  Take the list with a grain of salt, as there is going to be a lot of movement up or down based on descent plans, or the search for the perfect state tournament weight (read: easiest route to the highest spot on the podium).  The weight class everyone will be talking about is 132, where all six ranked wrestlers including state champion Chauncey Dittus on New Salem, will be in attendance.  On top of that, word is that Carrington state finalist Zach Broadwell and Hettinger/Scranton two-time state champion Cale Schalesky will also be entered at that weight.  Add in Oakes’s Coy Awender and Kersey Harris of Bishop Ryan and what you get is five state finalists at one weight,  JUICY.

12 of 14 state #1’s will compete at East-West this weekend, with only Kindred 106 Carter Schmitz and Pembina County North 138 Tanner Urlaub not in attendance.  At 120, Bowman County’s Alex Madrigal and New Salem-Almon’ts Tayt Wolding should meet for the first time this season.  The 170 pound trio of state finalist Tyler Erickson (Beulah-Hazen), top ranked Mark Hastings (Hillsboro), and Isaac Anderson (Hettinger/Scranton) is also one to keep an eye on.  Heavyweight boasts all six state ranked wrestlers, plus two or three others that could make the finals.  The weight class has been that close all season long.

Ranked wrestlers competing at each weight

106

#2  Luke Leshuk Hillsboro/CV

#4  Gunnar Mogen Velva

#5  Connor Andress Hettinger-Scranton

#6  Adin Jungers Beulah-Hazen

*Boeden Greenley Lisbon

113

#1  Connor LeDoux Bishop Ryan

#2  Clay Gerhardt  New Salem/Almont

#3  Isaac Felchle Harvey

#4  Brecken Lura Carrington

#5  Kyle Alfson Hillsboro/CV

#6  Garrett Hebl LaMoure

120

#1  Alex Madrigan Bowman County/Beach

#2  Tayt Wolding New Salem/Almont

#4  Cade Warbis Hettinger/Scranton

#5  Ethan Wonser Williams Co.

#6  Trevor Hoggarth Carrington

126

#1  Kyle Burwick Hettinger/Scranton

#2  Riley Zachmeier Rugby

#4  Austin Burgard Oakes

#5  Braedon Gumke Watford City

132

#1  Chauncey Dittus New Salem/Almont

#2  Darin Vangorkom South Border

#3  Coy Awender Oakes

#4  Kersey Harris Bishop Ryan

#5  Liam Shannon Watford City

#6  Gavin Wright Hillsboro/CV

138

#2  Cale Schalesky Hettinger/Scranton

#3  Josh Irwin New Salem/Almont

#4 Zach Broadwell Carrington

#5  Joey Berg Rugby

#6  Hunter Schwab Lisbon

145

#1  Jacob Bitz Napoleon

#2  Jordan Sours Lisbon

#3  Eli Hackman Velma

#5  Jake Herr South Border

#6  Austin Hendrickson Carrington

152

#1  Garrett Jangula Napoleon

#2  Mark Joachim South Border

#3  Michael Thomas Velva

#4 Taylor Schall Oakes

#5  Tristan Howard Lisbon

160

#1  Colton Miller Des Lacs/Burlington

#2  Nathan Weigel Napoleon

#3  Jon Thomas Velva

#4  Clayton Matter Bowman County/Beach

#5  Logan Sell Oakes

#6  Ethan Caruth Edgeley/Ellendale/Kulm

170

#1  Mark Hastings Hillsboro/CV

#2  Isaac Anderson Hettinger/Scranton

#3  Tyler Erickson Beulah-Hazen

#4  Coy Spooner Des Lacs/Burlington

#5  Levi Schwab Lisbon

#6  Brock Selzler Velva

182

#1  Kaden Wolsky Carrington

#2  Corbin Okeson Bishop Ryan

#3  Clark Thielges LaMoure

#5  Thomas Leintz Beulah-Hazen

#6  Ethan Ellingson Edgeley/Ellendale/Kulm

*Gavin Reinke Lisbon

195

#1  Connor Dennis Watford City

#3  Wyatt Nitsche Edgeley/Ellendale/Kulm

#6  Beau Jeffers Bowman County/Beach

220

#1  Jordan Urbach Lisbon

#2  Bailey Lawson Harvey

#3  Bronson Flynn New Town

#4  Jake Connelly Hillsboro/CV

#5  Kaden Sago Beulah-Hazen

285

#1  Jackson Faller Watford City

#2  DJ Schneibel Rugby

#3  Kutter Blumhagen Velva

#4  Andrew Miller Napoleon

#5 Ben Shearer Lisbon

#6  Riley Molter South Border