Demon Coaches Scott Owens and Mo Timali look on as their 285 Nolan Hiltz works a single leg takedown against Mandan

The two teams that split last years state championships, Bismarck High winning the duals and Minot winning the individual, will meet Friday evening for the state dual championship.  Both squads dominated in their respective semifinals, Bismarck 53-9 over Mandan and Minot 45-16 over Bismarck Century.  Overall, the West Region locked in the top four spots with a sweep in first round duals yesterday.

Mandan started the dual with a pin from #1 ranked Isaac Beger, but the tides turned Bismarck’s way quickly.  Demon starting 152 Gage Roladson bumped to 160 and scored a quick five point throw in the first period and then hung on for a one point victory over Mandan’s Dylan Fleck.  After a pin, from Parker Wahl to give Bismarck a 9-6 advantage, Mandan’s Jacob Boehm came just short of a major decision against Mason Steckeler.  In a huge tossup match at 195, Brave Danek Vega led Bismarck’s Conor McGregor 2-0 after two periods, by McGregor was able to score a reversal and then fall to give Bismarck a 15-9 lead.

The Demons rolled from there, scoring wins in the last nine weight classes to win dual running away.  At 120, Demon #1 Laken Boese edged Will Kleinknecht on the strength of an escape and stalling point 2-1.  The other tight match in the run of Demon wins came at 132, where Bismarck’s Adam DeBoer scored a 3-1 overtime victory over Ethan Fleck.  Fleck and DeBoer will wrestle in tonights semifinal as well; their eighth match of the season.

Minot 3X state champion Brody Armstrong shakes hands with Century athletes before their semifinal bout

The Magi started hot and never stopped against Century, racking up wins in ten of fourteen weight classes.  Of those matches, Jacob Mortensen (152), Hunter Swartwout (220), and Eli Huff score falls, and Creighton Rudolph took a forfeit at 170.

The teams split battles of ranked wrestlers at 106 and 113.  Minot #1 ranked 106 Kelby Armstrong upended #3 Hayden Johnsrod by major decision 14-5.  #3 Clay Radenz of Century defeated #5 Sam Goodman of Minot 3-0.