Image Courtesy Richard Immel

Coming off a strong performance at Junior Duals last month, the North Dakota Junior National Team enters competition Sunday at the Fargodome featuring a stable of veterans prepared to make a run at All American status.  West Fargo four-time state champion Jared Franek enters his final Fargo as one of the most decorated North Dakotans in USA Wrestling history.  Franek is looking to add a Junior Freestyle title to the won he took home in the Cadet division two years ago.  Last season, Franek was upended in the Junior finals by Illinois World Team member Will Lewan.  Other Former All Americans returning this season are Kyle Burwick, Ryan Ripplinger, Michael Weber, Matt Kaylor, and Chase Dockter.  Though none of the five have achieved All American status at the the Junior level, all should be in contention.  Hettinger’s Burwick made his first national statement by finishing undefeated in the Freestyle portion of the Junior Duals and enters the tournament ranked fifth in the country.  An impressive run in Fargo should cement Burwick as one of the top 125 pound prospects in the country for the class of 2019.

113:  Kelby Armstrong (Minot), Caleb Nielsen (Lisbon)

126: Preston Fettig (Bismarck), Kyle Burwick (Hettinger)

132:  Ryan Ripplinger (Bismarck), Samuel Goodman (Minot), Tayt Wolding (New Salem), Carlos Martinez (Hettinger)

138:  Tate Laducer (Belcourt), Jackson Currier (Colstrip, MT), Adam DeBoer (Bismarck), Riley Zachmeier (Rugby)

145: Michael Weber (Forsyth, MT)

152:  Kolbe Booker (Moorhead, MN), Tate Bordby (Dickinson), Hunter Schwab (Lisbon)

160: Izzak Olejnik(Bakersfield, CA), Jared Franek (Harwood),

170:  Parker Wahl (Bismarck)

195:  Matt Kaylor (Bismarck)

220:  Ronald Wilkie (Belcourt)

285: Chase Dockter (Bismarck)