West Fargo’s Jared Franek is back in the national finals for the third consecutive year. Franek, who won a Cadet national championship two years ago and finished runner-up last season in the Junior division, will try and put a cherry on top of his fantastic Fargo resume with a victory tomorrow afternoon over Danny Braunagel of Illinois.  Franek has faced a wrestler from Illinois in each of his finals appearances.  The lone test for the class A four-time state champion up to this point came in a 7-3 quarterfinal win over Jared Stefanowicz of Pennsylvania.  Franek defeated Ohio’s Nevan Snodgrass 10-0 in the semifinals.

Hettinger’s Kyle Burwick came a match short of a chance to wrestle for a national title alongside Franek when he was upended by #10 Matthew Colaiocco 18-6.  The bout was tight at the break, but Colaiocco created space in the second period with some pretty goo behind off Burwick hi-crotch attempts.  Burwick won his consolation match semifinal and will wrestle Minnesota’s Patrick McKee for third place.

The other All American for North Dakota was Bismarck’s Christian Tanefeu.  Tanefeu lost a heartbreaking quarterfinal in the morning session when we was pinned on an errant gut wrench attempt while ahead 10-2.  Tanefeu then on two matches in a row before dropping his consolation semifinal.  The Bismarck High sophomore will wrestle for fifth tomorrow afternoon.