The latest Class A rankings are here, and the Bismarck Rotary served to clear up some weights, and further muddle others.  My greatest rankings issue of the season, and what I assume will be a major seeding headache at the West Region tournament, was at 132.  After Drew Steidler (St. Mary’s Central) and newly minted #2 Liam Shannon (Watford City), four West Region wrestlers could legitimately lay claim to the third slot.  They are:  Preston Fettig (Bismarck), Devin Schulz (Century), Jaron Berger (Dickinson), and Dalton McKenzie (Williston).  McKenzie defeated Fettig 4-0 in Williston’s dual with Bismarck a week ago, but he also sits 0-1 with Berger.  After a rough start to the season, Schulz rebounded at the Rotary and finished fourth, beating Fettig 2-1 in the consolation semifinal.  For comparison, Fettig defeated Schulz 14-0 at the Mandan Lions Dec. 1.  Berger is 1-0 against McKenzie, but 1-2 with Fettig and 0-1 against Schulz.  In the end, Schulz gets the nod at three for his 1-1 record with Fettig that includes the most recent victory (a criteria I frequently use when wrestlers are 1-1).  This weight will get even more interesting with the return of Legacy’s Maverick Martin.  Martin hasn’t competed since Dec. 7, but is 1-0 against Schulz and has a common opponent with anyone that has lost to Rapid City Stevens’s Declan Malone.  Suffice to say, the 132 pound bracket at the WDA tournament promises to be very interesting.

*Wrestlers that have not competed in the last month have been removed from the rankings.  Though this may seem unfair, it is an opportunity for wrestlers that have been competing to jump into the rankings and be recognized.  Any wrestler that returns will be added to the next rankings update!  If I missed something, please let me know!  I have been known to change glaring errors on the fly! ndheadlock@yahoo.com