Bismarck High flexed some serious muscle in the quarterfinal round of the North Dakota State Class A Individual Team Championships.  The Demons, who started the day with a 60-19 victory over West Fargo in the dual portion of the tournament, placed ten wrestlers through to the semifinals.  Demons L.J Araujo (106), Kaden Renner (132), Brock Fettig (152), Gage Roaldson (170), and Isaiah Huus (182) all scored pins in their quarterfinal bouts.  Joining those five in the finals are Christian (113) and Wilfried (120) Tanefeu, Preston Fettig(138), Ben Nagel (145), and Brandt Kringlie (160).  Nagel advanced to the semifinals from the six seed after he defeated Jamestown’s Jackson Walters 9-5.  Walters had previously upended #3 Maverick Martin in the tournament’s first round. Bismarck finished last season with six state champions, and this team looks poised to chase that number or more headed into tomorrow’s semifinal round.

Bismarck Century sits solidly in second place with 78.5 points after sending seven scorers plus an extra at 120 through.  The Patriots are guaranteed one finalist as #3 Kaden DeCoteau will wrestle #2 Hayden Johnsrud in an all-north Bismarck semifinal. Johnsrud won their last matchup in the WDA semifinals last weekend.  Joining the two 120’s are Blake Ersland (106), Neal Bohrer (113), Devin Schulz (132), Clay Radenz (138), Anthony Carranza (182), and Konnor Stordalen (285).  Bohrer, DeCoteau, and Schulz recorded falls for the Patriots.

Third place Minot sent six  wrestlers on to the semis including Gabe Mortensen (106), Kelby Armstrong (132), Trevon McClaanahan (138), Chase Burke (160), Jacob Carmichael (195), and Preston Jones (220)

The Class A side didn’t see very many lower seeds advance on the championship side, but there were a few exceptions.  #6 Henry Nelson of Dickinson advanced at 126 with an 11-6 overtime decision over Fargo North’s Danny Monatukwa.  With the score knotted at six in overtime, Nelson turned away a Monatukwa shot and found an inside cradle from the front headlock position.  In the ensuing scramble Nelson put Monatukwa on his back and secured his place in the semifinals.  #7 Tim Kadrmas of Legacy scored a workmanlike 7-2 win over West Fargo’s #2 Kaleb Porter at 138.  Kadrmas will wrestle Minot’s McClaanahan tomorrow evening.  Another #6, Jamestown’s 170 Johnny Browning, defeated Century’s #3 Jacob Boehm on his path to the semis.  Browning is one of four Blue Jays to advance.