Oakes’ Marc Seyer wrestles Dillon Norman of Larimore in the first round of the Class B Individual State Championships. Image courtesy Monica Jo Ptacek

If the first day of the North Dakota Class B state tournament was an indicator, we wont know who wins the individual team title until Saturday afternoon.  Region foes Lisbon and South Border both had strong efforts in Thursday night’s quarterfinal round, distancing themselves from the rest of the field and settling in for what should be a nip and tuck race to the title.  Lisbon’s 5.5 point advantage is due to the fact that the Broncos hold a one semifinalist advantage on South Border, 8-7.  Lisbon’s Carter Wallner (106), Mike Nelson (113), Boeden Greenley (136), Hunter Schwab (145),  Jaden Schmidt (152),  Jordan Sours (160), Sam Rieger (220), and Ethan Lyons (285) all advanced through to tomorrow evening’s semifinal round.  State champions Greenley and Sours, plus Schwab and Nelson, recorded falls for an extra two points each.

South Border’s seven semifinalists are Charles Herr (113), Marshall Lindgren (120), Grant Schneider (132), Jon Schockley (138), Mark Jochim (152), Jake Herr (160), and Nathan Schauer.  At 138, Schockley advanced to the semis from the #6 seed.  Schockley scored a first round fall before upending New Salem/Almont #3 seed Ethan Hammons 15-7.

Third place Carrington had a roller-coaster day starting, with a dual loss to New Salem/Almont Thursday morning and continuing into the evening.  The Cardinals put five through to the semifinals, but were stung by an upset loss of #2 ranked Brecken Lura at 132.  Lura led #7 Riley Odden of Rugby 5-0 in the second period when Lura attempted a leg attack and was counter-thrown to his back and pinned.  The Cardinal semifinalists are Treston Lura (113), Matthew Duchscherer (120), Tate Hoggarth (160), Michael Clifton (170), and Colton Buskness (220).  Seeded Sixth, Buskness took #3 Ethan Ellingson of E/E/K to overtime 2-2.  Needing an escape to tie the match in the secon ultimate tie breaker, Buskness go to his feet for one, and then planted Ellingson to his back when Ellingson attempted an errant feet to back maneuver.

Fourth place Velva started the quarterfinal round hot, winning three consecutive before dropping five in a row to finish.  Junior 285 Nick Hodges won a 15-6 major decision over AJ Heins of New Salem.  106 #2 Colin Dean made quick work of South Border’s #7 Tristan Lepp via fall in 1:19.  In what was one of the most anticipated quarterfinals of the evening, Velva 126 Gunnar Mogen scored an 8-0 major decision over Lisbon’s Caleb Nielsen.  Mogen scored a two point takedown and two nearfall on a fireman’s carry that he transitioned into a peterson.  Mogen added two other two-point nearfalls for the major decision.

The quarterfinal round was loaded with unpredictability.  The lone unseeded wrestler to advance to the semifinals was 145 Trey Jacob of Linton/HMB.  Jacob scored a first round win 12-5 over #5 Ezra Weichmann and then pinned Eric Hoffman of Larimore in 4:39.  Jacob will wrestle PCN state champion Tanner Urlaub in the semifinals.  Hettinger Scranton had an up and down day, but did push #7 Conner Andress through to the semifinals along with 113 Peyton Tuhy and 132 Cade Warbis.  Andress scored two falls, including a fall in 4:38 over Hugo Garcia of Williams County.  Garcia made big waves in the first round with a fall over #2 Preston Litton of Pembina County North.  Warbis got behind Pembina County North’s Jayce Horgan 10-0 but came back and won 12-10 in overtime.  At 152, Lamoure/L/M’s Brett Wendel is headed to the semifinals from the six seed on the strength of a 15-3 major decision over Ty Wolding of New Salem Almont.  Wolding previously defeated #3 Bransyn Yanish of Velva via FALL.