Drew Steidler Second at Rocky Mountain Nationals

Drew Steidler, a two time state runner-up for Class A St. Mary’s Central High School, finished second at 123 pounds in the 15 & Under Division of Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver, CO over the weekend.  Steidler, who fell to Bismarck High 2X state champion Ryan Ripplinger in the state finals this year, advanced to the finals…

Metz Defeats #12 Costello in “War at West Gym”

West Fargo’s Brandon Metz, a three time North Dakota state champion at 285 pounds and currently ranked sixth in the nation by Flowrestling, took his act into hostile territory on Saturday night for a match up with Iowa AAA state champion Aaron Costello in “The War at West Gym.”  Costello is currently ranked twelfth in the…

Kindred’s Bakke Finishes Career Strong

Kindred’s Trace Bakke entered the North Dakota Class B State tournament seeded seventh, and left the Fargodome with a third place trophy.  Bakke’s only loss came in the quarterfinals to Velva’s Jon Thomas, who Bakke beat 5-2 for third place later in the tournament.  After his third place finish, Bakke discussed the family aspect of the Kindred…

Class A Returning Team Points

With only two wrestlers graduating from a third place individual tournament team, the Bismarck Demons edge state champion Minot High as the team to beat next season on the weight of 165.5 team points to Minot’s 155.  Rounding out the top five are familiar faces Mandan (105), Century (96), and West Fargo (93). Bismarck High…

Leintz Breaks the Curse for Beulah-Hazen

For Jeremy Leintz, winning a state title was about finally reaching the mountain top as an individual, and breaking a curse for Beulah-Hazen that goes back to the 1990’s.  A Beulah-Hazen (formerly Beulah) wrestler had not won a state title since Brian Biel brought home a title in 1998.  Numerous Miners, including Leintz himself two season…

Dittus Wins The Rubber Match Over Geiszler

In what was the most anticipated Class B state finals match of 2017, Chauncey Dittus of New Salem-Almont upended returning Class B state champion Lucas Geiszler of Carrington by 7-4 decision.  Dittus is one piece of what was the strongest group of lightweight wrestlers in the state this season, as Clay Gerhardt (state champion 106),…

Brady Terrill Wins One For Grand Forks Central

Grand Forks Central’s Brady Terrill is no stranger to big matches at the state tournament.  Two years ago as a sophomore, Terrill advanced to the semifinals of the 285 pound weight division with a 4-3 quarterfinal decision and finished fifth.  In 2016, Terrill move to his new home at 220 and lost an overtime quarterfinal bout…

Ripplinger Dominates the “A” 120 Field

When it was all said and done, Bismarck High School’s Ryan Ripplinger described his season to ND Headlock in one word: “Emotional”.  After all the ups and downs that Ripplinger and the rest of the Demons faced this year as a team, the sophomore dominated his way to the 120 pound Class A state championship, scoring falls…

Spilman a State Champion Again For Mandan

Dale Spilman, who won his first title at 170 last season when he upended Century state champion Jacob Rader, made it to the top of the podium again in 2017.  Spilman  finished his Mandan wrestling career in style, with a pin in 2:55 over Wahpeton’s Aaron Deike.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX6tp2V4WE8

Rader, Schulz, Cap CHS Careers With Second Titles

Though the Century Patriots didn’t achieve all of their team goals at the North Dakota Class A State Wrestling Tournament over the weekend, two Patriots left the Fargodome with their second title.  Both are also three time state finalists.  Jacob Rader, who won his title as a sophomore at 170 two years ago before falling in…