Tomac to the title match: Hettinger-Scranton-RTH senior shocks his way to finals
FARGO — Throughout the first two days of the Class B individual state wrestling tournament, Hettinger-Scranton-Richardton-Taylor-Hebron’s Codi Tomac has dealt out his fair share of upsets.By: Royal McGregor, The Dickinson Press
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FARGO — Throughout the first two days of the Class B individual state wrestling tournament, Hettinger-Scranton-Richardton-Taylor-Hebron’s Codi Tomac has dealt out his fair share of upsets.
The seventh-seeded Tomac led 2-0 going into the third period of a 126-pound semifinal match. His opponent, Lisbon’s Grant Johnson, chose the down position.
“When he chose the down position in the final period, I knew my strong point is when I’m on top,” Tomac said with a smile. “He was played right into my deck of cards.”
After a win over No. 2 seed Chaz Bauer of Carrington on Thursday, Tomac beat No. 3-seed Johnson with a 3-1 decision to reach the finals on Friday at the Fargodome.
“Codi’s won my hardest worker award for five years in a row,” Hettinger-Scranton-RTH head coach Randy Burwick said. “Everyone told him with a seven in front of your name, you’re probably the seventh best. That’s not true, I’m so proud of him.”
Tomac will look to upset No. 1 seed Blake Bosch of South Border, who holds the all-time wins record in North Dakota with 239 — a mark he set with Thursday his first his first win of the tournament.
The finals start today at 2 p.m.
“I’ve felt great all weekend,” Tomac said. “Everything has just been going great for me.”
The Night Hawks’ other semifinalist was senior Rodney Vanhoff (152). During the final 10 seconds, Napoleon’s Trenten Jangula scored a takedown and near-fall points to beat Vanhoff by a 5-0 decision.
“Rodney was in a good spot,” Burwick said. “He went for the takedown and I know his heart is broken, but that’s wrestling.”
Three other Night Hawk wrestlers, Lucas Ormiston (113), Christian Hughes (145) and Colby Steeke (182), are all guaranteed at least eighth place. However, Burwick doesn’t want them to settle for the lowest place.
“Coming in, we thought we could get seven kids placed,” Burwick said. “We get five, but the big thing is that we don’t want them to settle for where they are at. You’ve got an opportunity to wrestle three times tomorrow, so wrestle three times.”
Hettinger-Scranton-RTH was knocked out of the Class B team duals after a 42-33 loss against Stanley-Powers Lake-Tioga-Ray.
The Night Hawks trailed by three points, 30-27, going into the final three matches, but could only muster one win — a pin from junior Denby Lueck at 195 pounds.
For Bowman County, Eric Bucholz (138), Troy Steele (145) and Jacob Hildebrant (220) are all still in the tournament.
Bucholz had a 16-1 technical fall to beat Hettinger-Scranton-RTH’s Trevor Abrahamson in an early consolation round and later pinned Pembina County North’s Gabe Schill in 1:45.
Steele picked up a 9-1 decision over Beulah-Hazen’s Ty Hornung and Hildebrandt pinned Killdeer’s Colten Turner in 43 seconds in his lone match of the day.
Junior David Dukart (195) is Killdeer’s lone remaining wrestler. He pinning Lisbon’s Trevor Zins in 1:54 in the wrestlebacks Friday.
“We were hoping to get one or two more placers, but we’re pretty young and pretty inexperienced,” Killdeer head coach Shane Olson said. “He’s doing a good job for us.”
The Cowboys had no seniors this season, but Olson hopes the host of newcomers can relish this opportunity and grow from here.
“We had a lot of seventh- and eighth-graders here, so it’s good to get those nerves out of the way,” he said. “To be here this early in their careers is a good thing.”
Tags: hettinger-scranton night hawks, state wrestling, codi tomac, sports, wrestling, preps
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