BISMARCK - Hettinger-Scranton wrestling closed out the second day of the North Dakota Class B state wrestling tournament on a high note.
The high note came from an unlikely source - freshman Alec Andress at 126 pounds.
Andress defeated Minot Ryan’s Konner Beeter - who knocked the Night Hawks freshman out of the individual side of the state tournament - in an 11-4 decision to win the state duals team consolation championship on Friday at the Bismarck Civic Center.
“I just did it for my team,” Andress said about revenging a win against Beeter. “I came back in the dual tournament and didn’t let me team down.
“I was little nervous going in. I knew I could beat this kid. I was losing 2-0 when he pinned me. I knew if I worked hard, I could beat him.”
Hettinger-Scranton finished with a 31-27 win over the Lions. The team dual between the Night Hawks and Minot Ryan went back and forth. Hettinger-Scranton managed to win five of the last seven matches.
The Night Hawks handled Velva 57-21 to reach the consolation championship dual.
“In the dual, it came down to a freshman and we put all the weight on his shoulders,” Hettinger-Scranton head coach Randy Burwick said. “And boy, did he respond.”
On the individual side, the Night Hawks had three wrestlers in the semifinals, but none reached the finals.
Seventh-grader Kyle Burwick (106), senior Christian Hughes (145) and sophomore Colby Steeke (195) all found themselves on the wrong side of decisions. All three decisions were decided by nine points.
Nonetheless, all three wrestlers have the chance to place at least sixth or better. The highest they can finish is third.
“Christian, Colby and Kyle all wrestled hard,” Burwick said. “They gave everything they had. I couldn’t ask anything more from them. They gave every ounce they had.”
In total, seven of the 14 wrestlers Hettinger-Scranton brought are guaranteed at least an eighth or higher place finish at the state tournament.
Bowman County has three state placers including junior Troy Steele (152), who is guaranteed a sixth place or higher. The No. 1-seed Trenten Jangula of Napoleon pinned Steele during the semifinals.
The Bulldogs also have sophomore Tyler Longland (113) and Mathew Carlson (120) are both going to finish on the podium with an eighth or better placement. The highest place Steele, Longland and Carlson can take is third.
“The younger guys aren’t used to wrestling at the state tournament,” Bowman County head coach Jeff Boynton said. “They were a little shocked looking up around here. It’s good experience for them for next year. Hopefully, they’ll learn what it takes to get here and then know what to do when they get here.”
Killdeer’s two state placers are junior Tanner Rohde (132) and sophomore Derek Tabor (145). Rohde faces Jeseb Mogan of Central Cass, Tabor wrestles Minot Ryan’s Keaton Merck in the consolation quarterfinals.
