McKenzie County Farmer - Sports

Jade Hepper
Guest Columnist

Brier Arnegard was seeded 5th heading into the state wrestling tournament last weekend. He would pick up a first period tech fall in round 16. In the quarter-finals Brier faced a familiar opponent, Joryn Richter, from Bismarck St. Mary’s. Richter got the best of both the exchanges previous in the season, but this one went much different. Brier got the first takedown and would run up the score early. In the 3rd period choosing bottom he would lock up a six- point Peterson and win the match by major decision 15-5.
In the semi-finals, Brier was against the number 1 seeded wrestler, Stetson Gisselbeck of Fargo Sheyenne. Brier wrestled a good match, but got beat 5-0. A huge blow to crush his dream, but BT (Brier) came off the mat a good sport to his competitor and ready to bounce back.
He would pin the number 7 seed in the consolation semi-finals, landing him in the 3rd place match against Bismarck High School’s Braeden Halverson.
Brier got caught early in a cradle and wouldn’t be able to recover. At the podium, Brier took 4th place. “Brier has been a staple on our team the past couple seasons, Adam and I have been able to coach him. It’s a bittersweet end, but a hell of a career at that. Hitting his 100th career win and the title of most four-point near falls in the state with 51,” said Coach Hepper.
In the Heavyweight division, Sam Inman was seeded 6th. He picked up a pin in round 16. Then faced the number 3 seed, Braxton Rance of Devils Lake in the quarter-finals.
Sam was behind after a first period takedown, but chose the top position in the second. He hooked up one of his cradles and had Rance on his back for about 25 seconds, but just couldn’t quite get the fall.
Behind in the 3rd, Sam went out trying to throw Rance in a lateral drop losing 17-5. In the Wrestlebacks, Sam also had a familiar opponent, the number 7 seed, Easton Egeberg of Bismarck High School. They were 2-2 this season and Sam would come through on the big stage winning 7-2. In the consolation semi-finals, Sam was up against the number 5 seed, Gus Werremeyer of Fargo Davies. Sam lost to Gus earlier in the season, but was ready for the rematch.
He had a nice blast double to secure an early takedown and would also get Werremeyer turned in a cradle winning 9-5.
During the 3rd place match Sam wrestled against the number 3 seed, Carter Johnson of Bismarck Legacy. Carter was ready to defend cradles after getting pinned by Sam at Regionals. Carter would get the better of this exchange winning 9-3.
“Placing at the state tournament as a sophomore is a great accomplishment. Causing some upsets to get to the consolation finals just showcases this kids potential,” stated Coach Hepper.
Zane Wagoner wrestling at 145 pounds was seeded 8th. In round 16, Zane was handling business, running up a 7-0 lead. But, he was caught on his back and pinned late in the second period by the number 9 seed, Hunter Parisien of Central Cass. “A heart-breaker to end his chances at making a run in the championship side of the bracket. Also making his chances at placing much more difficult, but that didn’t stop him,” explained Coach Hepper.
Zane would come back to win his first round Wrestleback by pin. In the blood round, he had the number 7 seed from Turtle Mountain Community, Ray Trottier - a returning state place winner, who had earlier beaten Arnegard in the season at 152 pounds. Winner places and loser goes home with nothing.
Zane would pin Trottier in the first period with a beautifully timed cradle. In the consolation quarter-finals he had the number 6 seed, Tucker Bennett of Devils Lake. Zane would also pin Bennet via thread the needle.
In the consolation semi-finals, Zane wrestled against the number 4 seed, Kaden Kraft of Minot. He got the first takedown, but would give up 2 points for clasping. Those 2 points would come into play later as he ended up losing 7-5.
“It seemed like fate when we checked the bracket sheet and he was against Parisian again. Zane wasn’t going to let him even catch his breathe this time,” said Coach Hepper.
Zane would pin Parisian in 41 seconds this time. Earning him 5th place and the most pins in the state tournament, with 35.
Cora Sorenson was seeded 7th going into the tournament. “As a 7th grader, we were proud of her for just qualifying for state, but she earned the 7 seed and was determined to get on that podium,” said Coach Hepper.
In the rounds of 16, Cora would pick up a first period pin over the number 10 seed, Brooklyn Ost of Minot. She was then up against the number 2 seed, Brooklyn Lafrenz of Mandan in the quarter-finals.
Cora didn’t give up, but would lose by tech fall. In the blood round, she wrestled against the number 9 seed, Maci Puppe of Pembina County. Cora picked up a tech fall of her own to notch her place on the podium.
“In the 7th place match history was on the line. Watford City has only had one girl place at a state tournament (Giorgia Carli) and she took 8th,” explained Coach Hepper.
Cora would pick up another win via tech fall getting the 7th grader seventh place, and the current highest placement of Watford Cities girl wrestling team.
“Very bright future and no doubt she will break her own record multiple times,” Coach Hepper exclaimed.
Watford City had 4 seeded wrestlers all outdoing or living up to their seed. The unseeded wrestlers all won a match, but would come up short in the blood round.
Rowdy Mott picked up a win against Landen Wallette, a kid Rowdy had never beat previously. James Rassmussen beat Kaden Philion of Minot by major decision 9-0. Corban Sorenson got a win by major decision over the number 8 seed, Brody Ray of Red River 15-3.
Coach Hepper added “Sari Sorenson may not have won a match, but as a freshman just a month into her career, she is still only the 3rd girl to qualify for the state tournament from Watford City. No doubt she has lots of potential.”

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