FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – From the time he lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision in the state title match in 2020, Koye Grebel had one thing in mind, get back to the state title match and win. Mission accomplished on Friday. The sophomore defeated William Sprenger of Devils Lake by tech fall at 5:20 (20-4) to win the 106 pound weight class at the state wrestling tournament.
Grebel, now 28-0, was joined by seven teammates that placed at state, the second most in school history. Only last year’s ten was better. Grebel would defeated Ben DeForest 12-2 in the semifinals.
As a team, the Hi-Liners scored the highest point total in a state tournament in school history by scoring 198.5. Bismarck won another team title, their fourth in a row and seven in the last eight years, with 313.5. Bismarck Century was second with 210.
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Robert Brewer/MDN
In the 182-pound division, Minot s DeJarius Jones (top) controls the tempo in his match with Bishop Ryan s Chuka Osula on Thursday. Jones would go on to win by way of fall at the 4:50 mark, helping Minot to a 42-26 victory.
The Magicians were able to defend their home turf on Thursday, recording a 42-26 win over Bishop Ryan in their first match of the day, then beating conference rival Bismarck Legacy 41-26 to complete a two-match sweep. As for the Lions, they lost to Legacy 54-27 prior to taking on Minot.
Against Bishop Ryan, the Magi won two of its first three showdowns on the mat. Kade Marker (106) got the pin against Riley Weeks at the 1:08 mark, and Tyler Nelson (120) earned a 9-3 decision over Octavio Alvarez. Then at 132 pounds, Minot’s Victor Garcia ended his battle Parker Baier with a second period pin, and senior Paden Combs notched a 7-2 decision victory at 145.