Braun heading to title tilt: Five Blue Jays still alive for final day of competition

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Jamestown’s Zane Braun had struggled against top-ranked Eddie Maisey every time the two took the mat opposite each other.

But in both wrestlers’ biggest match of the season, the Blue Jay junior got his revenge — in convincing fashion.

Braun blew out the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 152 pounds 15-2 on Friday at the state Class A wrestling tournament in Bismarck to earn a spot in the championship title match today with Grand Forks Central’s Bryce Fish.

Fish, who has beaten Braun twice this season, defeated unattached teammate Erik Jones to punch his ticket to the title tilt.

Braun, who is now 38-6 on the year, entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed and Fish is No. 2.

Jaden Horsted and Eathan Gumke also earned spots in the semifinals but failed to advance any further as they both lost to fall into the consolation brackets.

“They really wrestled well,” White said. “They were some tough matches.”

Horsted and Gumke are each still alive for third place, as are Paxton Mewes and Ryan Hillerud, who fell into the consolation bracket after losing their second match on Thursday.

Reece Waldie, Pat Lane and Nate Purcell ended their high school careers on Friday after the three seniors failed to advance into the final day. Mark Reynolds and Mitch Ova also saw their state-tournament run end on Friday, leaving five Blue Jays wrestling for positions on the podium.

As a team, Jamestown is sitting ninth with a team score of 62.5. Fargo North is eighth with 69 points, but right behind the Blue Jays is Fargo Davies, Grand Forks Central and Valley City, who are all within five points.

“We’re right there,” said White. “But four teams are right there, so it will be a battle.”

Team results

Tags: sports, jays, wrestling