Blue Jays battle Demons
Even with both teams missing a couple of starters, it’s hard to believe Jamestown had a fighting chance against the tradition-rich wrestling powerhouse Bismarck High on Tuesday night.By: By Jamestown Sun Staff, The Jamestown Sun
Even with both teams missing a couple of starters, it’s hard to believe Jamestown had a fighting chance against the tradition-rich wrestling powerhouse Bismarck High on Tuesday night.
But the Blue Jays gave Bismarck a battle, trailing 31-29 with two matches to go before the Demons secured a 37-32 West Region dual victory in Bismarck.
“It was an exciting and wild night,” said assistant coach Larry Eslick, who filled in for sick head coach Greg White. “Going into the dual, we looked at it on paper. We looked at it over and over and we had an opportunity to be closer to Bismarck than we have in 20 years. I’ve been here 25 years and only three times I’ve ever seen it.
“We had a talk with the kids before and said it’s there for the taking.”
Back-to-back pins from Triston Shipley (195) and Kyle Anderson (220) gave Jamestown a 23-13 lead with six matches to go. Zane Braun (152) recorded a technical fall while Caleb Ellingson (170) and Eathan Gumke (182) took decisions to help the Blue Jays stake their lead.
However, Bismarck’s Tristan Hall won at heavy weight, and the Demons took a 31-23 lead when Jamestown was unable to fill 106 and 113, giving Bismarck 12 points on forfeits.
But Paxton Mewes responded with a second-period pin to cut the deficit to two with two matches to go. Bismarck standout Adam Blees, a multiple state place-winner, secured a pin to close out the dual. The Blue Jays ended the dual with a Jaden Horsted win by decision at 132.
Of the 12 contested matches, Jamestown won seven of them.
“I’m proud of the way these kids wrestled,” Eslick said. “These guys will have a huge confidence boost coming off this. … I think it sends a ripple through the rest of the world that these kids are for real.”
With dual losses to Turtle Mountain, Bismarck Century and Bismarck High already this season, the Blue Jays may have to win out to make the Class A state dual tournament.
Jamestown goes to the Sertoma dual tournament in Grand Forks on Friday. It plays Greenbush, Minn., in its opening dual.
Bismarck 37, Jamestown 32
138: Jade Nein, BHS, dec. Mitch Ova, 6-4.
145: Tate Hoffman, BHS, tech. fall, Ryan Hillerud, 5:04 (16-0).
152: Zane Braun, JHS, tech. fall, Josh Brilz, 4:54 (15-0).
160: Ryan Blees, BHS, tech. fall, Brandyn Harr, 6:00 (23-6).
170: Caleb Ellingson, JHS, dec. Beau Kary, 8-6, OT.
182: Eathan Gumke, JHS, dec. Willie Sam, 8-7.
195: Triston Shipley, JHS, pinned Todd Kessler, 5:26.
220: Kyle Anderson, JHS, pinned Ben Strombeck, 0:53.
285: Tristan Hall, BHS, pinned Mark Reynolds, 1:25.
106: Taylor Nein, BHS, won by forfeit.
113: Kael Knowlen, BHS, won by forfeit.
120: Paxton Mewes, JHS, pinned Jaden Fettig, 3:43.
126: Adam Blees, BHS, pinned Jakob Browning, 2:59.
132: Jaden Horsted, JHS, dec. Lane Kaseman, 3-2.
Sun sportswriter Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com
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