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Beeter uses heartbreak to fulfill life long dream

Garrick Hodge/MDN Bishop Ryan's Konner Beeter, right, wrestles Rugby's Kaden Jaeger, left, during the Class B 152-pound match Saturday at the Fargodome. Beeter won the title by pinning Jaeger.

FARGO — When Konner Beeter walked off the mat for the final time a year ago, he was crushed.

The Bishop Ryan wrestler had just been defeated in the state championship and didn’t really know how to put losing the biggest match of his life into words.

So, he didn’t. Instead, he was determined to let his wrestling do the talking in his senior season and get one last crack at winning a title.

There was no letdown for Beeter on Saturday at the Fargodome, as he pinned Rugby’s Kaden Jaeger in 2 minutes and 22 seconds to secure the Class B 152-pound state championship match. Beeter finished the year with a 41-2 record.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Beeter said. “I’ve been wrestling since I was young and this has been a lifelong goal of mine. Losing last year made me work harder than I’ve ever worked before and it fueled my fire for sure.”

Garrick Hodge/MDN

From the moment Beeter stepped on the mat, Ryan coach Steve Lipp had a feeling Beeter was going to make a memory that would last a lifetime.

“He wanted it badly,” Lipp said. “He worked his tail off this year and I’m so happy for him right now. He came out and wrestled his match without sitting back and it showed. He looked really good.”

Jaeger and Beeter had faced each other four times before their state title match, with Beeter being the victor in each contest. He extended his season record to 5-0 against Jaeger following Saturday’s match.

“It’s one of those things with his style and how we match up with him,” Lipp said. “Sometimes that just dictates the match. Kaden is a good wrestler, but just our style with his style, we usually come out on top of that.”

The feeling was even sweeter for Lipp and Beeter as the Lions finished fourth in the Class B team individual standings with 115 points. Lisbon won the title with 150 points.

Garrick Hodge/MDN Bishop Ryan's Konner Beeter jumps into the arms of his coach in celebration after winning the 152-pound state title match.

“We’re pretty happy with that,” Lipp said. “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to finish in the top five and we took it one step better.”

Beeter plans to continue his athletic career by playing football at Minot State in the fall. He hasn’t ruled out wrestling for the Beavers, though. He will be joined by high school teammate Jordan Will, who won the Class B 220-pound state championship Saturday.

“We’re going to be roommates and state champions together,” Beeter said. “I mean, that’s pretty cool, right? I’m for sure going to play football and I’m still considering wrestling. We’ll see how it goes.”

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

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