Submitted Photo Des Lacs-Burlington’s Emma Buee clinched back-to-back individual state championships in the 170-pound weight class for the Lakers in the Fargodome on Friday after going 35-3 on the season.

Following a fireworks-filled opening day of individuals at the North Dakota Wrestling State Championships, Minot High’s Gabe Mortensen and Des Lacs-Burlington’s Emma Buee claimed their second consecutive state titles as several other Minot-area wrestlers joined them in the championship ranks in the Fargodome on Friday.

Moving up from last year’s state-title weight class of 126 pounds to the 132-pound weight class, Magi senior Gabe Mortensen proceeded to compile a 45-3 record in 2023 en route to pinning Valley City’s Tucker Johnson to earn his second North Dakota state title in as many years for Minot High.

Joining their Magi teammate with impressive performances of their own, Kaydn Turnbow notched his second runner-up finish in the past two years in the 220-pound weight class, along with a third-place finish for Daniel Fernandez (138) and fifth-place finish for DeJarius Jones (170)

Also earning the title of back-to-back champion on Friday was Des Lacs-Burlington’s Emma Buee, whose 7-6 decision over Mandan’s Alexis Storsved secured her second state title in the girls’ 170-pound weight class. Buee, who racked up a record of 35-3 this season, is the first member of the Lakers girls’ wrestling team to earn a state title and sign with a college, as she heads to Augsburg University this upcoming year to continue her wrestling career.

Representing the Lakers in the 120-pound weight division was Kashtyn Bredahl, who ended individuals with a fourth-place finish for Des Lacs-Burlington.

On the boys’ Class B side of the mat, Bishop Ryan’s 285-pounder Coy Okeson ran the gauntlet on an undefeated season, finishing 45-0 and bringing home a state title via an 11-3 major decision over New Salem-Almont’s AJ Heins.

Nearly joining his Lions teammate on the top of the podium was Connor Harvey, who claimed second place in the 195-pound weight division after falling to Velva’s Brayden Selzler by a 7-4 decision, in addition to Cade Okeson (220) and Lane Cooper (126) posting top-5 finishes.

For Selzler, he adds a state wrestling title to his already impressive 2022-23 high school sports resume after making the game-winning tackle on the goal line for the Aggies that secured their Class B football championship in the fall.

In addition to Selzler, Velva also saw Carson Hildre bring a state championship home for the program, as he knocked off New Salem-Almont’s Ethan Maier for the 132-pound weight division title.

Earning a runner-up finish in the 113-pound weight class for the Aggies was Pitch Hager, while Maddox Campbell took fifth in the 106-pound division.

Coming close for Beulah-Hazen was Mason Mellmer, who finished second in the 145-weight division, while Diontrea Anderson (170) and Jaxson Holter (182) of Kenmare-Bowbells and Johnathan Smith (195) of Des Lacs-Burlington all put up top-5 finishes on the day.

Finishing off a stellar season that saw them go 7-0 and clinch the WDA title, Minot High’s Danijah Moore (250) and Hallie Nash (115) captured second-place finishes for the Majettes on Friday, while Jade’ence Fletcher (190), Elizabeth Mortensen (105), Kylee Yetter (125), and Haleigh Carr (135) all turned in top-5 individual performances.

Girls’ individual top-5 final standings by weight class and order of competition:

100: 1, Anna White (Central Cass); 2, Keeley Kainoa (Mandan); 3, Jennifer Verdin (Hettinger/Scranton); 4, Izzy Owens (Bismarck); 5, Anna Engwicht (New Salem-Almont)

170: 1, Emma Buee (Des-Lacs Burlington); 2, Alexis Storsved (Mandan); 3, Hannah Sjostrom (Jamestown); 4, Isabelle Berg (Devils Lake); 5, Hannah Seefeld (Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm)

190: 1, Phoenix Lindseth (Bismarck Legacy); 2, Cambree Anderson (Bismarck); 3, Mekayla Stordalen (Bismarck Century); 4, Cassie Bartholomay (Central Cass); 5, Jade`ence Fletcher (Minot)

250: 1, Catie Sinner (Central Cass); 2, Danijah Moore (Minot); 3, Love Hopkins (White Shield); 4, Belinda Perry (Bismarck Century); 5, Aleeona Meza (Jamestown)

100: 1, Anna White (Central Cass); 2, Keeley Kainoa (Mandan); 3, Jennifer Verdin (Hettinger/Scranton); 4, Izzy Owens (Bismarck); 5, Anna Engwicht (New Salem – Almont)

105: 1, Alicia Kenfack (Bismarck Legacy); 2, Vada Hoffman (South Border); 3, Gabby Hannig (Valley City); 4, Addison Yates (Harvey-Wells County); 5, Elizabeth Mortensen (Minot)

110: 1, Julia Araujo (Bismarck); 2, Alyssa Nitschke (South Border); 3, Elizabeth Youboty (Bismarck Legacy); 4, Adali Simmons (Killdeer); 5, Alcila Olson (Hettinger/Scranton)

115: 1, Alexis Schneider (Napoleon G-S); 2, Hallie Nash (Minot); 3, Marlie Stremick (Pembina County North); 4, Shelby Miller (Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm); 5, Bailey Schmitt (Bismarck)

120: 1, Rei Ogden (Bismarck Century); 2, Shayla DeBlaere (West Fargo United); 3, Sanie Gayflor (Fargo); 4, Kashtyn Bredahl (Des-Lacs Burlington); 5, Cambrie Feist (Bismarck).

125: 1, Avery Mohr (Fargo); 2, Emersyn Schwab (Lisbon); 3, Karyssa Meidinger (LaMoure LM); 4, Kylee Yetter (Minot); 5, Kaylie Clingman (MonDak).

130: 1, Lindsey Anderson (West Fargo United); 2, Karissa Mann (Napoleon G-S); 3, Grace Lemar (Central Cass); 4, Kaylee Kurz (Grand Forks); 5, Mackenzie Stoddart (Jamestown).

135: 1, Mylee Christianson (Valley City); 2, Aleiya Cullinan (Bismarck Legacy); 3, Kennedy Wendel (Carrington); 4, Jeanie Keller (South Border); 5, Haleigh Carr (Minot)

140: 1, Allyssa Johnson (Grand Forks); 2, Paige Baumgartner (Bismarck); 3, Victoria Pasterz (Des-Lacs Burlington); 4, Hanna Ryberg (Bismarck Legacy); 5, Webeline Naklen (Fargo)

145: 1, Gracia Rolf (Lisbon); 2, Kiera Aguilar (Minot); 3, MaKenna Belling (Northern Cass); 4, Aubrie Overson (Bismarck); 5, Trisa Schroeder (Carrington).

155: 1, Emily Novak (Grand Forks); 2, Lexi Beckler (Bismarck); 3, Arianna Aguilar (Minot); 4, Jordan Flynn (Central Cass); 5, Paige Spomer (Bismarck Century).

Boys’ Class A individual top-5 final standings by weight class and order of competition:

195: 1, Olav Taylor (Bismarck Century); 2, Korbyn Draper (Williston); 3, Zach Lilly (Fargo Davies); 4, Bridger Owens (Bismarck); 5, Connor Lamb (West Fargo)

220: 1, Broden Muske (Valley City); 2, Kaydn Turnbow (Minot); 3, Landon Riely (Williston); 4, Ayden Schlafman (Bismarck); 5, Logan Moore (West Fargo)

285: 1, Nivon Hayes (Watford City); 2, Dylan Carlquist (Fargo Davies); 3, Daniel Suda (Grand Forks Central); 4, Treyson Renken (Bismarck Legacy); 5, Gunner Cadreau (Fargo North)

106: 1, Nicolas Enzminger (Bismarck Legacy); 2, Aaron Morris (Williston); 3, Jake Glaser (Dickinson); 4, Jack Schauer (Jamestown); 5, Cole Sauvageau (Fargo Davies)

113: 1, Koltyn Grebel (Valley City); 2, Joey Enzminger (Bismarck Legacy); 3, Hudson Egeberg (Bismarck); 4, Kellan Larson (Williston); 5, Seamus Kuklok (Bismarck Century)

120: 1, Ben DeForest (Bismarck); 2, Landon Zink (West Fargo Sheyenne); 3, Gavin Morel (Dickinson); 4, Wyatt Turner (Dickinson); 5, Braeden Halverson (Bismarck)

126: 1, Jesse Thompson (Bismarck Legacy); 2, Marquis Richter (Mandan); 3, Jack Coles (Williston); 4, Gage Glaser (Dickinson); 5, Owen Lindstrom (Devils Lake)

132: 1, Gabe Mortensen (Minot); 2, Tucker Johnson (Valley City); 3, Colin Steidler (Bismarck St Mary’s); 4, Brody Ferderer (Bismarck Century); 5, Wade Isom (Williston)

138: 1, Koye Grebel (Valley City); 2, Augustus Maughan (Fargo North); 3, Daniel Fernandez (Minot); 4, Landon McMahen (Bismarck); 5, Joryn Richter (Bismarck St Mary’s)

145: 1, Kaden DeCoteau (Bismarck Century); 2, Wyatt Kosidowski (Fargo Davies); 3, Ethan Dennis (Watford City); 4, Marcus Johnson (West Fargo Sheyenne); 5, Brendan Winn-Kelley (Grand Forks Central)

152: 1, John Richter (Bismarck St Mary’s); 2, Tyler Porter (West Fargo); 3, Aden Braun (Jamestown); 4, Brayden Morris (Bismarck Century); 5, Tate Olson (Bismarck)

160: 1, LJ Araujo (Bismarck); 2, Sawyer Carr (West Fargo Sheyenne); 3, Harrison Grad (Bismarck St Mary’s); 4, Malachi Werremeyer (Fargo Davies); 5, David Erlandson (Breckenridge/Wahpeton)

170: 1, Waylon Cressell (West Fargo); 2, Connor Manske (West Fargo Sheyenne); 3, Colton Mewes (Jamestown); 4, Cole Radenz (Bismarck Century); 5, DeJarius Jones (Minot)

182: 1, Jackson Walters (Jamestown); 2, Ty Wiedrich (Williston); 3, William Ward (Fargo North); 4, Tate Estenson (Devils Lake); 5, Tyrus Jangula (Bismarck)

Boys’ Class B individual top-5 final standings by weight class and order of competition:

195: 1, Brayden Selzler (Velva); 2, Connor Harvey (Bishop Ryan); 3, Daniel Schumacher (South Border); 4, Mason Olander (New Salem-Almont); 5, Johnathan Smith (Deslacs-Burlington)

220: 1, Shane Nitschke (South Border); 2, Mace Stuber (Bowman County/Beach); 3, Noah Klusmann (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm); 4, Carter Engebretson (Harvey-Wells County); 5, Cade Okeson (Bishop Ryan)

285: 1, Coy Okeson (Bishop Ryan); 2, AJ Heins (New Salem-Almont); 3, Grant Lyons (Lisbon); 4, Dylan Sell (Central Cass); 5, Ben Roundy (Killdeer)

106: 1, Dalton Feist (Napoleon G-S); 2, Cohen Bell (Stanley); 3, Bode Henderson (Northern Lights); 4, Jack Bohmbach (Killdeer); 5, Maddox Campbell (Velva).

113: 1, Charlie Irwin (New Salem-Almont); 2, Pitch Hager (Velva); 3, Logan Werner (Pembina County North); 4, TJ Boyer (MonDak); 5, Kale Hase (Harvey-Wells County).

120: 1, Trace Hoggarth (Carrington); 2, Noah Anderson (Lisbon); 3, Kruiser Burns (Grafton); 4, Tanner Defoe (Hettinger/Scranton); 5, Carson Kozojed (Hillsboro-Central Valley).

126: 1, Trenton Klatt (New Salem-Almont); 2, Sawyer Owens (Hillsboro-Central Valley); 3, Lane Cooper (Bishop Ryan); 4, Tristan Lepp (South Border); 5, Kyler Schalesky (Hettinger/Scranton).

132: 1, Carson Hildre (Velva); 2, Ethan Maier (New Salem-Almont); 3, Chance Burns (Grafton); 4, William Cook (Kenmare-Bowbells); 5, Daxtyn Eslinger (Napoleon G-S)

138: 1, Cole Gerhardt (New Salem-Almont); 2, Gus Bohmbach (Killdeer); 3, Corbin Clifton (Carrington); 4, Havlin DeLong (Northern Lights); 5, Carson Brown (Pembina County North)

145: 1, Henry Nelson (Hillsboro-Central Valley); 2, Mason Mellmer (Beulah-Hazen); 3, Mike Nelson (Lisbon); 4, Jaron Frank (Hettinger/Scranton); 5, Carson Glaesman (South Border)

152: 1, Marshall Lindgren (South Border); 2, Blaze Reinke (Lisbon); 3, Cale Ibach (Deslacs-Burlington); 4, Ty Wolding (New Salem-Almont); 5, Kael Kovar (Carrington)

160: 1, Garrett Hebl (LaMoure-Litchville/Marion); 2, Isaiah Carruth (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm); 3, Drew Zwak (Bishop Ryan); 4, Brock Norton (New Salem-Almont); 5, Colter Thorsell (Larimore)

170: 1, Boeden Greenley (Lisbon); 2, Jace Nitschke (South Border); 3, Cole Henderson (Northern Lights); 4, Joshua Meehl (Oakes); 5, Diontrea Anderson (Kenmare-Bowbells)

182: 1, Ivan Carruth (Ellendale-Edgeley-Kulm); 2, Levi Sveum (Lisbon); 3, Tristan Pekas (Hettinger/Scranton); 4, Jaxson Holter (Kenmare-Bowbells); 5, Trey Bohmbach (Stanley)