Kari Gibb/MDN Minot High junior Liam Neff, in action earlier this season, and his teammates participated in the Valley City Invite over the weekend with 15 other teams in attendance on Saturday, December 21, in Valley City, North Dakota.

VALLEY CITY – With 15 teams taking part, Minot High boys wrestling had a good exposure for what they might see at the state wrestling tournament as West Fargo Sheyenne won the event with a 220.5 score and Bismarck High took third place with a 173 mark.

The Magicians posted a 103 team score for sixth place at the meet.

Lincoln Brooks at 215-lbs was the top finisher for Minot High. He posted a 4-1 record for second place at the invite. Teammate Tucker Nelson went 4-2 for fifth place in the same weight classification.

Kade Philion wrestled at 133 for the Magicians and worked a 5-1 record into a third place finish. At 121, Tayven Blackaby went 3-1 while Korbin Kraft also went 3-1 at 127 for Minot High. Both earned third place at the meet.

Noah Bledsoe went 2-3 at the invite and took sixth for Minot High at 172 while Kaden Kraft posted a 3-2 record for seventh place at 152 for the Magicians.

Ty Burton (139), Liam Neff (285) and Kale Risbrudt (285) each posted 1-2 records for team points on the wins but did not place at the event.

The team will enjoy the holiday break and pick up the action at the start of the new year with the Rumble on the Red on January 2 in Fargo, North Dakota.

The Rumble on the Red Wrestling Championships returns for its 18th year at the Fargodome, running Thursday, January 2, through Saturday, January 4, 2025. With 22 mats running continuously for three days, the tournament hosts over 1,800 athletes competing at boys Varsity, JV, and girls high school weight classifications.

Team Scores

1. WF Sheyenne, 220.5

2. Dilwith-Glydon-Felton, Minn., 195.5

3. Bismarck High, 173

4. Valley City, 109.5

5. G.F. Central, 107.5

6. Minot High, 103