FARGO — Stetson Gisselbeck could always sniff a state championship, but just never quite got there.
Until now.
He placed second as a freshman in the 113-pound final at the 2022 North Dakota Class A high school wrestling state tournament and was fourth at 139 last season.
Now, in his senior year, Gisselbeck finally reached the top of the podium.
The Mustangs grappler ended his individual career as a state champion following a 10-2 major decision over Dickinson sophomore Conrad Kopari in Friday’s 152-pound final at the Fargodome.
“It just means a lot to me,” Gisselbeck said. “It shows that all my hard work wasn’t for nothing. It shows that I get the results that I want. That putting in the work actually meant something and I get to help my team get better and better.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Gisselbeck was the No. 1 seed at 152 and entered the final with a 34-5 record.
“Just treat it like a normal match,” Gisselbeck said of the title bout. “No pressure and don’t make it bigger than it needs to be. Work on my offense, focus on what I know works and go hard.”
To finally experience the glory as a senior means everything for Gisselbeck.
“It’s awesome,” Gisselbeck said. “My last chance obviously and I’m super psyched that it happened.”
The Mustangs will also compete in Saturday’s dual competition as the East No. 1 seed. Winning the team competition, Gisselbeck said, would mean even more.
“To me it’d mean more to win that than win individually,” Gisselbeck said. “It’s going to mean a lot to see my team succeed.”
Davies’ Kosidowski overcomes midseason injury for repeat title
Wyatt Kosidowski dislocated his shoulder at the annual Rumble on the Red tournament in January. He didn’t know if his season was over or not.
“My (physical therapy) trainer said I shouldn’t wrestle,” Kosidowski said. “I got told right away it was going to be a 12-week injury, but I always believed I could get back on the mat.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
The Eagles junior returned in a matter of weeks, and the grind of physical therapy paid off on Friday.
Kosidowski followed up his win in last year’s 160-pound final with another at 172 this year for his second individual crown.
Kosidowski, the bracket’s No. 1 seed who entered the final 31-1, won via 11-6 decision over Mandan freshman Tate Sailer.
“I always believed that I could do it, I’ve believed I could do it since eighth grade,” Kosidowski said. Holding a narrow 8-6 lead in the third period, Kosidowski earned some late breathing room with a takedown at the 26-second mark.
“That was a huge takedown,” Kosidowski said. “I knew I could get on the legs and I kind of figured that out early in the match.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Kosidowski will now shift his focus to Saturday’s dual competition as Davies looks to advance past the quarterfinals for the first time.
“It’s always been our team’s goal to win that first round at state,” Kosidowski said. “It would be huge. It takes a team effort. We’re just going to go out there and do our best.”
Koltyn Grebel matches Koye with a third
Friday was sweet redemption for Valley City senior Koltyn Grebel after a heartbreaking runner-up finish in the 133-pound final last season.
The two-time state champion wasn’t to be denied again, winning this year’s 139 final over Davies freshman Cole Sauvageau via 16-0 technical fall in a rematch of last week’s East Region final.
“It just makes me more grateful for God and my Lord and Savior,” Grebel said. “It was just doing the same thing that I know how to do.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Grebel, who will wrestle at UMary in college, joined the three-time club with his older brother Koye, who now wrestles NCAA Division I at Iowa.
“It’s great,” Grebel said. “I’m excited to go into college with what I’ve got.”
He was the 139 bracket’s top seed and finished out his senior season with a 45-1 record.
For Grebel, wrestling for Valley City has impacted him in too many ways to count.
“It’s meant everything,” Grebel said. “It’s been my whole life. I just want to represent it as much as I can and I’m so grateful for the coaches and teammates that I’ve had.”
DeForest goes out as a four-timer
Bismarck’s Ben DeForest will exit a four-time state champion after claiming the 133-pound final via a narrow 4-3 decision over Williston senior Kellan Larson.
DeForest, the top seed at 133, earned a third-period takedown for three crucial points to put him in front.
“I’m just super happy and proud of myself,” DeForest said. “Had to battle through a little adversity there. Little unexpected things happen, but you’ve just got to keep going. I’m just super happy.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
DeForest said down one point, he knew it was time to make a move.
“I knew I had to get after it,” DeForest said. “I was down by one and I knew I had to push the pace there and secure that takedown. It felt pretty good after that.”
DeForest is now 46-3 this season as Bismarck chases its sixth straight dual title Saturday.
The Demons also won their eighth consecutive individual team title with 183 points. Bismarck Legacy was second with 175 points while Sheyenne finished third with 157.5.
The North Dakota high school wrestling tournament concludes Saturday with the dual competition. Action begins at 10 a.m.
NDHSCA Class A Senior Athlete of the Year
Koltyn Grebel, Valley City
NDHSCA Class A Coach of the Year
Lars Jacobsen and Steven Monk, Bismarck Legacy
Class A
Day 2 Top 10 team scores
1. Bismarck 183; 2. Bismarck Legacy 175; 3. WF Sheyenne 157.5; 4. Bismarck Century 144; 5. Dickinson 131; 6. Mandan 121.5; 7. Williston 113; 8. Fargo Davies 104; 9. Minot 85.5; 10. Devils Lake 74.5
Championship
114
Jake Glaser (Dickinson) 43-5 won by tech fall over Rylan Samuelson (Devils Lake) 29-10 (TF-1.5 5:06 (19-3))
121
Nicolas Enzminger (Bismarck Legacy) 45-0 won by tech fall over Owen Lindstrom (Devils Lake) 38-5 (TF-1.5 3:22 (19-1))
127
Joey Enzminger (Bismarck Legacy) 29-4 won by decision over Vernon Copenhaver (Williston) 40-16 (Dec 10-5)
133
Ben DeForest (Bismarck) 46-3 won by decision over Kellan Larson (Williston) 44-10 (Dec 4-3)
139
Koltyn Grebel (Valley City) 45-1 won by tech fall over Cole Sauvageau (Davies) 41-8 (TF-1.5 3:48 (16-0))
145
Hudson Egeberg (Bismarck) 24-1 won by decision over Clark Thompson (Bismarck Legacy) 40-9 (Dec 6-5)
152
Stetson Gisselbeck (Sheyenne) 35-5 won by major decision over Conrad Kopari (Dickinson) 46-9 (MD 10-2)
160
Tyson Rice (Williston) 38-10 won in sudden victory – 1 over Landon Zink (Sheyenne) 33-8 (SV-1 8-5)
172
Wyatt Kosidowski (Davies) 32-1 won by decision over Tate Sailer (Mandan) 36-7 (Dec 11-6)
189
Hugh Meyer (Dickinson) 45-2 won by decision over Emery Slater (Mandan) 39-12 (Dec 1-0)
215
Ole Taylor (Bismarck Century) 33-0 won by decision over Lincoln Brooks (Minot) 38-8 (Dec 9-5)
285
Darion Bitz (Bismarck Century) 43-3 won by fall over Braxton Rance (Devils Lake) 32-7 (Fall 1:47)
107
Max Glaser (Dickinson) 22-4 won by decision over Dylan Sandness (Bismarck Legacy) 38-11 (Dec 7-5)
