What to look for at the 2024-25 Girls’ West Region Tournament

WATFORD CITY -- WDA girl’s wrestlers head to Watford City for the West Region Individual Tournament on Friday, Feb. 14 The top eight placewinners in each of the 13 divisions will qualify for the state individual tournament, Feb. 20-21 in Fargo. The regional features WDA teams as well as other Class B schools which sponsor the sport. Here’s what to look for.

Which WDA teams have the best shot at the team title?
Minot High is the two-time defending region champion and has another solid lineup. However, they will face a stiff test this season as Bismarck Legacy and Bismarck High are talented and have a deep roster. All three teams have won tournaments throughout the season are expected to have wrestlers finish in the top three.

How many region champions return?
Nine wrestlers are back. They include: Keeley Kainoa, Legacy (who competed last year for Mandan); Alicia Kenfack, Legacy; Madisyn Racine, Minot High; Julia Araujo, Bismarck High; Aleiya Cullinan, Legacy; Clancy Meyer, Dickinson; Paige Baumgartner, Bismarck High; Alexis Storsved, Mandan; Cambree Anderson, Bismarck High. A handful of these wrestlers have won multiple region titles and several have moved up to different divisions.

What weight classes to keep an eye on?
While there should be plenty of competitive matches in every class, there are a few divisions that will produce plenty of intrigue. One is at 100 where the top two wrestlers -- Brooklyn Lafrenz of Mandan and Ella Brown of Minot High -- are the favorites to reach the finals. Both have a win over the other. Another division that will be exciting is at 106 where Legacy’s Keeley Kainoa and Kenmare’s Taley Michel could end up facing each other. Both split their two matches this season and ranked, 1-2, respectively. At 118, Legacy’s Alicia Kenfack and Minot High’s Madisyn Racine have met several times. Kenfack holds a 3-2 edge, but Racine has one the most recent two duals. And at 142 pounds, Harvey-Wells County’s Briston Fike is ranked second the state. Bismarck High’s Paige Baumgartner is the third-ranked wrestler. Dickinson’s Natalie Meyer is fourth and Riley Hanson of Minot High’s is sixth ranked. This is a talented class.

Where does the WDA field of grapplers rank?
Here’s a list of the WDA’s top-ranked wrestlers heading into this week’s regional (*defending state champion)
100: Brooklyn Lafrenz, Mandan; Ella Brown, Minot High; Maci Brouillette, Williston; Cora Sorenson Watford City; Brooklyn Ost, Minot High
106: Keeley Kainoa, Legacy; Monica Boayke, Minot High; Vivian Backer, Century
112: Scelia Maneze, Legacy; Khylie Schlotz, Minot High; Taylor Brouillette, Williston; Martha Ward, Minot High; Regan Stravia, Dickinson; Ella Wald, Century; Bailey Ferderer, Century
118: *Alicia Kenfack, Legacy; Madisyn Racine, Minot High; Aryanna Loran, Dickinson; Sydney Huber, Century; Leah Torres, Jamestown
124: Kaydence Golding, Jamestown
130: *Maggie Thiegles, Bismarck High; Haleigh Carr, Minot High; Allie Grant, TMCHS; Breanna Erickson, Dickinson; MacKenzie Stoddart, Jamestown
136: *Aleiya Cullinan, Legacy; Christina Dohrmann, Dickinson; Payton Russell, Minot High
142: Paige Baumgartner, Bismarck High; Natalie Meyer, Dickinson; Cassidy Azure, TMCHS; Riley Hansen, Minot High; Anna Karsky, Dickinson; Hanna Ryberg, Legacy
148: Clancy Meyer, Dickinson; Claire Fegley, Minot High; Kenley Hamley, TMCHS; Addy Gensrich, Century
155: *Julia Araujo, Bismarck High; Maycee Boyce, Minot High; Jamia Cunningham, Dickinson; Katurah Ottmar, Legacy; Aleah Martin, TMCHS
170: *Alexis Storsved, Mandan; Madison Reems, Bismarck High; Lainy Jochim, Mandan; Kolbi McElwain, Dickinson; Grace Bercier, Jamestown; Brennida Myers, Century
190: *Cambree Anderson, Bismarck High; Jade’ence Fletcher, Minot High; Victoria Novotny, Mandan; Savanna Garver, Legacy; Aryonna Gourneau, TMCHS; Lilly Lugo, Bismarck High
235: Mekayla Stordalen, Century; Sheena Locke, Bismarck High; Morgan Harvey, Century; Azhanii Martin, TMCHS

Which non-WDA wrestlers are in the mix for titles?
There are a handful of talented wrestlers coming from the region’s Class B participants who are ranked high in the latest state coaches’ poll. At 106, Taley Michel of Kenmare and Addison Yates of Harvey-Wells County are grapplers to watch. At 112 pounds, Brennli Wilkens of Hazen-Beulah is a contender. At 124, a few to keep an eye on at include Des Lacs-Burlington’s Kashtyn Bredahl; Kenmare’s Tenley Michel and New Salem-Almont’s Keisha Tomac. At 142, Bristol Fike of Harvey-Wells County should be in the mix for a high placing and Des Lac-Burlington’s Deysi Krisher also should battle hard at 155.

Photo: Bismarck High's Cambree Anderson (left)