The Becker Youth Wrestling K-6th grade team placed third out of 36 teams at the Northland Youth Wrestling Association state tournament in Rochester last weekend. 

 

The Bulldogs defeated TMB 52-27, Kasson Mantorville 38-28 and Marshall 42-29 to move to the championship bracket. They lost to Northfield, 28-42. They beat New London Spicer 52-17 to take third.

 

Eight wrestlers placed in the individual state tournament including champion and kindergarten outstanding wrestler Rylan Kujawa, who won the K, 55-lb. bracket. Also taking first place was third grader Bennett Kujawa of the third-fourth grade, 60-lb. bracket. 

 

First grader Jacob Williams placed third in the first-second grade, 50-lb. bracket. Second grader Blayne Kuschel took fourth in the first-second grade, 70-lb. bracket. Fifth grader Kaden Nicolas took sixth in the fifth-sixth grade, 75-lb. bracket. Sixth grader Kaden Rish took fourth in the fifth-sixth grade, 88-lb. bracket.

 

Eighth grader Mason Doucette placed second in the seventh-eighth grade, 105-lb. bracket. Eighth grader Ethan Anderson took fifth in the seventh-eighth grade, 110-lb. bracket. 

 

Each of these wrestlers had to qualify for the state tournament by placing in the top two at district qualifying tournaments and top three at regional qualifying tournaments. They then competed in a 16-man bracket at the state tournament. 

 

Over 3,500 wrestlers competed in the NYWA tournaments pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

 

Wrestlers who did not qualify for the individual state tournament could wrestle in the state invitational individual tournament if they placed third-sixth at regions. Third grader Boston Kuschel placed second in the invite, sixth grader Drew Rish placed third and eighth grader Bryce Kuschel placed second.