BISMARCK, N.D. - The host team took the early lead on Friday at the Bismarck Invitational as the Demons from Bismarck scored 165-1/2 points to lead second place Rapid City Stevens by 33-1/2 points.
Sidney, Mont., was in third place followed by West Fargo and Fargo South.
Rapid City Central amassed 76 points, which was good enough for ninth place. Aberdeen Central tied Miles City for 11th place with 71 points after the first day of wrestling.
Bismarck has four wrestlers in the finals, while the Raiders have three in freshman Kris Klapprodt at 135 pounds, senior Kramer Johnson at 140 and freshman Jarret Jensen at 145.
The three Stevens grapplers have a sparkling 62-8 combined record with Klapprodt (22-1) and Jensen (25-1) leading the way.
Klapprodt was to take on Sidney's Lance Kuylen (21-1). Johnson is to battle Jordan Fleck (19-1) of Wahpeton and Jensen will square off against Lex Linde (19-5) of West Fargo.
Central managed to get one wrestler in the championship bracket as senior Chad Gibson (19-3) was to take on undefeated Beau Melby jr. (23-0) of Sidney.
Aberdeen's Baker Haar (14-3) made it into the final match at 215 pounds against Napoleon's Kriss McCleary (18-0).
Stevens finished second to Bismarck in last year's tourney.
All wrestlebacks and placings including the championship matches will be concluded today as the invitational wraps up.
