Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby Panthers’ wrestlers Riley Odden, left, and Aiden Jensen pose during practice before leaving for the North Dakota Class B State Wrestling Tournament in Fargo Feb. 17-19.

Two Rugby High School wrestlers punched their tickets to state when they earned qualifying scores at regionals, held at Bishop Ryan High School in Minot on Feb. 12.

Aiden Jensen and Riley Odden would represent the Rugby Panthers and Region 3 for their weight classes at the North Dakota Class B State Wrestling Tournament, held Feb. 17-19 at the Fargo Dome in Fargo.

Both Jensen and Odden said they were thankful for a good season.

Their team, however, faced a few challenges, according to their coach Craig Zachmeier.

“We had some who were sick, a couple out with surgery, and now with an injury. I lost everybody, just about,” Zachmeier said. “I have Riley and Aiden going to state.

“It’s been a struggle,” Zachmeier said of the season. “We got hit with illness in January. We were trying to recover from that, and aches and pains. It’s been tough”

Zachmeier added, “Really, the (regional) tournament went the way we were expecting with the number of kids we had. Riley had a good regional tournament. He’s going to be sixth seed at state. We’re expecting that he and Aiden will come through for us.”

Injuries and illnesses weren’t the only challenge the Panthers faced during the wrestling season.

“We had no home tournaments. We were snowed out twice,” Zachmeier said.

However, Zachmeier noted the Panthers had lots of support from their community.

“There were lots of Panthers fans at regionals,” Zachmeier added. “Tournament-wise, we were good. Wrestling is just a tough, physical and mental sport. Sometimes this is what we get, and sometimes, they surprise you. You just don’t know. And illness is a big problem with what we have.”

Jensen said his season has been “pretty good actually.” Jensen added he was already preparing for his first match at state, where he would wrestle against South Border’s Marshall Lindgren. Jensen secured his spot at state after winning third place in the 145-pound division at regionals after defeating Velva’s Triton Kaercher by fall in just over two minutes.

Jensen said he was preparing himself mentally for his first match at state.

“They’re pretty tough,” he said of South Border.

A senior at Leeds High School, Jensen has made appearances at state throughout his varsity career. He wrestles with the Panthers as a co-op student.

Odden, a senior at Rugby, said he would make his fourth appearance at state since he began varsity wrestling.

“I’m looking forward to having a good time for another year. My family will be there,” he said.

Odden wrestled in the 152-pound class at regionals.

“I wrestled Cale Ibach from DLB. He’s number one in the state,” he said.

Odden placed second at regionals and qualified for state after Ibach defeated him by 10-0 major decision. Odden said he wasn’t sure who he’d wrestle at state because of changes in his bracket.

To prepare for state, Odden said he was “just going to keep going over things in my head. I think about how I’m going to start the pace and go through the match.”

Both Jensen and Odden said they looked forward to having fun and doing well at state.

“Hopefully, we both do well,” Jensen said. “Expect the unexpected, I guess.”