VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Valley City is the preseason favorite to win the Eastern Dakota Conference wrestling title this season. Thursday night they flexed their muscles and won 54-21 in the season and conference opener against Grand Forks Central at the Hi-Liner Activity Center.

The Hi-Liners won seven of the weight classes, all by pins. They also picked up two win via forfeit. The Knights won five bouts, three by decision and two by fall.

The Hi-Liners jumped out to a 30-0 lead by taking the first five matches. Koltyn Grebel set the tone for the night with a pin of Braxton Boushley 22 seconds into the 106 match. After Koye Grebel and Tucker Johnson won by forfeit, Alex Rogelstad and Ethan Miller won by pins. Rogelstad in 5:21 at 126 over Gabe Tande and Miller in 4:26 over Mason Williams at 132.

The Knights would get back into the match with wins at 138, 145, 152 and 160. Hayden Mack won by a 3-0 decision over Isaiah Schuldeisz at 138. Jayden Haake defeated Espen Kunze 5-4 at 145. Braydon Williams, preseason #1 in the East Region defeated Ezra Hanse, preseason #2 in the East, 5-2. Mike Erickson pinned Evan Mielke in 3:31 at 160 to make it 30-15.

But Valley City would put the match away with pins in the next four matches. At 170, Broden Muske in 2:20. Muske is preseason #1 in the East while Cyncere Haskins was #3. At 182 it was #1 Jonathan Redfearn pinning #2 Austin Bicker in 5:38. At 195, #1 Jonah Schuldheisz pinned Michael Torgerson in 1:08. And at 220, Carson McGough, preseason #2 pinned Justin Kerr, preseason #4 in 3:19. That put the score at 54-15 Valley City.

Adam Olson pinned Devyn Thornton in 31 seconds at 285 to put the final at 54-21.

The Hi-Liners will now host a Triangular on Saturday when Devils Lake and Fargo South come to town. The Wrestling begins at 11am with Devils Lake and Valley City exhibition matches with the varsity to follow. Both of the Hi-Liner matches will be opn 1490AM/96.3 FM KOVC and video streamed live at newsdakota.com.