Martin County West graduate Katie Lange placed third in the Senior Women’s 68 kg (150 pound) weight class at the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas.
Jackson County Central grad Payton Handevidt and MCW graduate Connor Simmonds competed in the Under 20 freestyle division.
Wrestling for the Minnesota Storm, Lange started her tournament with two wins Friday before losing in the semifinals.
She had a bye before winning 10-0 in :27 over Kylie Hulse (Oklahoma). Lange then won 3-2 over Isabella Mir (Las Vegas) in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Lange had a 4-0 lead before losing by technical fall 14-4 to eventual champion Forrest Molinari (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club). Molinari won the bronze medal in the women's 65 kg division at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships in Oslo, Norway.
Lange won her third-place match 5-4 over Solin Piearcy CA (Menlo Wrestling Club). Piearcy was the 2021 Senior National champion.
U20
Simmonds and Handevidt competed in the Under 20 tourney for the Viking Wresting Club based in Sioux Falls.
Simmonds went 1-2 at 70 kg (154 pounds).
Kaemen Smith (Navy Wrestling Club) was a 10-4 winner in 2:04 over Simmonds before Simmonds won 22-11 in 5:19 over Ivan Morris (Black Fox Wrestling Academy).
In the consolation bracket, Paul Ognissanti (Blairstown Wrestling Club) defeated Simmonds 7-2.
Handevidt was 0-2, falling 8-6 to Max Brignola (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club) and 4-2 to Jeb Prechtel (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club).