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By Steve Morris
 Wrestling could make a grown man cry.
North Branch head wrestling coach Tony Aho held back tears of joy after North Branch junior Boyd Suparat won the 130 pound state wrestling title at the state wrestling tournament at the Xcel Energy Center March 1. For Aho, it was as if one of his own sons had just won the title.
North Branch junior Boyd Suparat defeated Steve Koeph in the first period to earn the state title in the 130 pound weight class.
“We’re just so proud of him,” Aho said, hardly containing his emotions. “It’s his day ... he’s a champion.”
Suparat, who was ranked No. 6 in the state for much of the season, pinned Thief River Falls/Goodridge freshman Steve Keoph in the first period to take home the state title.
To set up his state title, Suparat defeated sophomore Tommy Teigen in the quarterfinals 10-5, then sophomore Connor Anderson of Simley 1-0 followed by a 6-4 win against senior A.J. Jennings of Wabasso/Cedar Mountain to advance to Saturday’s finals.
North Branch Activities Director Becky Leuer watched the match from about 10 rows up in the stands and said Suparat became the first wrestler in the history of North Branch to win an individual wrestling title.
Leuer was one of the first in the tunnel to congratulate Suparat and Aho after the historic pin. Leuer, ignoring all smells, embraced Suparat with a bear-hug and a told him congratulations. She then moved to Aho with the same victorious hug.
“This is very exciting for the wrestling program and for North Branch,” Leuer said.
Suparat finished the season with a 38-3 record and will aim to repeat his feat next season as a senior.
“I am going to make it to state next year and it will feel a lot easier next year, I can let it go and not even have a care in the world,” he said. “I am glad I put in all the extra work, it really paid off.”
When asked if he was nervous before the match, Suparat said no.
“I was not very nervous at all ... Coach was just telling me just to stay laid back and have fun and that is what I stuck to and that is what helped me win it ...,” Suparat said.
Arnt and Kostik
Suparat wasn’t the only North Branch wrestler representing the school and the community at the Xcel Energy Center.
Senior Greg Arnt and freshman Jake Kostik both were at state. Kostik, a freshman, (31-9) faced sophomore Drew Fleming of Watertown-Mayer in the first and lost 6-2 to end his season.
Arnt went up against senior Mac Stoll of Perham and lost 4-0 in his first match. Afterwards, he admitted he made some basic mistakes.
“I made a couple of mistakes,” Arnt said. “ I need to stay in better position.”
From there he faced Colton Evands of Tracy-Milroy Balaton and won 9-4. Then he beat Eric Grabosky of New Prague 8-6 and then lost to Bruce Babcock of Stewartville 4-3, which sent to him to the fifth-place bracket where he was pinned by Travis Peralta of Thief River Falls for a 6th place finish.
Regardless of how he finished, Arnt was happy to make it as far as he did.
“It’s a lot of fun being down here,” he said.
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