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Aberdeen Central grapplers produce a third-place finish in the State A tourney

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·13 min read

Canton continued its dominance in Class B and Watertown and Aberdeen finished second and third behind championS Sturgis in Class B during the South Dakota State Dual Wrestling Championships on Saturday.

The dual tourney, which were restarted in 2020 after a 16-year hiatus, are typically held during the South Dakota State Wrestling Championships later this month (Feb. 22-24 at Sioux Falls). For the first time, the dual tourneys were held on their own weekend (Class B in the Watertown Civic Arena and Class A at the Dacotah Bank Center in Brookings).

Perennial power Canton (18-0) was only the No. 2 seed but the clear-cut favorite in B and Sturgis (13-1) entered as the No. 1 seed and ended on top.

Watertown High School's wrestling team is pictured with the runner-up trophy in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.
Watertown High School's wrestling team is pictured with the runner-up trophy in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.

Canton makes it look easy in the B

Senior standout Ayson Rice, who is looking to become Canton's second four-time state individual champion in two weeks, and his Canton teammates didn;t look like they had to break much of a sweat on Saturday.

The C-Hawks won their fourth State B dual championship in five years by downing No. 7 Miller/Highmore-Harrold 60-12 in the first round, No, 3 Bon Homme-Avon 54-14 in the semifinals and the No. 4 Badlands Bralers (Philip-Kadoka Area-Wall) 45-16 in the championship.

"I would say it makes it tougher," Rice said when asked about Canton's run of titles, which includes six-straight in the state B individual tourney, "But then again is also gives us something to push for so that we can continue to get better because everybody obviously is coming for the top dog. We continue to prove that we are the top dog."

Canton's 150-pounder Aydan Rice looks for the fall signal from the referee while taking on Jace Blasius of the Badlands Brawlers (Philip-Kadoaka Area-Wall) during the championship dual of the State Class B Dual Team Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 in the Watertown Civic Arena.
Canton's 150-pounder Aydan Rice looks for the fall signal from the referee while taking on Jace Blasius of the Badlands Brawlers (Philip-Kadoaka Area-Wall) during the championship dual of the State Class B Dual Team Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 in the Watertown Civic Arena.

Canton won 32 of the 42 matches it wrestled on Saturday. Rice, now 36-1 this season at 150 pounds, went 3-0 along with teammate Carter Kendrick (106), Landon Walker (113), Aiden Schrempp (126), Ashton Keller (123-138), Teague Granum (144), Hunter Richmond (215) and Traun Cook (285).

Rice said the C-Hawks have worked really hard to put themselves in position to cap another successful season by sweeping the Class B state titles. With the dual tourney out of the way, he can focus on his own dream of winning four state individual titles.

"It's been a goal of mine. The club I train with (Legends of Gold in Beresford) really pushes you to chase after multiple state championships," Rice said.

Other Class B Results

In other first-round duals, No. 8 seed Custer knocked off No. 1 Winner Area 36-33, the No. 4 Badlands Brawlers edged No. 5 Kimball-White Lake/Platte-Geddes 30-28 and No. 3 Bon Homme-Avon stopped No. 6 Clark-Willow Lake 57-16. The Cyclones qualified for the dual tourney for the first time.

Winner Area defeated KWLPG 32-25 and MHH downed CWL 50-27 in consolation semifinals and the Brawlers slipped past Custer 35-34 on criteria in the other semifinal.

Clark-Willow Lake wresters and coach look on at the start of their consolation semifinal dual against Miller/Highmore-Harrold in the state Class B Dual Team Wrestling Champinship on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 in the Watertown Civic Arena. Sitting, from left, are Elliot Bratland and assistant coach Caleb Orris; and standing, from left in back, are Riley Popp, head coach Greg Marx, Collin Gaikowski and assistant coach James Marx.

Clark-Willow Lake Results

Bon Homme/Avon 57, Clark-Willow Lake 16 (First Round)

  • 175 - Josh Kannegieter (Clark/Willow Lake) over Kolton Vlcek (Bon Homme/Avon) Fall 1:40

  • 190 - Isaiah Crownover (Bon Homme/Avon) over Riley Popp (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 0:44

  • 215 - Cody Sassaman (Bon Homme/Avon) over Collin Gaikowski (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 3:41

  • 285 - Randall Powers (Bon Homme/Avon) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

  • 106 - Ryvr Larson (Bon Homme/Avon) over Cade Gaikowski (Clark/Willow Lake) Maj 12-0

  • 113 - Cooper Pommer (Clark/Willow Lake) over Michael Branaugh (Bon Homme/Avon) Maj 14-3

  • 120 - Corbin Palsma (Bon Homme/Avon) over Isaac Johnson (Clark/Willow Lake) Maj 13-1

  • 126 - Weston Bierema (Bon Homme/Avon) over Damian Severson (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 2:36

  • 132 - Jackson Kaul (Bon Homme/Avon) over Logan Foster (Clark/Willow Lake) Maj 10-2

  • 138 - Tyler Tjeerdsma (Bon Homme/Avon) over Austin Vig (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 2:26

  • 144 - Brock Kotalik (Bon Homme/Avon) over Taylor Merkel (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 2:58

  • 150 - Luke Guthmiller (Bon Homme/Avon) over Bryce Klancke (Clark/Willow Lake) Dec 12-6

  • 157 - Jackson Caba (Bon Homme/Avon) over Lincoln Reidburn (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 3:06

  • 165 - Elliot Bratland (Clark/Willow Lake) over Payton Nielsen (Bon Homme/Avon) Fall 3:30

Clark-Willow Lake's Lincoln Reidburn attempts to break from Miller/Highmore-Harrold's Ryder Rowland at 157 pounds during their consolation semifinal dual in the State Class B Dual Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 in the Watertown Civic Arena.
Clark-Willow Lake's Lincoln Reidburn attempts to break from Miller/Highmore-Harrold's Ryder Rowland at 157 pounds during their consolation semifinal dual in the State Class B Dual Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 in the Watertown Civic Arena.

Miller/Highmore-Harrold 50, Clark/Willow Lake 27 (Consolation Semis)

  • 190 - Riley Popp (Clark/Willow Lake) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

  • 215 - Colby Harrell (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Collin Gaikowski (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 1:06

  • 285 - Mathis Resel (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

  • 106 - Chase Hurd (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Cade Gaikowski (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 3:44

  • 113 - Cooper Pommer (Clark/Willow Lake) over Jaymin VanDerWerff (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) Dec 12-7

  • 120 - Talon Ping (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Isaac Johnson (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 1:46

  • 126 - Kia McCauley (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Damian Severson (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 5:15

  • 132 - Jordan Schafer (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Logan Foster (Clark/Willow Lake) Maj 17-5

  • 138 - Kellan Hurd (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Taylor Merkel (Clark/Willow Lake) TF 17-1

  • 144 - Teagan Foreman (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Austin Vig (Clark/Willow Lake) TF 16-0

  • 150 - Bryce Klancke (Clark/Willow Lake) over Johnny Alpizar (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) Fall 0:49

  • 157 - Ryder Rowland (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Lincoln Reidburn (Clark/Willow Lake) Fall 0:36

  • 165 - Elliot Bratland (Clark/Willow Lake) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

  • 175 - Josh Kannegieter (Clark/Willow Lake) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

Results from the other duals can be found on trackwrestling.com.

Markus Pitkin of Watertown pins Pierre's Lincoln Houska at 150 pounds during their semifinal dual in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.
Markus Pitkin of Watertown pins Pierre's Lincoln Houska at 150 pounds during their semifinal dual in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.

Strugis spoils Watertown's run at title in Class A

Watertown (12-5) entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed and kncoked off No. 3 Rapid City Stevens 43-21 in the first round and No. 2 Pierre 38-29 in the semifinals before falling to Sturgis 55-13 in the finals.

In the nine-year history of the state duals (2001-2004, 2020-2024), the Arrows have finished second four times but never won it.

""Today was a team effort and I'm extremely proud of the girls for working together as a team to get the job done," Watertown head coach Chas Welch said. "We have to have that same effort next weekend to punch as many guys through as we can to the state tournament."

Sturgis also handled No. 8 Tea Area 57-13 in the first round and No. 4 Aberdeen Central (18-3) 40-15 in the semifinals. The Golden Eagles bounced back to edge Pierre 31-30 for third place.

Aberdeen Central turned back No. 5 Brandon Valley 40-32 and Pierre beat No. 7 West Central 42-25 in other first-round matches. Brandon Valley downed Tea Area 46-34 and West Central beat Rapid City Stevens 38-32 in the consolation semifinals.

Brandon Valley ended up fifth after beating West Central 46-24.

Watertown's Chase Mathews takes down Pierre's Gable Uhrig at 106 pounds during their semifinal dual in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.
Watertown's Chase Mathews takes down Pierre's Gable Uhrig at 106 pounds during their semifinal dual in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.

Talented trios lead the way for Watertown, Aberdeen Central

Three Arrow wrestlers won all three of their matches on Saturday, including Gage Lohr at 120 pounds, Sloan Johannsen at 126 and Micah Hach at 285.

Lohr, a defending state champion, is now 40-1. Johannsen, a three-time state champion, is 40-1 and 175-2 in his career. Hach is 41-1. Johannsen, who is looking to become only the second four-time state champion in Arrow history, is only three wins away from equaling Sawyer Hoffman's program record for career wins (178).

Aberdeen Central's charge also included three wrestlers who went 3-0 on the day. The trio includes Rayden Zens, now 29-4 at 126; Ridley Waldo, now 33-9 at 138, and Mason Schrempp, now 20-4 at 157.

Watertown competes the Region 1A tourney at Tea Area and Aberdeen Central in the Region 3A tourney at Pierre on Saturday. The goal for both teams is to advance as many wrestlers (top four) to the state individual tourney the following weekend that will also include Watertown and Aberdeen Central's girls wrestlers.

"We have lots of work to do this week to sharpen up," Welch said. "I know the boys are excited as we move into the final stage of the season."

Watertown-Aberdeen Results

Watertown 43, RC Stevens 21 (First Round)

  • 175 - Landon Mitsos (Rapid City Stevens) over Andrew Stricker (Watertown) Fall 0:58

  • 190 - Brock Eitreim (Watertown) over Tate Crosswait (Rapid City Stevens) Fall 3:06

  • 215 - Cooper Myers (Rapid City Stevens) over Ethan Wientjes (Watertown) Dec 4-3

  • 285 - Micah Hach (Watertown) over Owen Coody (Rapid City Stevens) Fall 0:11

  • 106 - Shea Richter (Rapid City Stevens) over Chase Mathews (Watertown) Dec 7-2

  • 113 - Max Schoenhard (Rapid City Stevens) over Max Stroup (Watertown) Fall 1:42

  • 120 - Gage Lohr (Watertown) over Corbin Zent (Rapid City Stevens) Dec 12-8

  • 126 - Sloan Johannsen (Watertown) over Brayden Collins (Rapid City Stevens) Fall 2:39

  • 132 - Derek Hanson (Watertown) over Aidan Callahan (Rapid City Stevens) Dec 4-3

  • 138 - Leo Stroup (Watertown) over Joe Juenger (Rapid City Stevens) Fall 3:08

  • 144 - Jacob Williams (Rapid City Stevens) over Cooper Kettwig (Watertown) Maj 16-6

  • 150 - Markus Pitkin (Watertown) over Brayden Voorhees (Rapid City Stevens) Maj 8-0

  • 157 - Landen Lewis (Watertown) over Tyler Johnson (Rapid City Stevens) Dec 6-4

  • 165 - Tucker Urdahl (Watertown) over Teagen Smith (Rapid City Stevens) Fall 2:00

  • Rapid City Stevens's team score was adjusted by -1.0 for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Watertown's Micah Hach controls Pierre's Lucas Colman at 285 pounds during their semifinal dual in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.
Watertown's Micah Hach controls Pierre's Lucas Colman at 285 pounds during their semifinal dual in the South Dakota State Dual Team Wrestling Chamionships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Brookings.

Watertown 38, Pierre 29 (Semifinals)

  • 190 - Chance Carda (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Brock Eitreim (Watertown) Dec 7-2

  • 215 - Elijah Boutchee (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Ethan Wientjes (Watertown) Dec 4-0

  • 285 - Micah Hach (Watertown) over Lucas Colman (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Fall 0:33

  • 106 - Chase Mathews (Watertown) over Gable Uhrig (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Dec 5-0

  • 113 - Max Stroup (Watertown) over Walker West (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Fall 1:04

  • 120 - Gage Lohr (Watertown) over Jacob Mason (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Fall 3:07

  • 126 - Sloan Johannsen (Watertown) over Lincoln Schoenhard (Pierre T.F. Riggs) TF 19-4

  • 132 - Alex Oedekoven (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Derek Hanson (Watertown) Dec 3-1

  • 138 - Tristan Spencer (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Leo Stroup (Watertown) Maj 11-1

  • 144 - Cooper Kettwig (Watertown) over Max Hunsley (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Fall 5:07

  • 150 - Markus Pitkin (Watertown) over Lincoln Houska (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Fall 3:31

  • 157 - Brock Moser (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Landen Lewis (Watertown) Maj 15-4

  • 165 - Lucas Chamberlin (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Tucker Urdahl (Watertown) Fall 1:57

  • 175 - Trey Lewis (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Andrew Stricker (Watertown) Fall 0:35

Sturgis 55, Watertown 13 (Championship)

  • 215 - Zak Juelfs (Sturgis Brown) over Ethan Wientjes (Watertown) Maj 12-0

  • 285 - Micah Hach (Watertown) over Dakarai Osborne (Sturgis Brown) Fall 0:58

  • 106 - Tyler Baldwin (Sturgis Brown) over Chase Mathews (Watertown) Maj 10-2

  • 113 - Teryn Zebroski (Sturgis Brown) over Max Stroup (Watertown) Fall 0:32

  • 120 - Gage Lohr (Watertown) over Benjamin Nadig (Sturgis Brown) Maj 13-4

  • 126 - Sloan Johannsen (Watertown) over Tegan Zebroski (Sturgis Brown) Dec 9-4

  • 132 - Dee Daniels (Sturgis Brown) over Derek Hanson (Watertown) Maj 8-0

  • 138 - Beau Peters (Sturgis Brown) over Leo Stroup (Watertown) Fall 1:10

  • 144 - Kalvin Ketelsen (Sturgis Brown) over Cooper Kettwig (Watertown) Fall 1:10

  • 150 - Joseph Nadig (Sturgis Brown) over Markus Pitkin (Watertown) Inj 4:38

  • 157 - Zhoel Irion (Sturgis Brown) over Landen Lewis (Watertown) Maj 12-0

  • 165 - Preston Ray (Sturgis Brown) over Tucker Urdahl (Watertown) Fall 3:38

  • 175 - Kelson Dirk (Sturgis Brown) over Andrew Stricker (Watertown) Fall 0:41

  • 190 - Aiden Werlinger (Sturgis Brown) over Brock Eitreim (Watertown) Dec 3-0

Aberdeen Central 40, Brandon Valley 32 (First Round)

  • 175 - Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) over Issac Irvine (Brandon Valley) Fall 1:51

  • 190 - Elijah Schunke (Brandon Valley) over Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) Fall 4:47

  • 215 - Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) over Noah Bailous (Brandon Valley) Dec 6-3

  • 285 - Navarro Schunke (Brandon Valley) over Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) Fall 0:45

  • 106 - Beckett Rehorst (Brandon Valley) over Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) Dec 2-0

  • 113 - Brendon Oehme (Brandon Valley) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) TF 21-6

  • 120 - Trevon Oehme (Brandon Valley) over Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) Fall 0:53

  • 126 - Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) over Braden Shoemaker (Brandon Valley) Dec 6-0

  • 132 - Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) over Aaron Tucker (Brandon Valley) Fall 4:55

  • 138 - Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Hayden McGuire (Brandon Valley) Maj 12-0

  • 144 - Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Zander Nielsen (Brandon Valley) Fall 4:58

  • 150 - Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Xavier McGuire (Brandon Valley) Fall 5:15

  • 157 - Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) over Ethan Tucker (Brandon Valley) Fall 1:52

  • 165 - Gavin Chapman (Brandon Valley) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

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Sturgis 40, Aberdeen Central 15 (Semifinals)

  • 190 - Aiden Werlinger (Sturgis Brown) over Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) Fall 3:02

  • 215 - Zak Juelfs (Sturgis Brown) over Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) Fall 3:28

  • 285 - Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) over Dakarai Osborne (Sturgis Brown) Fall 3:15

  • 106 - Tyler Baldwin (Sturgis Brown) over Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) Dec 4-3

  • 113 - Teryn Zebroski (Sturgis Brown) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) Maj 10-2

  • 120 - Benjamin Nadig (Sturgis Brown) over Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) Dec 7-1

  • 126 - Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) over Tegan Zebroski (Sturgis Brown) Dec 5-2

  • 132 - Dee Daniels (Sturgis Brown) over Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) Dec 7-6

  • 138 - Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Beau Peters (Sturgis Brown) SV-1 2-0

  • 144 - Kalvin Ketelsen (Sturgis Brown) over Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) Dec 5-0

  • 150 - Joseph Nadig (Sturgis Brown) over Brody Aesoph (Aberdeen Central) Fall 1:37

  • 157 - Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) over Zhoel Irion (Sturgis Brown) Dec 5-2

  • 165 - Preston Ray (Sturgis Brown) over Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) Dec 3-1

  • 175 - Kelson Dirk (Sturgis Brown) over Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) Dec 7-5

Aberdeen Central 31, Pierre 30 (Third Place)

  • 215 - Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) over Elijah Boutchee (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Dec 3-0

  • 285 - Lucas Colman (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) Dec 9-6

  • 106 - Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Gable Uhrig (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Dec 4-0

  • 113 - Walker West (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) Fall 1:59

  • 120 - Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Jacob Mason (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Fall 5:39

  • 126 - Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) over Lincoln Schoenhard (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Maj 22-9

  • 132 - Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) over Alex Oedekoven (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Dec 3-2

  • 138 - Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Tristan Spencer (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Dec 5-4

  • 144 - Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Max Hunsley (Pierre T.F. Riggs) Dec 9-5

  • 150 - Brock Moser (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Brody Aesoph (Aberdeen Central) Dec 6-1

  • 157 - Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

  • 165 - Lucas Chamberlin (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) Fall 1:32

  • 175 - Trey Lewis (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) Fall 0:35

  • 190 - Chance Carda (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) Fall 0:50

Results from other duals can be found on trackwrestling.com.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: The state Class A and B dual team wrestling championships