Category Archives: Sports

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

For a wrestler this is the greatest weekend of the year.

It is state tournament time and this year the state meet will be held Feb. 24, 25 and 26 in Sioux Falls at the Premier Center.

All the work, sweat and dreams come down to this one weekend.

Winner, one of the top teams in Class B, won the Region 3B tournament and qualified 11 wrestlers for state. Those who qualified are: Max Brozik, Kason Keiser, Kaleb Osborn, Konnor Osborn, Kaden Keiser, Jack Peters, Riley Orel, Joey Cole, Jack Kruger, Charley Pravecek and Achilles Willuweit.

“We had a strong push at the end to win the regional tournament,” said coach Spencer Novotny.

He added the team had its ups downs throughout the day.

Maxton Brozik, Kaleb Osborn, Kaden Keiser, Riley Orel and Achilles Willuweit took care of business and were crowned regional champs.

Jack Kruger had to wrestle the No. 1 kid in the state came up short taking second place.

“Jack Peters wrestled a really good tournament and came from seventh seed to qualify for the state tournament. He beat two rated guys to punch his ticket,” said Novotny.

The coach noted Joey Cole wrestled through an injury showing his leadership and qualified for state.

Konnor Osborn wrestled really well and earned his first state tournament appearance.

“Karson Keiser and Charley Pravecek both wrestled tough but came up short of making the championship match,” said Novotny.

Jude Sargent had a tough day and was one match short of placing. He did come back to get 5^th place at 138 pounds and in so doing the state chose him as an alternate for the 138 pound weight class. This means that if someone gets hurt, sick, or doesn’t make weight, Jude will be entered in their spot for the tournament. Each weight class has one alternate.

Novotny added Ash Kaiser and Stetson Shelbourn put it all out there this weekend but couldn’t get through to state. However, both Ash and Stetson are still going to get to wrestle at the state dual tournament on Saturday and will be valuable to the team in that aspect.

Novotny says state week is a fun week. “We were fortunate to qualify for the state dual tournament so we will have all 14 varsity guys and our three alternates in practice this week. It will be 14 going to state plus Gus Bartels, Ryken Orel and Parker Mathis.

In the dual tournament, Winner will wrestle Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon at 11a.m. The semifinals will start at 1 p.m. and the championship at 3 p.m.

The individual tournament will be held Thursday and Friday.

The coach said Winner got some good draws and some bad draws for the individual tournament. “We are ready to roll. This is what we have been working for all season and it is finally here. We will be led by our five seniors that will be wearing their Winner Warrior singlets the last weekend of their career. Our younger guys are hoping to turn a few heads this weekend and get to the podium,” said Novotny.

Winner grabbed five individual titles on Saturday on is way to winning the Huron Invitational.

The Warriors scored 231 points with Aberdeen Central taking second with 191 points. Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon rounded out the top three with 163 points.

Individual champions for Winner were Maxon Brozik (113), Karson Keiser (120), Kaden Keiser (145), Jack Peters (152) and Riley Orel (160).

Also placing for Winner were Konnor Osborn, 4^th; Jude Sargent, 3^rd; Ryken Orel, 6^th; Jack Kruger, 2^nd ; Charley Pravecek, 2^nd; Achilles Willuweit, 2^nd; and Stetson Shelbourn, 6^th.

The Warriors, top ranked in Class B, will compete in the regional on Saturday, in Wagner. The meet will start at 10 a.m.

Coach Spencer Novotny says the Region 3B tournament is going to be a tough tournament. Winner is the defending champion.

The seeding for the regional will not come out until Thursday.

In practice the team needs to work on figuring out their moves.

“In most weight classes, we kind of have an idea on who we are going to wrestle but sometimes there are late season moves and kids are moved up into a different weigh class. We are going  to wrestle where we have all season. We are hoping to have all 14 guys practicing full time this week preparing for a late season run.

“One of our goals this season is to win regions and get 14 out of 14 guys through to state. Those are lofty goals but it is attainable. We need to start peaking right now and carry that level to the state tournament next week,” said Novotny.

Winner has qualified for the state dual tournament but don’t know who they will be wrestling so the main focus this week is regions.

“This is when your whole season comes to a point and you need to get in the top four in your weight class. The kids are ready and excited. I hope to see a big Winner Warrior crowd in Wagner this weekend,” said Novotny.

The state meet is Feb. 24, 25 and 26 in Sioux Falls.

AAU wrestlers have competed in several tournaments.

Results include:

Wagner on Jan 28

Rhogan Robbins, Rylan Robbins, Teegan Shelbourn and Bridger Stirling, all 1^st; Cooper VanZandbergen, Coy Shelbourn, Jedediah Blare, all 2^nd; Blayden Stiring, Jake Kucera and Liam Schroeder, all 3^rd; Addison Wingert-Hempe, Eli Orel, Rex Pederson, all 4^th

Ainsworth tournament on Jan. 30 results:

Clay McMurtrey, Mason Curtis, Owen Novotny, Rouken Robbins, Rylan Robbins,Talon Labahn and Teegan Shelbourn, all first; Eli Orel, Hudson Peters, Liam Schroeder, Rhogan Robbins, Rowdi Moss, Rylan Assman,  all 2^nd; Blake Paulson, Braxtyn Olson and Gage Tucker, 3^rd and Rex Pederson, 4^th.

Legend Benedict placed first at the Aberdeen tournament on Jan. 30.

Results of the Burke tournament on Feb. 4 include: Apollo Willuweit, Bohdy Assman, Bridger Stirling, Gus Tobin, Karsten Storms, Lawson Helkenn, Mason Curtis, Rhogan Robbins, Rowdi Moss, Rylan Robbins, Teegan Shelbourn, all first; Cooper Craven, Crawston Craven, Hudson Peters, Jedediah Blare, Liam Schroeder, Lucchese Helkenn, Owen Novotny, Rex  Pederson, Sterling Assman, Talon Labahn, all 2^nd; Blayden Stirling, Blaze Mead, Christian Barnes, Kaeden Eagle Star, all third; Isaiah Barnes, Jehtt Assman, Ryken Kaup, Tatum Swan, all fourth ; Harvey Nicholas, Julius Eagle Star, Nathan Melius, Raeleigh Mead, Wynn Sargent, all fifthand Jack Ross, 6^th

At the Stanley Co. tournament Addison Wingert-Hempel took first and Gus Tobin, 2^nd.

Results of the Kimball tournament:

Clay McMurtrey, Rhogan Robbins and Blayden Stirling, all first; Rouken Robbins, Bridger Stirling, Talon Swan, all 4^th and Liam Schroeder, 5^th.