By Dan Bechtold, Editor
Wrestling fans and community members welcomed home the fourth place Winner Area wrestling team Sunday evening after a successful competition of the state Class B tournament in Sioux Falls.
The Warriors had six wrestlers place during the two day event. Tre Doren was the state champion. Also placing were Kaden Keiser, 6th; Wyatt Turnquist, 5th; Atlas Willuweit, 4th; Trevor Peters, 7th; Kayleb Brozik, 5th.
Avery Gilchrist and Jayden Schroeder also wrested at state which was held at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
Coach Jayd Schuyler thanked fans for their support this season and for those who followed the team to Sioux Falls. “Head coach Spencer Novotny had a solid program and made wrestling fun for the kids,” said Schuyler.
Head coach Spencer Novotny said the Winner athletes are great young men. “I knew we were going to have something special when we won the Mid Dakota Monster in Presho,” said the coach. The Warrior went on to win the regional title.
The coach talked about each athlete who wrestled at state. Novotny noted state champion Tre Doren is a great athlete. “I have never seen someone so composed and humble after winning at state title.”’ The coach added that senior Tristan Watzel went with the team to state. “Tristan is our team. We really jelled through Tristan.”
Prior to coming to Winner, Novotny was the wrestling coach in Mobridge for six years. He said one of the hardest things is to move into a new athletic program. “I told the kids I did not want to change anything they would do, I just wanted to add to it,” he said.
Novotny noted this victory was a team effort. Novotny was named the Region 3 coach of the year and was quick to admit that was an award that also goes to assistant coaches Jady Schuyler and Daryl LaDeaux. He said when the team does good it makes the coaches look good.
The seniors on the team talked at the welcome home and thanked the fans for their support.
Loading ...