By Rich Winter

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — After four months of blood, sweat and tears the 2024-25 wrestling season is in the books but oh man, what a ride. 

The 2025 state wrestling tournament at the Monument in Rapid City did not disappoint as hundreds of athletes from across the state gave it their everything. It is always interesting to be an observer and see the emotions of athletes and coaches who have worked together, sometimes for years, share the personal moments that make wrestling such a special sport. 

Over a three-day period, and with hundreds of matches wrestled, here are some of my top moments from the 2025 state tournaments.

Jacob Johnson, McCook Central/Montrose (285) junior -  Johnson lost his first-round match to Custer’s Zayden LaPlace then faced Philip/Kadoka/Wall’s Patrick Trask in the first-round wrestlebacks. The match was tied 1-1 going into the sudden victory period and late in that period, Johnson got in deep on a takedown attempt and looked like he was going to win. In the blink of an eye, Trask countered and was awarded a takedown as time expired. Johnson fought hard to keep the tears in but the flood gates opened as he jogged off the mat. Sports teaches us valuable life lessons and with a large contingent of state place-winners graduating from the Class B ranks I personally look for Johnson to have a monstrous senior season.

Beresford/Alcester-Hudson’s Owen Serck’s family wrestling connection - My perch for the entire state tournament was in a media area with Owen Serck’s family perched just below me. I’ve known Owen’s mother, Michelle, through social media for years so I had the opportunity to visit a bit during a tournament that saw Owen reach the Class A 106-pound finals. Serck has been wrestling at 106 for the last three years but Michelle said this is the first year where he actually ‘fit’ into the weight class. Serck is a fairly small guy but that didn’t stop him from playing linebacker and being one of the top tacklers on a very good Alcester football team. Older brother Logan Serck was a class A runner-up during his wrestling days and is currently student-teaching at Hanson high school. Owen's father Phil Serck in an assistant coach on the Beresord/Alcester-Hudson wrestling team. 

Sioux Valley’s Summer Guthmiller is one-tough customer - I was able to see Sioux Valley’s Summer Guthmiller wrestle in person twice this season. Every time she steps on the mat I’m always amazed at how strong she looks and what a physical presence she brings to girls wrestling. Guthmiller led Lakota Tech’s Giada Scherich at the 2024 state tournament in the 132-pound finals but ended up losing. The sophomore came back with a vengeance this year and finished her season with a 43-0 record. Guthmiller is nationally ranked and flexed that physicality in the finals with a second-period pin (2:48) over Pierre’s Kezrey Benning. 

Tea Area’s Tyler Woodring and Watertown’s Gage Lohr are incredibly talented - There were plenty of talented wrestlers at the 2025 state tournament but Tea Area’s Tyler Woodring and Watertown’s Gage Lohr are young men that have that next-level gear. Woodring, a junior, finished his season with a 42-0 record and pinned all four of his state tournament opponents, including Brandon Valley’s Brendon Oehme (:33) in the finals. Lohr, a sophomore who already has three state titles, finished the year 34-1 with the one loss coming by medical default to Rapid City Stevens wrestler Aiden Callahan. Lohr avenged that loss to Callahan with a 15-4 MD in the Class A 138-pound finals. This is a testament of how good Lohr is but in the finals of the Rapid City Invitational in January he faced Winner’s Karson Keiser, the 2025 Class B state champion (138). Lohr defeated Keiser, 16-1 in the finals of that December tournament. 

Tea Area's Tyler Woodring finished his junior season with a 42-0 record while pinning all four of his opponents at the state tournament - Rodney Haas / 605 Sports

Sioux Falls Jefferson is a Class A program on the rise - The 2025 state tournament was a coming out party for what looks to be an ever-improving Class A program. Five Jefferson wrestlers qualified for the state tournament and all five of those wrestlers placed in their weight classes. Aidan Wells (52-1) won the 144 title and Ayden Dooley (45-7) won the 165-pound title. Dooley was able to celebrate that state championship with his father Jamie who is an assistant coach. In regards to the improved program Ayden Dooley gave much of the credit to coach Todd Wells.

“Coach brings in guys from high divisions to wrestle,” Dooley said. “Our motto is to have courage and have confidence every day. We keep going no matter what. Coach has been working with us since we were little kids and he’s been preparing us for this moment since we were little. 

Sioux Falls Jefferson's Ayden Dooley celebrates his win over Sturgis' Joseph Nadig in the Class A state championship 165 pound match on Saturday during the state tournament at Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City - Matt Gade / 605 Sports

Groton Area’s Liza Krueger is a one-woman wrecking crew - After finishing third in the 100-pound weight class in 2024 Groton Area sophomore Liza Kruger came back with a vengeance to win the 2025 state championship at 100. Krueger is the only girl on the Groton Area wrestling team and has been for the entirety of her wrestling career. While she’s the only girl on the team she’s not the only girl in the wrestling room. Doland athletes Kyla Logan (138) and Reganne Miles (165) both finished third in their respective weight classes. 

“The key to me winning this year is doing what I know how to do and believing in myself,” Krueger said. “Having Kyla and Reganne in the room has been super important for me on and off the mat and I’m going to miss them next year.” 

What a moment for the Sisseton wrestling programs — About midway through the championship finals Sisseton’s Ian Metz broke a 13-year title drought for the Redman with a 5-4 win over Canton’s Zach Bartels for the 126-pound Class B title. About 45 minutes later, junior teammate Holden Hawkins defeated Philip/Kadoka/Wall’s Jace Blasius for the 157 title. Following an emotional win for Hawkins there were hugs all around as the Sisseton coaches Kasey Metz, Cyrus Hawkins, Matt Anderson, Tyler Appel, Sarah Goodhart, Woody Hawkins and Kellyn March went all out in the full on hugs department while celebrating two state champions in one day. 

Sisseton's Holden Hawkins goes for a tumble with assistant coach Kellyn March after winning the Class B title at 157 - Rodney Haas / 605 Sports

Wrestling coaches clean up nicely - Throughout the long season that is wrestling you see coaches in all states. Sometimes happy, sometimes upset, sometimes consoling kids or teaching their athletes after a tough loss. While the coaches are doing all of this coaching and nurturing their athletes through various life lessons, their attire isn’t something you notice…

Until the finals on Saturday. 

Suits, ties, fancy shoes and combed hair that mostly stays in place let us take a closer look at coaches who have given their all and cared so much about the young people they work with. 

Until next season, I bid you adieu.

Miller/Highmore-Harrold coaches embrace senior Kellan Hurd after Hurd won the 144 title, the third state championship of his career - Rodney Haas / 605 Sports