By Rich Winter

605 Sports

VERMILLION — In each of the past two high school wrestling seasons Watertown’s Micah Hach finished second in the Class A 285-pound weight class.

On Friday, in front of a raucous Watertown crowd, Hach finally hoisted championship hardware. Hach and a behemoth Arrows offensive line helped in a 14-13 win over Pierre, denying the Governors an eighth-straight Class 11AA state championship. 

“It feels amazing and I’m actually not the one that’s done a lot of knocking guys off the podium,” Hach said. “I missed my chance last year but I’m super proud of each and every guy on this team. We worked our butts off during the season and we put in the work during the summer.”

Hach was part of an offensive line that ground out 134 yards against the Governors on Friday. Offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Will Castle said the big guys have been making a push all season. 

“We pride ourselves in being able to run the football,” Castle said. “They gave us a few different looks up front and some that we were expecting so we had to change things up. I’m so happy for the line guys not to be discouraged. We’re used to popping big runs but today it came down to picking up three and four yards per carry.” 

Castle said Hach sets the example for the offensive and defensive line guys. 

“He really upped the ante for the offensive and defensive line guys to get better,” he said. “Obviously when you have a guy at this level he will make the other guys around him better that have to go against him in practice every day.” 

This level is a football player that has committed to play collegiately at South Dakota State University. Before he puts on the pads for the Jackrabbits Hach is aiming for a state wrestling title in February.

As a freshman, Hach finished third in the state wrestling tournament. 

“I woke up the day of the weigh-ins with a temperature of 101 degrees and had Influenza B,” Hach said. “I couldn’t keep any food down. Nobody knew who I was and with being sick I was just happy to get third place.” 

In each of the last two seasons Hach lost to former Brandon Valley standout Navarro Schunke, the only five-time Class A state wrestling champion in South Dakota history. In the 2024 state championship match Schunke defeated Hach (6-2) a score that didn’t sit well with an athlete that says he will be walking on to the Jackrabbit wrestling team next season.

“I was disappointed in myself from the finals match last year,” Hach said. “Navarro is nothing to scoff at. He’s a great wrestler and I think he’s going to do great things at Kansas State (football). I love what I’m going to do and I feel like I have some great things ahead of me.” 

After a weekend of subdued celebration Hach and the rest of the Watertown wrestling team hit the practice mats at exactly 6:45 a.m. Hach’s sister Eden finished fifth at the 2024 Class A state wrestling tournament (250). 

“Hopefully there will be two siblings on top of the podium,” Hach said.