Region 1A: Watertown expected to hold off West Central for Region 1A title

HARTFORD — Watertown enters Region 1A action Saturday with three top-ranked wrestlers in the lineup. Shea Richter (120), Brody Randall (126) and Micha Hach (285) are all top-ranked in their respective weight classes. 

Other ranked Watertown athletes Braylon Schell, Chase Mathews, Kutler Swenson, Orlando Whiting, Leo Stroup, Marcus Pitken, Landen Lewis and Ethan Wientjes are all ranked in the top-12 of their weight classes and should be enough to power the Arrows to Saturday’s region title. 

The Arrows lost some steam on the season when two-time state champion Gage Lohr suffered a season-ending injury. 

West Central has a number of top-tier athletes including Kaden Haakinson who is top ranked at 106. 

Grayson Pischke, Brody Gossen, Karson Vessells, Alex Siemonsma, Langdon Klinkhammer, Hayden Whiting, Keaton Vessells and Cain Grocott are other ranked wrestlers for West Central. 

Region 1 Athletes to Watch: 

• Gabriel Stern, Brookings, No. 3 at 175

• Tate Schlueter, Milbank, No. 4 at 175

• Keenan Sheridan, O’Gorman, No. 1 at 175

• Aiden Wells, Sioux Falls Jefferson, No. 1 at 138

• Graham Wilde, Sioux Falls Jefferson, No. 3 at 144

• Dawson Eimers, Tea Area, No. 2 at 165

• Chase DeBoer, Tea Area, No. 2 at 285. 

Region 2A: Brandon Valley continues to be top dog in southeastern South Dakota

Brandon Valley's Aaron Tucker wrestling Watertown's Kutler Swenson during the Class A state dual tournament.

BRANDON — Perhaps no team has improved more in Class A this season than Brandon Valley. The Lynx finished fifth at the 2024 state tournament and entered the season with very few ranked wrestlers and a team ranking nestled just outside of Class A’s elite. 

As the Region 2A tournament begins Friday in Brandon the Lynx are ranked No. 3 in the latest Dakota Grappler team poll with ten wrestlers ranked amongst the top-12 in their respective weight classes. 

Elijah Schunke (215) is Brandon Valley’s only top-ranked athlete but Beckett Rehorst (120), Brendon Oehme (126) and Hayden McGuire (132) are all ranked No. 2 in their weight classes. Mix in ranked wrestlers Braden Shoemaker, Judah Larson, Levi Veskrna, Ethan Tucker and Cody Lindekugel and Brandon Valley is the heavy favorite to win the region title. 

Region 2A Athletes to Watch: 

• Ivan Johnson, Harrisburg, No. 3 at 106

• Owen Serck, Beresford/Alcester-Hudson, No. 4 at 106

• Steven Lamont, Harrisburg, No. 2 at 138

• Brody Sonnenschein, Harrisburg, No. 4 at 215

• Grant Larson, Lennox, No 4 at 144

• Jackson Boonstra, Dakota Valley, No. 3 at 144

• Rollie French, Vermillion, No. 3 at 215

• Lane Knutson, Sioux Falls Washington, No. 2 at 190

Region 3A: Aberdeen Central grapplers ready for Region 3A supremacy

Aberdeen Central's Elias Biegler wrestling Sturgis's Joseph Nadig during the Class A state dual tournament - Rodney Haas / 605 Sports

EAGLE BUTTE —- After a second-place finish at the Class A state dual tournament, Aberdeen Central is looking to gain momentum at Saturday’s Region 3A wrestling tournament. 

Mason Schrempp is top ranked at 165 and Jackson Dargatz is ranked No. 2 at 106. Other Aberdeen Central wrestlers that are ranked include Paxton Ewing, Esten Foss, Tate Huff, Brody Aesoph, Ridley Waldo, Owen Ward, Elias Biegler, Grayden Timm, Cole Dunlavy, Ryker Meister and Joran Foss

Pierre isn’t as strong as it was in 2024 (Class A state tournament second place) but the Governors should still qualify a bunch of athletes for the state meet and be in contention for the region team title Saturday. Ranked wrestlers for Pierre include Gable Uhrig, Bode Minder, Walker West, Alex Oedekoven, Rowdy Menning, Lincoln Schoenhard, Porter Hunsley, Kalo Steely and Elijah Boutchee

Region 3A Athletes to Watch: 

• Caleb Hodge, Madison, No. 2 at 144

• Ashten Dorhout, Madison, No. 3 at 285

• Sutton Powers, Chamberlain, No. 5 at 144

• Xavier Donovan, Chamberlain, No. 8 at 165

• Noah Bennett, Mitchell, No. 7 at 120

• Sean Foote, Mitchel, No. 6 at 215

• Rocky Clark, Mitchell, No. 6 at 285

Region 4A: Top ranked Sturgis expected to dominate Region 4A wrestling action

RAPID CITY —-After winning the Class A state wrestling championship in 2024 the Sturgis Scoopers have come back better and stronger than last year. 

The Scooper are strong from the top of their lineup to the bottom led by top-ranked wrestlers, Benjamin Nadig (138), Joseph Nadig (157) and Kelson Dirk (190). Other ranked Sturgis wrestlers are Sullivan Sigman, Tyler Baldwin, Mason Hagen, Tarver Zebroski, Parker Graveman, Kalvin Ketelsen, Cade Willnerd, Zhoel Irion and Tyce Uherka. 

While Rapid City Stevens can’t keep pace with Sturgis the Raiders have a stacked roster loaded with ranked athletes. Kasen Armstrong, Max Schoenhard, Jaxon Toennies, Aiden Callahan, Joe Juenger, Brayden Collins, Jacob Williams, Aiden Russel , Tucker Mason, Cooper Myers, Ayden Kellogg and Owen Coody are all ranked and all are expected to qualify for the 2025 Class A state tournament.

Cooper Meyers of Rapid City Stevens wrestling Cain Grocott of West Central during the Class A state dual tournament - Rodney Haas / 605 Sports

Region 4A Athletes to Watch: 

• Pierce Hurd, Rapid City Central, No. 1 at 113

• Ryan Tschetter, Rapid City Central, No. 3 at 126

• Coy Eddy, Douglas/Rapid City Christian/New Underwood, No. 6 at 126

• Jacob Ellingson, Spearfish, No. 3 at 190