By Rich Winter

605 Sports

RAPID CITY —- After claiming the Class A state wrestling in 2024, and with a young roster in 2025, the Sturgis wrestling team may be at the beginning of a very special run.  

The Scoopers qualified 14 wrestlers for the state tournament that begins on Thursday in Rapid CIty. Of those 14 wrestlers only Kalvin Ketelson (150), Cade Wilnerd (157), Joseph Nadig (165) and Gunnar Sarkela (215) are seniors. 

The Scoopers have three wrestlers, Tyler Baldwin (113), Nadig (165) and Kelson Dirk (190) that each earned top seeds in their respective weight classes. 

Aberdeen Central was a distant third at the 2024 state tournament behind Sturgis and Pierre. The Golden Eagles qualified all 14 of their athletes for the 2025 state tournament. Jackson Dargatz (106), Esten Foss (113), Paxton Ewing (120), WIll Allen (126), Porter Lozenski (132), Tate Huff (138), Ridley Waldo (144), Owen Ward (150), Mason Schrempp (157), Elias Biegler (165), Grayden Timm (175), Cole Dunlavy (190), Ryker Meister (215), Jordan Foss (285) are the wrestlers that will be representing Aberdeen Central. 

Of those wrestlers, Schrempp is top seeded in his weight class after finishing third at 157 in 2024. 

Rapid City Stevens qualified all 14 of their wrestlers for the state tournament. Aiden Callahan earned the No. 1 seed at 138 while Jacob Williams (157) and Ayden Kellogg (215) each earned the No. 2 seed in their brackets. 

Brandon Valley and Madison each qualified 13 athletes for the state tournament. The Lynx have been a steadily improving team throughout the year but lost highly ranked Beckett Rehorst (120) prior to the Region 2A meet. 

Watertown qualified just 10 wrestlers for the state meet but the Arrows got a huge boost when two-time champion Gage Lohr (138) came back from injury to win the Region 1A title. Watertown wrestlers Shea Richter (132) and Micah Hach (285) are both top-seeded in their respective weight classes. 

Returning Champions:

Pierce Hurd, Rapid City Central (No. 2 seed at 113), Brody Randall (Class B champion at 113 with Hamlin/Castlewood, No. 4 seed with Watertown at 126), Brendon Oehme, Brendon Valley (No. 2 seed at 126), Gage Lohr, Watertown (No. 2 seed at 138), Jacob WIlliams, Rapid City Stevens (No. 2 seed at 157) and Moses Gross, Huron (No. 1 seed at 150).

Dream Finals Matchups:

• 113 - Tyler Baldwin, Sturgis vs. Pierce Hurd, Rapid City Central - These two west river athletes have seen plenty of each other over the last two seasons. Hurd spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in this weight class but Baldwin had a 4-0 win over Hurd at the Rapid City Invitational and a 9-7 win at the Region 4A tournament last week. 

• 126 - Tyler Woodring, Tea Area vs. Brendon Oehme, Brandon Valley - Tea Area’s Tyler Woodring is 38-0 on the season and coming off a third place finish at the 2024 state tournament (120). Oehme, 41-7 won a state title at 113 in 2024. 

• 150 - Moses Gross, Huron vs. Kalvin Ketelson, Sturgis - Moses Gross is 21-0 on the season and looking for the third state title of an illustrious career. Ketelson is 46-2 on the season and coming off a fifth place finish (144) at the 2024 state tournament. 

• 215 - Elijah Schunke, Brandon Valley vs. Ayden Kellogg, Rapid City Stevens - Schunke is 29-0 this season after finishing second at 190 in 2024. Kellogg is 38-2 on the season and hasn’t lost a match since Jan. 11.