605 Sports Staff

The road to the Class B state wrestling tournament on Feb. 23-25 in Rapid City begins Saturday with Class B teams competing in Volga, Salem, Miller and Lead-Deadwood. 

In order to qualify for next week’s state tournament athletes must finish in the top-four of their respective regions. 

Entering the region tournaments Class B has three undefeated wrestlers. Redfield’s Brady Risetter is 28-0 (106), Canton’s Tanner Myers is 38-0 (195) and Burke/Gregory’s Owen Hansen is 36-0 (132). 

Region 1B -  Redfield hoping to hold off all challengers for region title 

VOLGA — The Redfield Pheasants, ranked No. 7 in the latest Dakota Grappler wrestling rankings, headline Saturday’s Region 1B tournament. 

Redfield’s big three — Brady Risetter (No. 1 106), Mason Whitley (No. 3 152) and Grady Fey (No. 3 285) — will do most of the damage for the Pheasants. But Redfield has a strong squad that will be looking to qualify wrestlers for the state tournament. 

Deuel/Deubrook Area will also be bringing a strong contingent of wrestlers to Saturday’s tournament and could challenge Redfield for a region title. 

Teams participating in Region 1B: Britton-Hecla, Clark/Willow Lake, Deuel/Deubrook Area, Doland, Faulkton Area, Groton Area, Hamlin/Castlewood, Ipswich/Bowdle, Kingsbury County, Potter County, Redfield, Sioux Valley, Sully Buttes, Tiospa Zina, Warner/Northwestern, Webster Area. 

Top Wrestlers in Region 1B

(106) - Brady Risetter, Redfield: 28-0, Class B No. 1

(106) - Cooper Pommer, Clark/Willow Lake: 45-5, Class B No. 6

(113) - Conner Zens, Redfield: 23-6, Class B No. 7

(120) - Tate Steffensen, Sioux Valley: 26-10, Class B No. 9

(126) - Gannon Gilligan, Kingsbury County: 30-5, Class B No. 5

(132) - Jaxon Quail, Deuel/Deubrook Area: 28-11, Class B No. 7

(138) - Tanner Frickson, Potter County: 36-10, Class B No. 5

(138) - Christian Ehresmann, Groton Area: 30-3, Class B No. 6

(138) - Clayton Dulany, Warner/Northwestern: 35-11, Class B No. 7

(145) - Dylan Zell, Kingsbury County: 29-7, Class B No. 4

(145) - Garrett Cramer, Faulkton Area: 32-5, Class B No. 6

(152) - Mason Whitley, Redfield: 34-6, Class B No. 3

(160) - Korbin Whiteley, Deuel/Deubrook Area: 27-11, Class B No. 11

(170) - Alex Pudwill, Warner/Northwestern: 33-11, Class B No. 10

(182) - Dominic Constant, Deuel/Deubrook Area: 24-7, Class B No. 8

(195) - Lincoln Dikoff, Faulkton Area: 31-7, Class B No. 6

(195) - Justin Granum, Deuel/Deubrook Area: 22-6, Class B No. 8

(220) - Chase McGillivary, Redfield: 19-4, Class B No. 6

(220) - Preston Cavalier, Warner/Northwestern: 32-6, Class B No. 8

(285) - Lucas Rowland, Ipswich/Bowdle: 27-3, Class B No. 5

Region 2B - Canton C-Hawks rolling into Saturday’s Region 2B tournament

SALEM — As the Canton C-Hawks gear up for a run towards a potential sixth consecutive Class B state wrestling championship, they do so with an impressive resume. 

Canton finished the year 27-0 in dual action and looked dominant heading into postseason wrestling. The C-Hawks have 12 wrestlers that are ranked and will be looking to qualify as many wrestlers as they can to the state tournament. 

Teams participating in Region 2B: Canistota, Canton, Chester Area, Elk Point-Jefferson, Garretons, Howard, Marion/Freeman, McCook Central/Montrose, Parker, Tri-Valley, Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda

Canton's Tanner Meyers is top ranked at (195) - Rodney Haas - File photo

Top Wrestlers in Region 2B

(106) - Zach Bartels, Canton: 44-1, Class B No. 2

(106) - Brody Gossen, Marion/Freeman: 29-7, Class B No. 8

(113) - Cole Hendrixson, Tri-Valley: 32-5, Class B No. 2

(120) - Trystan Traupel, McCook Central/Montrose: 38-3, Class B No. 3

(120) - Conner Giedd, Howard: 35-5, Class B No. 5

(126) - Teague Granum, Canton: 17-2, Class B No. 8

(132) - Ashton Keller, Canton: 26-1, Class B No. 3

(132) - Tate Miller, Howard: 32-10, Class B No. 6

(138) - Kale Ask, Canton: 27-1, Class B No. 1

(138) - Brody Dybvig, Tri-Valley: 32-10, Class B No. 4

(145) - Ayson Rice, Canton: 41-3, Class B No. 2

(152) - Jackson Remmers, McCook Central/Montrose: 44-0, Class B No. 1

(152) -  Lucas Hueser, Elk Point-Jefferson: 31-8, Class B No. 5

(160) - Ben Swatek, Elk Point-Jefferson: 35-1, Class B No. 2

(170) - Gavin Jacobs, Elk Point-Jefferson: 18-2, Class B No. 2

(182) - Josh Merkle, Canton: 41-4, Class B No. 5

(195) - Tanner Myers, Canton: 38-0, Class B No. 1

(195) - Charlie Patton, Parker: 31-3, Class B No. 4

(220) - Levi Wieman, Parker: 37-4, Class B No. 1

(220) - Griffen Clubb, Howard: 24-5, Class B No. 4

(285) - Traun Cook, Canton: 37-1, Class B No. 1

(285) - Austin Hoiten, McCook Central/Montrose: 31-2, Class B No. 2

(285) - Isaac Nehlich, Tri-Valley: 23-4, Class B No. 4

Region 3B - Winner Area hoping to hold off crowded field for region title

MILLER — Just making it out of the Region 3B wrestling tournament always seems to be a challenge and the 2023 season is no exception. 

Region 3B features eight of the top-15 rated Class B teams. Class B No. 2 Winner Area, Class B No. 4 Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes and Class B No. 8 Miller/Highmore-Harrold are all expected to challenge for Saturday’s region title. 

Region 3B features six top-ranked Class B wrestlers. Winner Area’s Maxton Brozik (120), KWLPG’s Kasen Konstanz (126), Burke/Gregory’s Owen Hansen (132), KWLPG’s Carter Lenz (145), Winner Area’s Riley Orel (160) and Winner Area’s Jack Kruger (182) are all top ranked in their respective weight classes. 

Teams participating: Andes Central/Dakota Christian, Bon Homme/Avon, Burke/Gregory/Crow Creek, Hanson, Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes, Miller/Highmore-Harrold, Mount Vernon/Plankinton/Corsica-Stickney, Parkston, Scotland, Sunshine Bible Academy, Wagner, Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington, Winner Area. 

Winner Area's Riley Orel (160) is one of three top-ranked wrestlers for the Warriors - Trey Kaul - 605 Sports

Top Wrestlers in Region 3B

(106) - Rylan Robbins, Winner Area: 39-7, Class B No. 5

(106) - Keagan Hill, Mount Vernon/Plankinton/Corsica-Stickney: Class B No. 7

(113) - Talon Ping, Miller/Highmore-Harrold: 34-3, Class B No. 3

(113) - Jacksen Carter, Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington: 39-5, Class B No. (113) - Gage Reichert, Parkston: 15-10, Class B No. 5

(113) - Jackson Kaul, Bon Homme/Avon: 28-9, Class B No. 6

(120) - Maxon Brozik, Winner Area: 23-1, Class B No. 1

(120) - Karstyn Lhotak, Wagner: 41-3, Class B No. 2

(126) - Kasen Konstanz, KWLPG: 29-1 Class B No. 1

(126) - Kellan Hurd, Miller/Highmore-Harrold: 38-4, Class B No. 2

(126) - Kaden Holzbauer, Parkston: 30-9, Class B No. 4

(132) - Owen Hansen, Burke/Gregory: 36-0, Class B No. 1

(132) - Karson Keiser, Winner Area: 45-7, Class B No. 2

(132) - Iden Meyers, KWLPG: 34-6, Class B No. 4

(132) - Wyatt Anderson, Parkston: 27-9, Class B No. 5

(138) - Jhett Breen, Wagner: 38-3, Class B No. 2

(145) - Carter Lenz, KWLPG: 32-4, Class B No. 1

(145) - Drew Gerlach, MVPCS: Class B No. 3

(145) - Joey Hoverson, WSWWW: 34-7, Class B No. 5

(152) - Brady Bierema, Bon Homme/Avon: 12-2, Class B No. 4

(160) - Riley Orel, Winner Area: 48-2, Class B No. 2

(160) - Lucas Lenz, KWLPG: 7-1, Class B No. 5

(170) - Gunner Stephens, Burke/Gregory: 32-3, Class B No. 3

(170) - Gunner Brueggerman, Miller/Highmore-Harrold: 24-9, Class B No. 5

(182) - Jack Kruger, Winner Area: 27-2, Class B No. 1

(182) - Isaac Crownover, Bon Homme/Avon: 31-2, Class B No. 2

(182) - Keegan Haider, WSWWW: 30-6, Class B No. 3

(195) - Jayden Kahler, KWLPG: 7-1, Class B No. 12

(220) - Tim Bouza, Wagner: 33-7, Class B No. 5

(285) - Derek Fenenga, Winner Area: 19-17, Class B No. 11

Region 4B - Brawlers and Custer expected to battle for region title

LEAD — Of all the Class B regions, the Region 4B wrestling tournament may have the biggest battle for top honors. In the latest Dakota Grappler wrestling rankings Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers were ranked No. 3 while Custer was ranked No. 6. 

The Brawlers look to be slight favorites here although the status of Kipp Cordes (120) may be a deciding factor. Cordes was ranked No. 3 in the week 10 rankings but was left out of the week 11 rankings. If he’s not able to go, the Wildcats and the Brawlers could be dead even by the time the placing matches start on Saturday.  

Teams participating: Bennett County, Custer, Elk Mountain, Faith, Harding County, HIll City, Hot Springs, Lead-Deadwood, Lemmon-McIntosh, Lyman, McLaughlin, Mobridge-Pollock, Newell, Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers, Red Cloud, St. Thomas More, Stanley County

Stanley County's Chase Hanson is all smiles after winning a state title in 2022.

Top Wrestlers in Region 4B

(106) - Tyler Trant, Custer: 39-9, Class B No. 3

(106) - Tukker Boe or Carter Kendrick, PKAWBB: Boe was ranked No. 4 in the week 11 rankings but Kendrick defeated Boe in the finals in Wall last week. 

(113) - Tray Weiss, Custer: 45-3, Class B No. 1

(120) - Kipp Cordes, PKAWBB: 12-3, Class B No. 3 in week 10 rankings

(120) - Gage Anderson, Lemmon/McIntosh: 32-5, Class B No. 7

(126) - Chase Hanson, Stanley County: 31-5, Class B No. 3

(126) - Landon Woodward, Custer: 35-3, Class B No. 6

(126) - Gavin Risse, Bennett County: 32-10, Class B No. 7

(132) - Wyatt Wientjes, MOPO: 32-16, Class B No. 9

(138) - Jace Blasius. PKAWBB: 30-3, Class B No. 3

(145) - Gage Ravellette, PKAWBB: 24-6, Class B No. 7

(145) - Miles Renner, Lead-Deadwood: 24-6, Class B No. 8

(152) - Blair Blasius, PKAWBB: 20-2, Class B No. 2

(160) - Jonathan Lewis, Custer: 29-6, Class B No. 3

(160) - Thane Simons, PKAWBB: 27-8, Class B No. 4

(170) - Burk Blasius, PKAWBB: 19-1, Class B No. 1

(170) - Jesse Bears Heart, Mobridge-Pollock: 34-9, Class B No. 4

(182) - Parker Noem, Custer: 33-7, Class B No. 6

(182) - Mason Heath, PKAWBB; 15-5, Class B No. 7

(195) - Caleb Rickenbach, Hot Springs: 36-5, Class B No. 2

(195) - Gunner Johnson, Lyman: 29-6, Class B No. 4

(220) - Aiden Schoenhard, Mobridge-Pollock, 34-8, Class B No. 2

(220) - Grey Gilbert, Harding County: 33-9, Class B No. 3

(285) - Louie Thiry, Lyman: 33-10, Class B No. 9