By Rich Winter 

605 Sports

Class B wrestling is always full of interesting stories and the 2023-2024 season will be no different. Canton will be aiming for a seventh consecutive team title and eight state champions return that will be looking to add to their wrestling legacy. 

Returning state champions: Tray Weiss, Custer (113), Karstyn Lhotak, Wagner (120), Kellen Hurd, Miller/Highmore/Harrold (126), Jace Blasius, Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands (138), Ayson Rice, Canton (145), Jackson Remmers, McCook Central/Montrose (152), Burk Blasius, Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands (170), Traun Cook, Canton (285). 

Storylines to keep tabs on:

• Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawler senior Burk Blasius will be looking for his fourth consecutive state title in February.

• Canton’s Ayson Rice will also be looking for a fourth consecutive individual title. 

• Parker’s Levi Wieman was top ranked at 220 most of last season and was headed for a state title until he was defaulted from his semifinal against McCook Central/Montrose’s Kade Grocott (now at Howard) for illegally slamming his opponent to the mat. Look for Wieman to have a big season in the upper weights.

• Howard wrestling ready to make a move: A year ago Howard finished 16th in the Class B team standings. The Tigers return freshman Conner Giedd (5th at 120) and Tate Miller (7th at 132) as state placewinners. Three gigantic additions to the team, Jackson Remmers (state champ at 152), Weston Remmers (5th at 170) and Kade Grocott (2nd at 220) instantly make the Tigers a threat for high finishes in both the state tournaments and state dual tournaments. 

• Hot Springs senior Caleb Rickenbach is looking for a title: In 2021, Rickenbach finished third (170) and in 2022 another third place finish (195). A year ago Rickenback was runner-up (195).

• 126/132 loaded with state champions: A year ago Winner Area’s Max Brozik (120) looked like he was headed for a second state title. A leg injury forced him to miss about a month of the season and he finished third. Wagner’s Karson Lhotak won the 120-pound title over Gavin Braun (KWLPG - state champion (106) in 2022). In 2023 Miller/Highmore/Harrold’s Kellan Hurd won the 126-pound title beating Kasen Konstanz (KWLPG - state champion (106) in 2021).

C-Hawks aiming for seventh consecutive Class B team title

As dynasties go the Canton wrestling team is treading in uncharted waters. The C-Hawks won their sixth consecutive team title last February and have a solid nucleus returning for coach Jeremy Swenson. 

Among the returners state placewinners for the C-Hawks are Aiden Schrempp (4th at 113 in 2023), Teague Granum (6th at 126 in 2023), Ashton Keller (3rd at 132 in 2023), Ayson Rice (champion at 145 in 2023), John Halverson (8th at 160 in 2023), Traun Cook (champion at 285 in 2023).

Canton won the 2023 title with 163.5 points, ahead of Winner Area (126.5) and Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers (126) and Custer (119). Canton will need to replace the points of Tanner Meyers, champion at 195 and Josh Merkle, runner-up at 182.

While Canton is favored to win, Winner, Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall/Badlands Brawlers and Custer return a host of talented grapplers that will keep those teams in contention.

Winner returning state place-winners are: Rylan Robbins (6th at 106), Maxton Brozik (3rd at 120), Karson Keiser (4th at 126), Konner Osborn (4th at 138) and Derek Fenenga (8th at 285).

Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers returning state place-winners are: Carter Kendrick (2nd at 106), Jace Blasius (champion at 138), Thane Simons (6th at 160), Burk Blasius (champion at 170), Quinn Moon (7th at 195). 

Custer’s returning state place-winners are: Tyler Trant (3rd at 106), Tray Weiss (champion at 113), Riley Scott (8th at 132), Kai Rusch (8th at 145), Parker Noem (2nd at 170), Ryder Bailey (6th at 182).

Returning state place-winners and their 2023 weight class

(106) -  2. Carter Kendrick, Philip Area 9 14-2 3. Tyler Trant, Custer 11 45-11 4. Cooper Pommer, Clark/Willow Lake 10 38-6 5. Brody Randall, Hamlin/Castle 10 33-11 6. Rylan Robbins, Winner 8 44-11 7. Landon Flogstad, McCook/Montrose 11 24-10 8. Sean Roseland, Faulkton Area 9 34-20

(113) - 1. Tray Weiss, Custer 11 53-3 2. Cole Hendrixson, Tri-Valley 9 38-6 3. Jackson Kaul, Bon Homme/Avon 11 35-11 4. Aiden Schrempp, Canton 9 32-10 5. Jacksen Carter, WS/W/WW 9 45-7 6. Talon Ping, Miller Highmore/Harrold 10 39-7 7. Nicholas Schlachter, Potter Co. 12 31-10 8. Neil Hicks, Bennett County 11 31-14

(120) - 1. Karstyn Lhotak, Wagner 12 48-3 2. Gavin Braun, K/WL/PG 11 36-7 3. Maxton Brozik, Winner 12 30-3 4. Gage Anderson, Lemmon/McIntosh 11 39-7 5. Conner Giedd/Howard 9 41-7 6. Trystan Traupel, MC/Montrose 11 43-7 7. Tate Steffensen, Sioux Valley 11 32-12 8. Drew Janke, Lead-Deadwood 11 24-20

(126) - 126 LBS 1. Kellan Hurd, Miller/HH 11 44-5 2. Kasen Konstanz, Kimball/WL/PG 12 34-2 4. Karson Keiser, Winner 11 51-10 5. Gannon Gilligan, Kingsbury Co. 11 38-7 6. Teague Granum, Canton 11 21-5 7. Gavin Risse, Bennett Co. 11 38-13

Miller/Highmore/Harrold's Kellen Hurd wrestling Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes athlete Kasen Konstanz in the Class B finals (126) in 2023 - Rodney Haas - 605 Sports

(132) -  2. Haeden Jorgenson, Webster 10 37-7 3. Ashton Keller, Canton 12 33-2 4. Iden Myers, KWLPG 11 39-9 5. Wyatt Anderson, Parkston 10 34-12 6. Taegan Foreman, Miller/High/Harr 12 30-12 7. Tate Miller, Howard 11 37-13 8. Riley Scott, Custer 10 44/12

(138) -  1. Jace Blasius, Philip 11 38-3 2. Christian Ehresmann, Groton 11 36-4 3. Jhett Breen, Wagner 12 45-4 4. Konner Osborn, Winner 11 40-18 7. Carter Sommer, 11 Parkston, 36-16; 8. Tyler Tjeerdsma, 12 BH/Avon, 30-17

(145) - 1. Ayson Rice 12 48-3  6. Miles Renner, Lead-Deadwood 11 29-10 8. Kai Rusch, Custer 12 26-22

(152) - 1. Jackson Remmers, MC/M 11 51-0 6. Colby Kolda, Miller/HH 11 37-13 7. Andrew Even, Parker 12 43-11 8. Colton Brady, Stanley Co. 11 29-15

(160) - 4. Carter Randall, MC/Montrose 12 42-11 6. Thane Simons, Philip 12 33-12 7. Gannon Knebel, Wagner 10 39-14 8. John Halverson, Canton 12 36-20

(170) - 1. Burk Blasius, Philip Area 12 26-1 2. Parker Noem, Custer 12 38-9 5. Weston Remmers, MC/Montrose 11 35-7 7. Alex Pudwill, Warner, NW 12 39-13 8. Kolter Kramer, Parkston 11 30-16

(182) -  6. Ryder Bailey, Custer 11 38-9 

(195) -  2. Caleb Rickenbach, Hot Springs 12 41-6 7. Quinn Moon, Philip 12 17-13 8. Lincoln Dikoff, Faulkton 11 35-11

(220) - 2. Kade Grocott, MC/Montrose 12 22-5 3. Levi Wieman, Parker 12 44-5 6. Preston Cavalier, Warner/NW 11 37-9 7. Tim Bouza, Wagner 12 38-9 8. Chase McGillivary, Redfield 12 24-8

(285) - 1. Traun Cook, Canton 12 43-1 2. Grady Fey, Redfield 12 42-2 5. Isaac Nehlich, Tri-Valley 12 29-7 7. Colton Niles, Newell 12 28-14 8. Derek Fenenga, Winner 10 24-20

Canton's Traun Cook returns for his senior season after winning a state title (285) in 2023.