By Rich Winter

605 Sports

As girls wrestling in South Dakota continues to explode in popularity, changes to accommodate that growth are happening every season.

For the first time in the history of girls wrestling, athletes will qualify for the state meet by finishing in the top-four of their respective regions and Spearfish coach Joel Martin is looking forward to the battles that lie ahead. 

“With more matches and mat time you are seeing the gap in the competition between the girls closing and turning into really good competition,” Martin said. “We used to see a lot of first-period pins but now we are seeing matches going the full three periods and even some overtimes and that is really cool to see that transition.” 

Region 1 (Clark), Region 2 (Salem) and Region 3 (Aberdeen) are set for Thursday while Region 4 in Rapid City is set for Saturday.

Martin said the move to have regions this year put more emphasis on seeing teams in the region instead of only teams across the state for seeding purposes.

“I think it makes it a little more important to see the girls in our region,” he said. “We need to see everyone around the state but now you want to get as many looks at the girls in your region as possible.” 

Martin and the Spearfish girls have seen plenty of Region 4 competition this season and he expects a battle as athletes attempt to qualify and teams battle for the elusive region titles.

“Our region is loaded and I think that’s a testament to the coaches out here,” he said. “You look at what Dave Michaud has done at Lakota Tech and those girls are tough. I tell my athletes that if you are going to wrestle someone from Lakota Tech you can expect to go the full six minutes.” 

Region 1: Young Watertown squad expected to battle for Region 1 championship

CLARK — With three top-ranked wrestlers, all of them underclassmen, Watertown is a team that looks to be on the rise in eastern South Dakota. Freshman Olivia Anderson (107), junior Allison Konrad (185) and sophomore Eden Hach (235) are all top ranked in their respective weight classes. Eighth graders Brooklyn Randall (114) and Naveah Schanbeck (152) are both ranked in their respective weight classes and should help the Arrows be one of the top teams in Thursday’s Region 1 tournament. 

Region 1 athletes to watch:

• Liza Krueger, Groton Area, No. 1 ranked at 100

• Vi Anderson, Sisseton, No. 3 ranked at 114

• Lainey Haines, Tea Area, No. 4 at 138

• Summer Guthmiller, Sioux Valley, No. 1 at 138

• Jaidynn Giedd, Kingsbury County, No. 3 at 165

Region 2: Canton girls continue to be one of top teams in South Dakota

SALEM — After winning a state title in 2024 at 100, Canton eighth-grader Finley Evjen just keeps piling up the wins. Evjen is the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 120 heading into Thursday’s Region 2 meet in Salem. Canton enters Thursday’s Region meet with ranked wrestlers Evjen, Brooke Warejcka (107), Alyssa McCracken (138), Kenzie King (152), Anna Folkens (165), Kori Wallner (185) and Natalia Long (235) all expected to make strong showings for the No. 2 ranked C-Hawks. 

Region 2 athletes to watch:

• Alexis Bryant, McCook Central/Montrose,. No. 1 at 114

• Olivia Kolbreck, Sioux Falls Washington, No. 4 at 126

• Regina Stoeser, Harrisburg, No. 1 at 132

• Rhiannen Heimdal, Harrisburg, No. 2 at 165

Region 3: Governor girls expected to take top honors in crowded Region 3 competition

ABERDEEN — With teams like Aberdeen Central and Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon and Pierre competing, Thursday’s Region 3 will have some of the deepest and most competitive brackets of all the region tournaments.

Pierre with ranked athletes Shaylee Speck, Gemma Stangeland, Dani Ringstmeyer, Lexie Hillmer, Kezrey Benning, Ireland Templeton, Abbi Lewis, Jayda Steinke, Kyanne Traversie-Johnson and Brylee Pelle is expected to win Thursday’s region tournament. 

For the past few years Britney Rueb and Peyton Hellmann have carried the torch for the Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon team. Rueb injured a knee and will not be competing at the region tournament. Hellmann, a senior who recently went over 150 pins, is joined by ranked wrestlers Jasmine Rueles-Hertz, Harper Kracht, Hadlee Kracht, Bailey Kemnitz, Ashley Tolsma and Hope Kemnitz. 

Aberdeen Central is another team with a number of young athletes. Madison Little, Avery Bendewald, Jasmine Maas, Allison Neitzel, Rakyrah Wallace, Lin Paw Jone, Grace Reszler and Lilly Nelson are all ranked and should score well at Thursday’s region tournament. 

Region 4: Lakota Tech hopes to hold off all challengers in competitive Region 4

RAPID CITY — With a host of talented teams out west the Lakota Tech girls will be looking to hold off challengers like Spearish, Sturgis and Rapid City Stevens. 

Ranked wrestlers for the Tatanka include Brandy Marshall, Lakota Rogers, Cante White Bull, Chloe Fire Thunder, Sandra Moves Camp and Eriah Big Crow. 

Defending state champion Giada Scherich’s status for the region tournament is uncertain as she’s been in and out of the Lakota Tech lineup this season. 

Rapid City Stevens’ ranked wrestlers are Brooklyn Smith, Marienda Kalahar, Bella Morteno and Tallie Brehm. 

Ranked athletes for Spearfish are Haven Baker, Candice Matsuda, Mathilda Matsuda and Marlee Heltzel.