By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Since girls wrestling became a sanctioned sport three years ago, all South Dakota has known is dominance from the Pierre and Canton girls. In 2022, the first year a team title was awarded, Pierre edged Canton, 146-129, for the championship. In 2023 the Governors repeated, this time edging the C-Hawks, 167-134.5. 

In 2024 the gap between Pierre and Canton appears to have closed. The two powers of South Dakota traded top spots as the No. 1 ranked girls team all season, according to the Dakota Grappler rankings. As the girls state tournament begins, Thursday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, fans could be treated to a very intriguing race for the team title. 

Pierre girls team: Coached by Matt Thorson, the Governor girls qualified 10 athletes for the state meet. Shaylee Speck, 35-10 (100), Sydney Uhrig, 28-3 (107), Dani Ringstmeyer 36-6 (114), Lexie Hillmer, 29-7 (126), Kezrey Benning 36-6 (132), Jayda Steinke, 16-15 (138), Ireland Templeton, 26-4 (145), Abbigail Lewis, 37-0 (152), Kyanne Traversie-Johnson, 10-18 (165), Emalee Larson, 19-9 (185), Heavenly Thompson, 21-18 (250). 

RIngstmeyer, a junior, is the top seed in the 126-pound class. Lewis, a freshman and the daughter of Pierre boys wrestling coach Shawn Lewis, is 37-0 this season and is top-seeded at 152. 

Canton girls team: Coached by Jeremy Ask, the C-Hawks qualified 12 athletes for the state meet. Finley Evjen, 37-4 (100), Brooke Warejcka, 24-7 (107), Sara Schroder, 31-4 (114), Jaryn Warejcka, 22-8 (120), Jersey Folkens, 23-15 (126), Lakynn Qualseth, 24-11 (132), Kieonna Smith, 8-4 (138), Kenzie King, 17-13 (145), Kaylee Dean, 23-12 (152), Natalia Long, 5-2 (165), Kori Wallner, 18-15 (185), Kiara King, 24-1 (250).

Kiara King is the top seed in her bracket (250). Schroder is a defending state champion and is seeded No. 4 in her weight class this year. 

News & Notes:

• Bon Homme/Avon/Scotland’s Peyton Hellmann (138) is 38-0 on the season and will be looking for a fourth consecutive state title. Hellman, Spearfish’s Taylor Gravema-Fierbach, Canton’s Carlee Laubach and Pierre’s Ciarra McFarling currently make up the list of three-time winners. 

• Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon’s Britney Rueb, 24-2 (120) and Harrisburg’s Regina Stoeser (36-0) both have two state championships and will be looking for a third this weekend. Rueb is the No. 2 seed (120) and Stoeser is the No. 1 seed (126) in their respective weight classes. 

• Undefeated Wrestlers: Hellmann (BHSA) and Lewis (Pierre) and Brookings’ Johanna Steinlicht (145), 29-0 all enter the state tournament with unblemished records. 

Top-Seeds and their 2023 individual placings: 

100 - Watertown’s Olivia Anderson, 43-1; 4th at 106

107 - Brandon Valley’s Mary-Katherine Joseph, 25-1; 3rd at 106

114 - Dani Ringstmeyer, Pierre, 36-6; 3rd at 126

120 - Quinn Butler, Lemmon/McIntosh, 33-1; 3rd at 120

126 - Regina Stoeser, Harrisburg, 36-0; 1st at 120

132 - Summer Guthmiller, Sioux Valley, 36-3; 5th at 142

138 - Peyton Hellmann, Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon, 36-0; 1st at 126

145 - Johanna Steinlicht, Brookings, 29-0; 4th at 132

152 - Abbigail Lewis, Pierre, 37-0; 3rd at 142

165 - Maizy Mathis, Brookings, 21-2; 2nd at 170

185 - Allison Konrad, Watertown, 40-2; 5th at 190

250 - Kiara King, Canton. 24-1; 3rd at 250