By Rich Winter

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — Entering last week’s Region 4B tournament, Harding County’s Lincoln Wickstrom wasn’t sure what to expect. 

A three time state qualifier, Wickstrom entered the region tournament with a 2-1 record. After tech-falling one opponent and pinning three others, Wickstrom won a region title and punched his ticket to the 2025 state tournament. 

“That was my first tournament of the year and I was just excited I had the opportunity to wrestle,” Wickstrom said. “I lost my first match of the year to a Custer wrestler so I went in with the mindset of I have nothing to lose.” 

Wickstrom has been battling a shoulder injury for over a year. In the first match of his sophomore season in December 2024, Wickstrom suffered a torn labrum. He toughed out the season wearing a brace and qualifying for the state tournament but failed to place. 

In March 2024, the multi-sport Rancher standout underwent surgery. 

“I was cleared about 45 days early so I could play football,” he said. “I had a brace on for a while, took it off and then tore my labrum again.” 

The football injury forced Wickstrom to miss the start of wrestling season and he wasn’t even sure he'd be able to wrestle this season after undergoing a medical procedure in January 2025. 

“I had my shoulder injected on Jan. 3 and was told it would be a six week recovery,” he said. “The week before regions I was finally cleared to wrestle.” 

Despite the limited mat time Wickstrom earned the No. 4 seed at 138 and found himself with a first round matchup against a familiar opponent, Bennett County’s Lyle Noel who he had pinned a week earlier in the region tournament.

Wickstrom advanced to the Class B quarterfinals with a first period pin (1:30). 

“Going out I was pretty confident because I already had that match in the regions,” he said. “I was a little more aggressive today than I wanted to be but I guess that’s how you get the first round jitters out.” 

Wickstrom has never placed at a state tournament but came close to guaranteeing at least sixth place with a 3-0 loss (sudden victory) to Bon Homme/Avon’s Jackson Kaul.

The loss sent Wickstrom into the second round wrestlebacks where he is slated to wrestle either Mobridge-Pollock’s Brayden Wientjes or Parker’s Colten Preheim.

No matter the result, Wickstrom is just happy to be doing what he loves again. 

“I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m so excited,” he said. “It sucks losing a whole year but getting here and being able to wrestle and compete is awesome.”