By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SALEM — One of the most dominant wrestlers at Saturday’s McCook Central/Montrose Invitational was Canton’s Teague Granum (190). After a technical fall and a pin in the first two rounds Granum edged Howard’s Calvin Halverson 3-2 in the semifinals and then decisioned Bon Homme/Avon’s Isaiah Crownover 12-5 in the finals. 

What makes the story of Granum looking so strong in the 190-pound class is that just one year ago he was wrestling at 144. Granum finished fifth (144) at the 2024 state tournament and in Saturday’s finals he handled Crownover who was fourth (190) at the 2024 Class B state tournament. 

Whatever Granum ate or how many hours he spent in the gym seems to be paying off for a wrestler that could likely drop to 175 if the occasion called for it. 

Clark/Willow Lake easily wins Webster Area wrestling tournament

One of the up-and-coming teams in Class B wrestling is Clark/Willow Lake. The Cyclones won Saturday’s Webster Area tournament racking up 195 points, ahead of Groton Area (147.5) and MIller/Highmore-Harrold (145.5). Sisseton (144) and Deuel (131.5) rounded out the top-five teams.

Champions for Clark/Willow Lake at Saturday’s tournament were Cade Gaikowski (106), Kaden Wookey (113), Cooper Pommer (120), Elliot Bratland (165), Josh Kannegieter (190). 

Other champions at the Webster Area tournament were MHH’s Talon Ping (126), Sisseton’s Blake Steiner (132), MHH’s Sam Crago (138), MHH’s Kellan Hurd (144), Britton Hecla’s Bryce Hawkinson (150), Sisseton’s Holden Hawkins (157), MHH’s Colby Kolda (175), Britton/Hecla’s Tucker Hardy (215), Warner/Northwestern’s Preston Cavalier (285).

Bennett County sophomores Rush O’Neill and Caysen Soderlin get first dunks in same game

Folks over in Martin have been keeping tabs on Rush O’Neill and Caysen Soderlin for a number  of years and the rest of the state should become familiar with two top-tier athletes. In Saturday’s 74-15 win over Colome the athletes that have been best friends since age five got the first in-game dunks of their careers. O’Neill is only 5-feet-10 but is one of the best high jumpers and hurdlers in the state. Soderlin is 6-feet-7 and will also make his mark in track and field in the shot put and discus. 

Wrestlers to keep an eye on as the season progresses

Bon Homme seventh grader DeVonne Sessler (13-4)

In his first season with the varsity team at Bon Homme/Avon seventh grader DeVonne Sessler is making a big impression. At Saturday’s McCook Centra/Montrose Invitational Sessler came within an eyelash of making the finals. In the semifinals Sessler lost a 6-5 decision to McCook Central/Montrose senior Landon Flogstad (18-2). Trailing in his third place match, Sessler flipped Flandreau’s Teague Bergjord to his back and ended up pinning his opponent (4:02).

Devonne Sessler a seventh grader from Bon Homme/Avon finished third at the McCook Central/Montrose Invitational - Photo by Rich Winter

Korbin Kucker Groton Area

Kucker, a senior, is 11-1 on the season after losing his first of the season in the finals of the Webster Area tournament. Kucker had two pins and a major decision on his way to the finals. In the finals, Kucker dropped a 1-0 decision to Miller/Highmore-Harrold’s Colby Kolda. Wrestling fans might hear the name Kucker for a few years as Keegan and Kyson Kucker, both seventh graders, are on the Groton Area roster;

Watertown female wrestlers Olivia Anderson,  Brooklyn Randall, Allison Konrad and Eden Hach

Something special is brewing in the Watertown girls wrestling room. The girls finished fifth at the 2024 state tournament but are now the No. 1 ranked team in South Dakota according to the latest Dakota Grappler rankings. Anderson (107), Randall (114), Konrad (185) and (235).