By Rich Winter

605 Sports

The chatter in recent weeks regarding girls wrestling in South Dakota was that Pierre would roll to a third consecutive team title and that Canton would do well to hold off an improving Watertown squad.

After the Canton girls rolled to the team title at last weekend’s Mid-Dakota Bride of the Monster tournament there is some new chatter and a new No. 1 ranked girls team in South Dakota.

Behind three individual champions — Finley Evjen (100), Sara Schroder (114) and Kiara King (250) — the C-Hawks scored 194.5 points at the Monster, ahead of Pierre (151) and Lakota Tech (117.5). In this week’s Dakota Grappler rankings the Canton girls moved into the No. 1 ranking with 142 points, ahead of Pierre (111) and Watertown (110). 

Depth will be key if the C-Hawks can dethrone the big green monster that is the Pierre girls team. In Presho last weekend the C-Hawks had a number of wrestlers come through with high placings. 

• At (107) Brooke Warejcka, (17-4) placed 3rd and scored 22.0 team points.

• At (132) Jersey Folkens (11-9) placed 6th and sored 13 team points. 

• At (138) Lakynn Qualseth (10-6) placed 4th and scored 18 team points.

• At (145) Kenzie King (7-6) placed 6th and scored 11 team points.

• At (152) Kaylee Dean (9-6) placed 3rd and scored 16 team points. 

• At (185) Kori Wallner (11-9) placed 4th and scored 18 team points.

Items of Note for the week of Jan. 5-12

Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers are new Class B No. 1: Some changes in the Class B team rankings this week as the Brawlers are the top ranked team according to Dakota Grappler. Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers scored 128 points in this week’s poll, ahead of Canton (124) and Winner Area (109). Custer (107) and Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes (105) round out the top-five teams this week. 

Canton’s Ashton Keller is a pinning machine: After finishing third at the 2023 state tournament, Canton’s Ashton Keller looks like a man on a mission. At the Mid-Dakota Monster tournament Keller pinned all five of his opponents including Winner Area’s Konnor Osborn in the final in just 12 seconds.

Brody Randall is new No. 1 at 113: You don’t hear the team name Hamlin/Castlewood thrown around in wrestling all that often, but keep an eye on Hamlin/Castlewood sophomore Brody Randall, who assumed the No. 1 ranking at 113 pounds after winning the Mid-Dakota Monster tournament. 

Moving on up: Lead/Deadwood’s Miles Renner (144) and Lyman’s Rory McManus (165) use big tournaments to move up in the rankings. Renner defeated former No. 1 Iden Myers of KWLPG, 5-4 in the finals of the Mid-Dakota Monster. Renner is the new No. 1 at 144 (Lead/Deadwood’s last state champion was Jason Schweitzer in 2003). McManus (165) was seeded 4th at the Mid-Dakota Monster but ended up winning that tournament. For his efforts McManus jumped to the No. 3 Class B ranking at (165).

Keep an eye on: 

• Hill City’s Tiara Faehnrich won the Bride of the Monster Tournament last weekend and is now ranked No. 3 at 138 pounds.

• Brianna Johnson of Tea Area finished 2nd at the Bride of the Monster Tournament last weekend and is now No. 3 at 185 pounds