By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Kaden Keiser went out in style. 

The Winner Area senior wrestler punctuated a stellar wrestling career on Friday and it was just like his previous three seasons. The 145-pounder defeated McCook Central/Montrose’s Jackson Remmers by a 15-6 major decision to earn his fourth straight state championship at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. 

“I am just grateful for everything and every opportunity I get,” said Keiser, who was named the Class B’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. “I can’t be more thankful for my friends, family, coaches and all of them. I credit this to them as much as me and I am just humbled right now.”

Keiser is now one of 11 wrestlers in state history to earn four state championships. He joined the likes of Dan Bonte (Garretson), Dakota Galt (Beresford), Luke Loudenburg (Howard), Kellyn March (Canton), David Rowe (Mobridge), Travis Slaba (Wagner), Chad Uhrig (Sully Buttes), Cory Wallman (Marion/Freeman), Gary Wallman (Miller) and Troy Wallman (Freeman) as four-time winners.  

“I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time and it just finally happened,” Keiser added.  

On Friday, left no doubt in his final high school match. He controlled Remmers, the 2021 132-pound state champion, en route to the 54-0 senior campaign. 

“I have wrestled him before and it was kind of a similar match,” Keiser said. “He’s hard to turn and I believe I tech falled him in that first match, but I got back points at the end to get that.”

Keiser also helped the Warriors placed third in the team title. The Warriors finished with 137 points and they’ve finished as the state runner-ups the four previous seasons. 

“We take huge pride in that,” Keiser said. “We worked our butts off in the offseason and in season to try to get a team title and stuff like that. We take a lot of pride in our program.”

Up next, Keiser will continue his wrestling career at Division I Appalachian State in North Carolina.

“I am really looking forward to it,” Keiser said. “It’s a beautiful place. I just can’t wait to get up there and start training with those guys.”